Ghost Towns

of Floyd County, Iowa

From “OUR HERITAGE BICENTENNIAL REVIEW OF FLOYD COUNTY”,
1776 Floyd County Bi-Centennial 1976, Charles City, 1976.

These are Floyd County towns that mostly have faded away – but some parts may still remain.

  Town Description

1

Aureola

Was laid out and recorded by Robert Frost in 1858 – it had two stores and in 1880 the population was 88 (Union Township)

2

Bloody Run

Was not a town, but a location where an incident occurred to give to give it this name. The area is a wooded ravine and brook two miles south of Charles City along Highway 218, and the incident is a thrashing crew fight in 1858. (St Charles Township)

3

Capptown

Was started in 1864 and had a store, elevator, creamery, and PO? Located just west and (and ½ mile north) of EE Ranch. (Along RR tracks about 2 miles west of Floyd Crossing) (Ulster Twp)

4

Carrville

Was settled in 1865 by Francis and George Carr. (Riverton Twp)

5

Devonia

(Was called Lithograph City for the lithograph limestone that was quarried nearby) was platted by the Interstate Investment &Improvement Co. in the NE quarter of Sec 25, Twp 97, per Clement L Webster agent, June 10.1905 @ 2 miles SW of Orchard or 6 miles S of Osage. In 1915 there were 15 houses, a hotel, a dance hall, and a museum – all gone by 1938. (Floyd Township)

6

Double Day

Was N of the Municipal CC Airport and had two elevators and several houses (St Charles Township)

7

Floyd Crossing

(Ernie) now has an elevator – had a PO (Ernie). S of RR tracks (Floyd Twp)

8

Gilmantown

1855 (Floyd Twp)

9

Howardsville

1852 Had Blacksmith Shop and General Store, current Church. (Cedar Twp)

10

Nilesville

(Niles Corner) first school in 1857 – three stores. (Niles Twp)

11

Nora Junction

At crossing of Milwaukee and Rock Island RR SW of Nora Springs. Platted in NW ¼, 18-96-18 Aug 20, 1873. Had a Hotel, Depot, grain elevator, stockyard, and a few homes. Now- no bldgs. (Rock Grove Twp)

12

Oakwood

Had a Grocery Store, Farm Supply Store, still has an elevator and several homes. (St Charles Twp)

13

Old Town

Northern part of present Nora Springs

14

Powersville

(Pleasant Grove Twp)

15

Ridgeway

Had two waiting stations for the CC Western Railway. (St Charles Twp)

16

Ripley

No description (Riverton Twp)

17

Riverton

Was located where Ripley Bridge is now,; there were two saw mills there (St Charles Twp)

18

Rock Grove City

S of Nora Springs (Rock Grove Twp)

19

Roseville

Store displayed at 7 miles corner Antique Acres site. Current Catholic Church (Ulster Twp)

20

Sergeant

No description (Saint Charles Twp)

21

Scott PO

1877 (Scott Twp)

22

Ulster PO

1857 (Ulster Twp) (Capptown PO?)

23

Watertown

Started in 1853 on N side of Rock Creek and used to be in Floyd County, but became Mitchell County when 3-mile strip became a part of Mitchell County in 1855 – next to Gilmantown. (S of Osage and N of Devonia)

Submitted to IaGenWeb by Duane Bennett, 9/4/2014