Kathy Holstein

Where Your Dreams Come Home

Albert City, IA Area Guide

General Info

 Welcome to Albert City! Although the population may be small, a little over 700 people, Albert City is a progressive town with small town charm. Located in the northwest corner of Iowa, they’re close to Okoboji, Spencer and Storm Lake.

Albert City’s population is civic minded and the city government has recently built a new library as well as providing a great place in Sunset Park that can be rented for reunions, parties, family gatherings. You name it, the shelter house can handle it. With groups such as the Albert City Lions Club, Garden Club, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), the American Legion for adults, not even the kids are left out – there are Boy and Girl Scouts as well as 4-H groups.

If you’re looking for a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and a small town environment to raise a family, Albert City is the place for you!

To learn more, visit: http://www.albertcity.com/

History

Over a million Swedish immigrants came to the United States between 1850-1930, many of whom immigrated to the Iowa area. Keeping to themselves at first, due to the language barrier, the immigrants were soon learning the language and their heritage would become a very important part in the development of the mid-west and Albert city.

When the town was first founded, it was dubbed Manthorpe, after the town one of the founders was from, and while there are two stories explaining the name change, the more popular one being that Albert City was named after George R. Anderson’s wife. Albertina’s husband had sold some of his lots to people who were trying to start a new settlement and there was some confusion with the town of Marathon that was north of the settlement. Either way, the town’s name was changed to Albert City in October of 1900.

Soon, a main street began to develop, the first businesses being three general stores, a hardware store and various and sundry others like banks and lumber yards. A post office had also been set up, the mail carried from Marathon.

A school was built in Albert City for all twelve grades and in 1958, Albert City merged with Truesdale. A library was started up in 1936 by the women of Albert City and the first swimming pool for the city was built in 1955, the first in Buena Vista County becoming part of the town park.

The town might be small, but it’s had its share of excitement including a gun fight between Marshalls and bank robbers in the depot, a building that still stands today, where you can still see the gun shot holes.

Albert City was developed by its Swedish ancestors and will always be a small town achieving big things, including its 75 th anniversary and continuing to push progressively forward.

To learn more, visit: http://www.albertcity.com/History.htm

Albert City , IA Nearby Attractions & Activities

Albert City Historical Museum

 View depot, 1900s-era home, military room, small grocery store, laundry room, tool shop and 1875 furnished schoolhouse. Early 1900s cars, music boxes, glassware figurines, railroad memorabilia and medical instruments displayed.

To learn more, call 712-843-5684

Buena Vista County Conservation Park

Headquarters for the Conservation Board, the building contains offices and shop areas. The park contains two enclosed shelter houses that can be reserved for use. Picnic shelters and a shaded campground are also available as well as playground equipment with athletic courts. To learn more, visit: http://www.bvcountyconservation.com/areas/bv_park.htm

Wildlife Display

Enjoy panoramic displays featuring wildlife native to Buena Vista County as well as a detailed hand painted mural by Steve Brauhn. Constructed by Lance Christensen and Steve Brauhn, it includes featured displays of badger, fox, pheasant, hawk, river otter, raccoon, and more. To learn more, visit: http://www.bvcountyconservation.com/areas/wildlife_display.htm

Events Calendar

 Whether it’s the Buena Vista County Historical Society’s Memorial Ceremony, the Star Spangled Spectacular, or the Hobie Cat Sail Boat Regatta, you can visit http://www.co.buena-vista.ia.us/INDEX/BVC_Events_Calendar.mht for all the information you need!

To learn more about Albert City, visit: http://www.albertcity.com/index.htm