This county, which is twenty-four miles square, and contains sixteen congressional or land survey townships, is the third east of the Missouri River, and in the fifth tier of counties, both from the northern and southern boundary of the State.

Carroll is emphatically a prairie county, the entire portion being composed of a gently undulating surface sufficiently rolling to break the monotonous sameness of the level plain, while to the westward of the Middle Raccoon River, the surface is more broken and uneven, in many places rising into hills of considerable prominence. The great watershed dividing the waters which flow into the Mississippi from those which flow into the Missouri passes through this county, and at the highest point is 858 feet above Lake Michigan and 800 feet above the Mississippi River at Clinton. From this summit can be obtained a fine view of the surrounding country, extending in every direction as far as the eye can reach. On the east and on the southeast is seen in the distance the rich, fertile valley of the Raccoon River, on the south the unsurpassingly lovely country surrounding the Nishnabotny, and on the west the magnificent vale through which flows the Boyer. All of which in a clear summer’s day afford scenery at once grand, beautiful and picturesque.

Being situated upon the great dividing ridge or watershed, this county is watered and drained mostly by small streams which flow both into the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The largest stream is the North Raccoon, which cuts across the northeast corner of the county, while the next two in importance are the Middle Raccoon and Brushy Fork,which take their rise in the watershed divide in the northwest, and flowing nearly parallel from four to six miles apart in a southeast direction, make their exit near the southeast corner of the county. Storm Creek, a tributary of the Middle Raccoon drains a large tract in the northern-central as does the Willow Creek in the eastern border. The North Raccoon is deeply excatated [sic] into the drift deposit, and its valley is bordered by rather steep acclivities from seventy to one hundred feet in height, while the Middle Raccoon is bordered on the west by high bluffs capped slopes, and on the east by drift hills, which gain the interior heights by more gradual ascents. Brushy Fork possesses a beautiful valley with gentle acclivities on either side, as does the East Nishnabotany and Boyer River and Whitted’s Creek, which are on the west side of the watershed divide. The upper course of all of these streams are little more than diminutive prairie brooks, with gravelly beds, and clear, rapid currents, many of those having their headwaters in the great divide interlocking, as it were, being separated by a narrow crest as sharply defined as a gable ridge. Springs issue from the gravel deposits along these water courses, furnishing them with an abundant supply of limpid, pure water at all seasons of the year. East of the Middle Raccoon River wells are easily obtained, while in the uplands west of that stream, those seeking water must go to a much greater depth, though the certainty of finding a never-failing supply is just as good.

Carroll City was incorporated in 1869, O. H. Manning, William Gilley and a Mr. Tracy being the Commissioners of Incorporation.

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I. N. Griffith opened the first general store, and Daniel Gifford the first furniture store, in 1868.

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The steam flouring mill, at Carroll City, has deservedly an extensive reputation. It is well and substantially built, is two stories high with a basement, and has the latest and best machinery. The mill was started in the spring of 1875, and is managed by Brooks & Baumhover.

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The following is a classified summary of Carroll City’s business establishments: General merchandise, eight; grocery stores, two: boots and shoes, two; clothing, two; hotels, six; restaurants, five; bakeries, two; hardware, four; agricultural implement depots, five; grain warehouses, two; stock dealers, three; livery barns, two; flouring mill, one; millinery stores, three; jewelry, three; drug stores, three; grain elevators, two; banks, two; real estate agencies, five; insurance agencies, six; blacksmith shops, four; barber shops, two; lumber yards, two; coal dealers, three; wagon-shop, one; loan agencies, eight; merchant tailor, one; printing offices, two; brick-yards, three; architects, one; paint shop, one: shoe-shops, three; saloons, six. There are thirteen attorneys-at-law and seven physicians.