Queen City, Iowa facts for kids
Queen City was a small farming town in Adams County, Iowa, in the United States. It was located about three miles (5 km) northeast of where Corning, Iowa is today. Queen City shared a post office with a nearby group called the Icarians, who had their own community. It's possible that Queen City existed even before the Icarian community was started in 1854.
Contents
How Queen City Began
Queen City was officially planned out in October 1857. Three men bought about 262 acres (1.06 km²) of land from Samuel Larimer to build the town. Larimer became Queen City's first postmaster in 1858. This was when the post office moved from the Icarian community to Queen City.
Growing into a Town
Queen City grew quite a bit in the 1860s. At its busiest, about 150 people lived there. The town had important places like general stores, a drug store, a doctor's office, and two hotels. It was a lively place for its time.
Why Queen City Disappeared
Queen City's good times didn't last forever. In 1869, a railroad stop was built in nearby Corning instead of Queen City. Then, in 1872, Corning was chosen to be the county seat. This meant Corning became the main town for the area.
The Town Fades Away
Because Corning became more important, fewer people stayed in Queen City. The number of residents slowly went down. By March 1885, the land where the town was built went back to being private property. Queen City was no longer an official town.
Remembering Queen City
For a long time, Queen City was mostly forgotten in Adams County history. But then, something interesting happened. A lake called Lake Binder was being dug to provide water for Corning.
Discovering the Past
While digging the lake, workers found some old tombstones and about 200 graves! These were the remains of people who had lived in Queen City. All the remains and gravestones were carefully moved to a new spot. Today, this spot is just north of Lake Binder. In 1980, a monument was built there to mark the location of the lost town. It helps us remember Queen City and the people who lived there long ago.
