Flood of 1851
Encyclopedia
The Great Flood of 1851 occurred after record-setting rainfalls across the U.S. Midwest and Plains from May to August, 1851. Hardest hit was the State of Iowa
, with significant flooding extending to the Lower Mississippi River
basin. Historical evidence suggest flooding occurred in the eastern Plains, from Nebraska
to the Red River basin, but these areas were sparsely settled in 1851. Heavy rainfall also occurred in the Ohio River
basin.
.
basin, where the worst of the flooding occurred, had been settled for less than 10 years. Residents had never previously experienced a major flood, and river towns lacked levees and substantial bridges that could withstand flooding.
In 1851, 74.5 in (191.5 cm) of rain fell in Iowa, a record that hold to this day. The worst flooding occurred May to June in the Des Moines River Basin, and early August in eastern Iowa. Major rivers included the Cedar
, Iowa
, Skunk
, Maquoketa
, and especially the Des Moines
rivers.
Major flooding in 1851 occurred in Bentonsport, Croton, Bonaparte
, Des Moines
, Eddyville
, Farmington
, Iowaville
, Keosauqua
, Muscatine
, Oskaloosa
, Ottumwa
, Red Rock, and Rochester.
The floods affected the low areas of Iowa City
. “The first great flood after the white settlement of this valley occurred in 1851. That rise came after a wet season that kept the stream about full and one that was unexampled in the violence of its rains deepening to a waterfall early in August of ten inches in twenty four hours. The water rose to the west side of the University campus which was then the state house yard. There were but few houses on the bottoms but they were deluged."
The town of Dudley
was destroyed by the flood, many of its residents relocated to Carlisle, Iowa
.
In May to July of 1851 much of the town was flooded. “It was during the month of May in this year [1851], that occurred the greatest freshet. The Des Moines and Raccoon rivers rose to an unprecedented height, inundating the entire country east of the Des Moines river. Crops were utterly destroyed, houses and fences swept away. Farms were covered with drift-wood and other debris, so that the entire work of the season was lost”.
“The damage done to the farms in the river bottoms was immense. Some were stripped utterly of their fences; fields under cultivation were washed into ruts by the violence of the water; all hope of a crop for one season being destroyed, not only by what was carried away, but by the debris which was left by the subsiding of the river. It was almost impossible to estimate the losses. Roads were rendered impassable-bridges swept away-the mails stopped, and traveling by land to any distance utterly vetoed. Houses were carried away, mills damaged, timber floated off, and all manner of mischief done by the flood." J.M. Dixon blamed the flood for a temporary decrease in the population of the town.
basin caused flooding south of St. Louis; this was exacerbated by heavy rainfalls in the Red River basin and Arkansas River
basin. The Arkansas and Red River basins were sparsely settled in 1851, so a full account of the severity of flooding is impossible. In St. Louis, Missouri
, on June 11, flood waters rose to within 5 feet of the devastating Great Flood of 1844
, while at Cape Girardeau, Missouri
the flooding was worse than in 1844.
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...
, with significant flooding extending to the Lower Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
basin. Historical evidence suggest flooding occurred in the eastern Plains, from Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
to the Red River basin, but these areas were sparsely settled in 1851. Heavy rainfall also occurred in the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
basin.
Nebraska
Limited accounts from western regions suggest flooding was bad in eastern Nebraska, but this area was sparsely settled and therefore there is little information. Indirect evidence for flooding can be seen in historical accounts, for example, the flood knocked out a bridge at Shell Creek, NebraskaShell Creek Township, Platte County, Nebraska
Shell Creek Township is one of eighteen townships in Platte County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 797 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 808....
.
Iowa
Iowa was the state most affected by the Flood of 1851. Flooding in Iowa was probably exacerbated because the Des Moines RiverDes Moines River
The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...
basin, where the worst of the flooding occurred, had been settled for less than 10 years. Residents had never previously experienced a major flood, and river towns lacked levees and substantial bridges that could withstand flooding.
In 1851, 74.5 in (191.5 cm) of rain fell in Iowa, a record that hold to this day. The worst flooding occurred May to June in the Des Moines River Basin, and early August in eastern Iowa. Major rivers included the Cedar
Cedar River (Iowa)
The Cedar River is a river in Minnesota and Iowa. It is a tributary of the Iowa River, which flows to the Mississippi River. The Cedar River takes its name from the red cedar trees growing there...
, Iowa
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
, Skunk
Skunk River
The Skunk River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States.It rises in two branches, the South Skunk and the North Skunk . The headwaters of the South Skunk are in Hamilton County in north central Iowa. It flows roughly due southward, to the west of...
, Maquoketa
Maquoketa River
The Maquoketa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in northeastern Iowa in the United States. Its watershed covers within a rural region of rolling hills and farmland southwest of Dubuque. It is not to be confused with the Little Maquoketa River, another distinct...
, and especially the Des Moines
Des Moines River
The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...
rivers.
Major flooding in 1851 occurred in Bentonsport, Croton, Bonaparte
Bonaparte, Iowa
Bonaparte is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 458 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the Des Moines River and contains a number of historical buildings, including a large pottery. The town was flooded during the Flood of 1851.-Geography:Bonaparte's...
, Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, Eddyville
Eddyville, Iowa
Eddyville is a city in Mahaska, Monroe, and Wapello Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,024 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Farmington
Farmington, Iowa
Farmington is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 756 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Farmington is located at , on the east bank of Des Moines River....
, Iowaville
Iowaville, Iowa
Iowaville was a small town on the lowland near the northeast bank of the Des Moines River, near the line between Davis and Van Buren counties, and between present-day Eldon and Selma, Iowa. It was established about 1838 near the site of earlier trading posts...
, Keosauqua
Keosauqua, Iowa
Keosauqua is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Van Buren County.-History:...
, Muscatine
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
, Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...
, Ottumwa
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....
, Red Rock, and Rochester.
The floods affected the low areas of Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
. “The first great flood after the white settlement of this valley occurred in 1851. That rise came after a wet season that kept the stream about full and one that was unexampled in the violence of its rains deepening to a waterfall early in August of ten inches in twenty four hours. The water rose to the west side of the University campus which was then the state house yard. There were but few houses on the bottoms but they were deluged."
The town of Dudley
Dudley, Iowa
Dudley is the name of two ghost towns in Iowa, United States. One Dudley in Wapello County, one in Polk County.-Wapello County:Both 1908 and 1920 surveys of northwestern Wapello County have a post office located here...
was destroyed by the flood, many of its residents relocated to Carlisle, Iowa
Carlisle, Iowa
Carlisle is a city in Warren and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 3,497 at the 2000 census. The city is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.
Destruction of Des Moines
The winter of 1850-51 was extremely wet, leaving the town of Fort Des Moines a muddy mess, and the ground completely saturated prior to the Spring rains. On January 14, 1851, a few months before the great flood, Arizona Perkins noted “This is the greatest place for mud I ever saw– I have waded thro’ it for several days.”In May to July of 1851 much of the town was flooded. “It was during the month of May in this year [1851], that occurred the greatest freshet. The Des Moines and Raccoon rivers rose to an unprecedented height, inundating the entire country east of the Des Moines river. Crops were utterly destroyed, houses and fences swept away. Farms were covered with drift-wood and other debris, so that the entire work of the season was lost”.
“The damage done to the farms in the river bottoms was immense. Some were stripped utterly of their fences; fields under cultivation were washed into ruts by the violence of the water; all hope of a crop for one season being destroyed, not only by what was carried away, but by the debris which was left by the subsiding of the river. It was almost impossible to estimate the losses. Roads were rendered impassable-bridges swept away-the mails stopped, and traveling by land to any distance utterly vetoed. Houses were carried away, mills damaged, timber floated off, and all manner of mischief done by the flood." J.M. Dixon blamed the flood for a temporary decrease in the population of the town.
Flooding on the Lower Mississippi
Substantial flooding occurred in the southern Mississippi region. Although the Lower Mississippi normally could easily handle higher rainfalls from the Upper Mississippi (as it did during the Flood of 1993 where water barely rose south of St. Louis), in 1851 heavy rains in the Ohio RiverOhio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
basin caused flooding south of St. Louis; this was exacerbated by heavy rainfalls in the Red River basin and Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
basin. The Arkansas and Red River basins were sparsely settled in 1851, so a full account of the severity of flooding is impossible. In St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, on June 11, flood waters rose to within 5 feet of the devastating Great Flood of 1844
Great Flood of 1844
The Great Flood of 1844 is the biggest flood ever recorded on the Missouri River and Upper Mississippi River, in North America, in terms of discharge.The impact was not as great as subsequent floods because of the small population in the region at the time...
, while at Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
the flooding was worse than in 1844.