Timeline of Montgomery County Developement

Date	Event
Pre 1819	The area is a Indian hunting ground, not homeland to the Otoe, Omaha, Ponca, Sioux, Iowa, Sac and Fox tribes.
1819	Major Stephen H. Long writes the first description of the area on a trip from St. Louis to Council Bluffs.
1838 - 1846	The Pottawattamie tribe is brought into the area by the federal government.
1846	Iowa became a state.
1848 - 1850	Villisca is founded. The first Montgomery County residents come from Page County to southwestern Montgomery County. There are perhaps a dozen settlers in the area that is to become Montgomery county.
1851	Montgomery County is surveyed. "From a sea of grass to known distances and locations."
1853	The county is organized as a county political and geographic entity. It is named for Revolutionary War hero, General Richard Montgomery.
1854	Jackson and West townships are created.
1854-1865	The first county courthouse is built in Frankfort at a cost of $1,141.50. It is a 1 1/2 story frame building.
1856	The Land Grant Act opened up land to the railroads for purchase.
1857	Douglas and Frankfort townships are created. Red Oak and Washington townships are formed between now and 1861.
1857	Red Oak Junction is platted
1858	Milford [Grant] is platted
1864	A land Grant was given to the state of Iowa for railroad company purchases. The Union Pacific and Burlington were the largest buyers of land in Montgomery County.
1865	On a margin of six votes, the courthouse and court business is moved to Red Oak Junction from Frankfort. The entire building is put on flats and pulled through a blizzard to the new location, although it is nearly lost when it slides down a hill in the snow.
1868	Grant, Lincoln and Sherman townships are created with names near and dear to Iowa veterans of the Civil War (1861-1865).
1869	Emerson is platted and the Burlington Railroad builds tracks through Emerson and Red Oak Junction.
1870	Pilot Grove and Scott townships are created and the town of Stanton is founded by Swedish immigrants . Nodaway also is founded in the 1870s.
1876	Red Oak Junction is incorporated as a city.
1879	Elliott is founded near the northern boundary of the county.
1890-1892	The cornerstone on the new courthouse is placed and it is dedicated two years later. It features a castle-style and is made of Missouri limestone, red pressed brick and terra cotta and has a slate roof. From the clock tower, citizens may see the time of day from north, south, east and west. It is said to be worth more than $100,000.
1901	Red Oak Junction becomes just Red Oak.
1902	Red Oak Creek floods the square, covering four blocks of the county seat.
1903	Milford changes its name to Grant, after our 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant
1911	The Blue Grass Road is the first cross country road (roughly following Highway 34). It is a dirt road.
1914 - 1918	After World War I, Fountain Square Park is built as a memorial. The 29 nozzles of the fountain represent the 29 Montgomery County soldiers who died in Europe.
1916	The Nishnabotna River floods, threatening Red Oak.
1929	U. S. Highway 34 is paved over what used to be the Blue Grass Road. The New York Stock Market crashes, beginning the Great Depression.
1941	The third Battalion of the 168th Infantry, 34th Division takes almost 90 percent of the men of eligible age. The division sees 600 days of combat, more than any other unit. REA completes the electrification of the county.
1943	One hundred telegrams are delivered one night in March to Red Oak families with sons in Company M saying, "The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your son ... has been missing inaction." It is learned that of the 100, 27 men are prisoners.
1947	The Nishnabotna River floods again and red Oak has its worst flood ever.
1950	Most of the rural roads are gravel instead of just dirt.
1959	Villisca and Nodaway schools consolidate.
1960	Grant schools consolidate with Griswold and Emerson, Hastings, Henderson and Strahan combine to form the Nishna Valley school district.
1962	Elliott and Griswold schools merge.
1967 - 1972	Three Montgomery County men are killed in the Vietnam War. Another is missing in action. Many, many more are wounded.
1980	The population of the county is 13,413.
1982	Downtown Emerson is flooded, filling buildings on Morton Avenue with five feet of water and mud.
1983	The restoration of the square in red oak is completed with repaved streets and new sidewalks. Storm drains and water mains are also replaced. new lighting is installed and trees are planted around the square.
1987	Red Oak Creek backs up and floods an area south of the square.
1987 - 1989	Rain does not come except in brief, light showers until September, 1989. The nearly two-year drought has stressed farmers and city-dwellers alike. Terrential downpours come the first week of September and some flooding occurs.
1989	The Red Oak airport is named for long-time aviation supporter, R. K. Belt. Corporation jets land several times per month at the new runway at R. K. Belt Field. The new, modern Montgomery County Memorial Hospital opens.