ALGONA — A 170-year ceasefire between the north and south portions of Kossuth County collapsed Tuesday after an old map showing Iowa’s former 100th county circulated online.
Residents of the former Bancroft County accused those in the southern part of what’s known as Kossuth County today of continuing an illegal occupation dating back to the 1850s.
“They can call it Kossuth all they want,” said Bancroft County resident Dale Benson. “It’s still Bancroft up here. It’s never been Kossuth, and never will be.”
South Kossuth officials rejected the claim, calling the annexation lawful and efficient county consolidation.
Authorities described the fighting as limited to several hostile Facebook posts, an argument at Casey’s and a temporary gravel-road blockade involving three combines. Farmer Dennis Gilbert did fire one shot into the air around 3 p.m. Tuesday. The Iowa National Guard said it was monitoring the situation, though officials acknowledged most personnel had not previously known there was a situation.
Historians again explained that Bancroft County was dissolved because it lacked enough residents to function independently. Neither side recognized the historians as neutral.
At press time, peace talks had stalled over whether negotiations should be held in Algona or on Bancroft soil.
