3Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Linn County Atlas
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Cedar Rapids.
1839 to 1907Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
3,735Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Explore the past of Cedar Rapids, Iowa through maps and atlases as well as records and documents of historical places in the Linn County Atlas' digital archive. Its three titles include material from 1839 to 1907.
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Selected titles
Examples from Linn County Atlas’s collection include “1907 Linn County Atlas” as well as “Pioneer Life In and Around Cedar Rapids”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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A closer look
Maps and atlases offer a different view of a familiar place through the labels, boundaries and features their makers recorded.
Historical maps and atlases can show how a place was recorded in its own time, adding a geographical setting to family stories and community history. A familiar place name, street, or boundary can be a useful starting point. Follow what each dated map shows, and note when a label or line changes. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse three titles and 3,735 digitized pages, with material from 1839 to 1907. This collection is shared through Linn County Atlas' partnership with Advantage Archives. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Start with a detail you already know, then browse the titles below for another perspective on the people and places connected with this collection.
1907 Linn County Atlas
525 pages in 1907
Pioneer Life In and Around Cedar Rapids
774 pages in 1839
The History of Linn County
2,436 pages in 1878
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About the Archive
About Linn County’s History Archives
The Linn County History Archives offers free access to a comprehensive collection of historical documents through its partnership with Advantage Archives . Visitors can explore these valuable resources while on library premises, providing a unique opportunity to delve into the rich history of Linn County. The archives include detailed historical publications that offer insights into the county’s development and heritage. This digitization project was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the library staff and the generous support from local organizations.
About the Archive
About The Linn County History Archives
The Linn County History Archives serves as a crucial resource for residents and researchers interested in the rich history of the area. The archives provide access to printed and digital materials that support education, research, and personal enrichment. By preserving historical documents and making them accessible to the public, the Linn County History Archives plays a vital role in fostering an appreciation for the county’s heritage.
Partner Story
The History Of Linn County
The earliest inhabitants of Linn County, before Anglo settlement, were the Sac and Fox tribes. Relations between Native Americans and settlers were generally amicable, with Native Americans providing food and furs in exchange for merchandise. Linn County was created as a named but unorganized area on December 21, 1837, as part of Wisconsin Territory. It became part of Iowa Territory on July 4, 1838, when the territory was organized. Linn County was officially organized by the first legislative assembly of the Iowa Territory on January 15, 1839. The first county seat was established along Indian Creek and named Marion, in honor of Revolutionary War General Francis Marion. Debates over moving the county seat to the fast-growing Cedar Rapids began as early as 1855. However, it was not until November 6, 1919, that a vote favored the move, with a count of 9,960 to 4,823. The first rail line through Cedar Rapids was built in 1859, establishing the town and the county as major commercial hubs in eastern Iowa. Linn County, named in honor of Senator Lewis F. Linn of Missouri, is located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 230,299, making it the second-most populous county in Iowa. The county seat is Cedar Rapids, which is also the principal city of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.
About the Community
About The Cedar Rapids Area
Cedar Rapids, the county seat of Linn County, is a vibrant city with a rich cultural and historical heritage. It is known for its significant contributions to commerce and industry, largely due to its strategic location along major rail lines. Cedar Rapids offers a blend of historical charm and modern amenities, making it an attractive place to live and visit. The city hosts numerous cultural and recreational events, reflecting its dynamic and inclusive community spirit.
Local History
Did You Know?
• The first county seat of Linn County was Marion, named after Revolutionary War general Francis Marion before it was moved to Cedar Rapids in 1919. • Cedar Rapids became a major commercial hub in eastern Iowa after the first rail line was built in 1859. • Linn County is named in honor of Senator Lewis F. Linn of Missouri, reflecting the area's rich political heritage.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Connect a place with its setting
Start with a landmark or place you can identify in Cedar Rapids. Compare it with the dated maps in the maps and atlases shared by the Linn County Atlas where coverage allows, keeping historical names, boundaries, and present-day locations distinct. Use a map to locate the setting described by another source, then check the dates and labels in both. Keep the connection tentative when names or boundaries differ.
When one detail leads nowhere, return to what you can verify and adjust one clue or period at a time. Record the coverage and search terms you checked; a gap in results can mark a limit in available sources, not prove that an event went unrecorded.
As you connect materials, note where each detail came from and what it can support. Record the title, date, and page or item reference where available. Keep names and relationships tentative until the evidence is strong enough to connect them, and mark which words come from the record and which are your interpretation.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Linn County Atlas, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.
Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.
Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.
Learn about partnerships
Stories, research tips, and archive news
Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.
May 7, 2025
Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
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May 7, 2025
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
In the quest to trace our roots and understand our heritage, obituaries often serve as a crucial starting point. Obituaries are undoubtedly…
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April 9, 2025
Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
Even the most esteemed police forces in the county encounter perplexing cold case files. These unsolved mysteries often leave investigators and genealogists…
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April 1, 2025
This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. This week in history, there is absolutely nothing to talk about… April Fools! April…
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March 24, 2025
This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. It has officially been a year since I started writing This Week in History,…
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March 18, 2025
It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?
We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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