Pottawattamie County was a part of the Pottawattamie Purchase of 1847. The county was originally named after the Native American tribe that once existed and lived within the Iowa Territory. Pottawattamie is a traditional word meaning "Fire Keepers" or "Keepers of the Council Fires".

The county commissioners proposed Kanesville and Pleasant Grove, about 8 miles apart, for the county seat. At an election held April 7, 1851, all but seven votes were cast for Kanesville, named for Colonel Kane of Philadelphia. Council Bluffs was previously known as Hart's Bluff and then Miller's Hollow before it became Kanesville. The rapidly growing village had a population of about 7,000 at the time, mainly Mormons on their way from Nauvoo, Illinois to Utah. It was also an important outfitting town for gold seekers and others on their way to California and the West. Hyde's New Hall at Kanesville, which was renamed Council Bluffs on January 19, 1853, was used for several years for the court house. <more>

Countywide 800 MHz Communications Project
Pottawattamie County along with other participating agencies are in the process of designing and upgrading an interoperable emergency radio/data communications system. This is a region wide multiple agency project funded by various sources including Homeland Security grants awarded to local and state agencies.

800 MHz Fact Sheet
800 MHz Brochure
800 MHz Powerpoint (PDF Version)
800 MHz Powerpoint (PowerPoint Presentation - Right Click and select Save Link As)

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Iowa SmokeFree Air Act

The Iowa Legislature passed the Smokefree Air Act to protect the public’s health and the health of employees from the dangers of exposure to second-hand smoke.  The law prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces and in some outdoor areas, including but not limited to, the grounds of county owned buildings.  The law goes into effect on July 1, 2008. 

Effective July 1, 2008, smoking is prohibited on County property, which includes but is not limited to:

• County buildings.
• County owned sidewalks.
• County owned parking lots.
• A sitting or standing area immediately adjacent to a County building.
• County owned courtyard, patio or deck.
• County park shelters and other public buildings.
• County owned vehicles.