LARGEST - Town Square in the World - Centerville, IA
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 40° 44.037 W 092° 52.466
15T E 510602 N 4509231
Brag and belief, now town's slogan
Waymark Code: WM10B31
Location: Iowa, United States
Date Posted: 04/05/2019
Views: 1
County of Marker: Appanoosa County
Location of Marker: Maple St. & Main St., county history museum (old post office), Centerville
Marker Erected by: Appanoosa County Historical Society
Marker Text:
CENTERVILLE
The first county sheriff was Jackson Perjue, who was also one of the men who helped select the site for the county seat in 1845. The original name was Chaldea, but was changed to Centreville in 1847. The spelling was changed in 1876. The earliest store was in a log cabin owned by Spencer Wadlington.
Jonathan Stratton, a surveyor, was appointed to plat the town. He designed the town square to be two blocks long on each side. The slogan "Largest City Square in the World" was adopted as a slogan in the 1950's.
The city library was built by Francis Drake, who was a Civil War General, banker, and businessman, and the Governor of Iowa from 1896 to 1898. The present courthouse was built in 1903. Centerville continued to develop a good business district, schools, a hospital and many churches.
This museum is owned by the Appanoose County Historical Society. It was built in 1903 and was originally a post office, used until 1977. The present museum has over fifty exhibits, a research library, and many historical photographs.
"A quaint little town located about an hour east of I-35 in southern Iowa, Centerville is home to the World's Largest Town Square and a collection of charming restaurants and gift shops, each decked out for the fast-approaching holiday season. Armed with my own gift list, I recently spent a warm fall day exploring this historic community, eager to experience the pleasant hospitality that’s synonymous with Iowa’s small towns." ~ Travel Iowa