History of Hillsboro, Iowa
Hillsboro was founded in 1839 by Richard Barrett who purchased 80 acres from the government. Samuel Pope chose the new name for Hillsboro after it was discovered that Washington was already taken. Hillsborough was named after his hometown in Ohio and accepted by legislature in 1851. In 1887 the name was altered by dropping the last three letters. At the last census taken in 2000 there are 205 people living in Hillsboro.
Interesting Facts
Joshua G. Newbold, of Hillsboro, was the ninth Iowa Governor 1877-1878
The first phone in 1898 with long-distance in 1899
First car in town 1903
Hillsboro was incorporated in 1916
New school building in 1936, incorporated into Harmony in 1959
On the following page you will find a wonderful report of Hillsboro History as done by a student from Hillsboro, Luan Breuer, written while she was int the seventh grade at Harmony Jr. High School in 1969. Copies of this report are available at the Hillsboro Library. Information for this essay were mainly obtained from Margaret Plummer, who lived in Hillsboro area all her life. Margaret Plummer was one of the first Librarians at the Hillsboro Library, and a founding member.
They are in his hands now. Less we forget, September 11, 2001
This page was developed by
Aileen in Iowa
Last update:
February 19, 2004
