Cooper, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Cooper is an unincorporated community
in Greene County
, Iowa
, United States
.
A fire in 1921 leveled much of Cooper's business district.
The Cooper School District was merged with nearby Jefferson
in 1959; the Franklin Township School closed that summer and the junior high school building closed in the 1970s.
In late July, 1980, the Des Moines Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI
) brought 5,000 cyclists pedaling through town. As the cyclists approached from the west, a cannon was fired and a recording of the 1812 Overture was repeatedly played.
Cooper has became nationally known for two things:
1. In 1981 an international search to adopt the 51st citizen of this small town landed residents on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. The publicity which followed generated a crowd of nearly 12,500 for the weekend event.
2. Later years home of the "Iowa Boy" Chuck Offenburger.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Greene County
Greene County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,336 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,546 housing units, of which 3,996 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
Cooper was founded in 1881 with the arrival of the railroad, and was named after Des Moines railroad executive F.M. Hubbell's father-in-law, Isaac Cooper. Cooper's population reached a high point of about 250 in 1900.A fire in 1921 leveled much of Cooper's business district.
The Cooper School District was merged with nearby Jefferson
Jefferson, Iowa
Jefferson is a city in Greene County, Iowa, United States, along the North Raccoon River. The population was 4,626 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. It is the home of the Mahanay Memorial Bell Tower, tall, located on the town square, and visible for miles. The tower is...
in 1959; the Franklin Township School closed that summer and the junior high school building closed in the 1970s.
In late July, 1980, the Des Moines Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI
RAGBRAI
RAGBRAI is an acronym for Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. It is a non-competitive bicycle ride across Iowa that draws recreational riders from across the United States and overseas. They ride from a community on Iowa's western border to a community on Iowa's eastern border,...
) brought 5,000 cyclists pedaling through town. As the cyclists approached from the west, a cannon was fired and a recording of the 1812 Overture was repeatedly played.
Cooper has became nationally known for two things:
1. In 1981 an international search to adopt the 51st citizen of this small town landed residents on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. The publicity which followed generated a crowd of nearly 12,500 for the weekend event.
2. Later years home of the "Iowa Boy" Chuck Offenburger.