Council Bluffs, city (2020 pop.
62,799), seat of Pottawattamie co., SW Iowa, on and below bluffs overlooking
the Missouri River, opposite Omaha, Nebr.; inc. 1853. It was first settled
by whites when the Mormons came in 1846 and dubbed the site Kanesville; when
they left in 1852, the settlement was renamed Council Bluffs. An important
supply point during the gold rush (1849–50), Council Bluffs was made
the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific RR in 1863. The city has become an
important trade and industrial center for a large agricultural area; casino
gambling is also economically important. It has grain elevators, and
manufactures include processed foods, metal and wood products, farm
equipment, chemicals, and furniture. Among the points of interest in the
city are Dodge House, the former home of Gen. G. M. Dodge, founder of the Union Pacific RR;
the Lewis and Clark Monument; and the Lincoln Monument, built in honor of
Abraham Lincoln's visit to Council Bluffs. Lake Manawa State Park lies
within the city limits.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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