History

FRONTIER, EXPANSION, POTENTIAL

The roots of Fort Dodge date back to 1850 when soldiers arrived at the confluence of the Des Moines River and Lizard Creek.

• Fort Dodge was originally named Fort Clarke.

• Major William Williams, the military fort post storekeeper, purchased the land and buildings and platted the town for Fort Dodge in 1854. The town of Fort Dodge was officially founded in 1869.

• The arrival of four railroads and the discovery of gypsum assured the growth of Fort Dodge.

• By 1900 Fort Dodge was producing 25% of the world’s supply of plaster. Webster County was

Iowa’s leading producer of clay products.

• In 2010, Fort Dodge received the designation of an “Iowa Great Place”.

• Fort Dodge was named top 15 America’s Best Communities in 2015.

FLOYD OF ROSEDALE’S ORIGIN

The Loomis Family owned the Rosedale Farms on the east side of Fort Dodge. They owned the largest dairy farm in the county and raised hogs. One of those hogs, Floyd of Rosedale, was given as the settlement of a bet between the Iowa and Minnesota governors and the football team both states play against each other. A sculpture of Floyd still serves as the trophy in that football rivalry.