Murphy, Iowa

Coordinates: 41°39′30″N 92°58′26″W / 41.65833°N 92.97389°W / 41.65833; -92.97389
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Murphy, Iowa
Murphy, Iowa is located in Iowa
Murphy, Iowa
Murphy, Iowa
Coordinates: 41°39′30″N 92°58′26″W / 41.65833°N 92.97389°W / 41.65833; -92.97389
CountryUnited States
StateIowa
CountyJasper
Elevation
823 ft (251 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
GNIS feature ID464220[1]

Murphy is a former unincorporated community in Jasper County, in the U.S. state of Iowa.[1]

Geography[edit]

Murphy was located on what is now Legion Street, along the banks of Elk Creek, at 41°39′30″N 92°58′26″W / 41.65833°N 92.97389°W / 41.65833; -92.97389[1]

History[edit]

Murphy in central Jasper County, Iowa, in 1902

Murphy was named after the first settler in the area, John W. Murphy, who settled the area in 1847.[2] J.W. Murphy also served as postmaster and as the master of the Buena Vista Grange. The post office was established in 1890.[3]

The community was in Buena Vista Township. Murphy never attracted many residents. The community's population was just 4 in 1902,[4] and was 5 in 1915.[5] Around this time, Murphy was considered a village.[3]

The community had a baseball diamond. The Murphy baseball team played against other teams in the Jasper County League.[2]

The Murphy post office closed on January 15, 1911. Thereafter, mail was routed though nearby Newton.[3]

The store at Murphy closed in 1937.[2] The population of Murphy was 27 in 1940.[6] The rail line was removed in 1950.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Murphy, Iowa
  2. ^ a b c d "Kellogg Area History". iagenweb.org. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Weaver, James Baird (1912). Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa. Indianapolis, Indiana: B.F. Bowen & Company. pp. 108, 288, 379.
  4. ^ Cram's Modern Atlas: The New Unrivaled New Census Edition. J. R. Gray & Company. 1902. pp. 203–207.
  5. ^ Atlas of Johnson County, Iowa, 1917 :: Iowa Counties Historic Atlases. pp. 63–66.
  6. ^ The Attorneys List. United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Attorney List Department. 1940. p. 307.

See also[edit]