Plymouth County

Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa.  The county seat is Le Mars. Plymouth County was formed on January 15, 1851. Settlement began in 1856. In October, 1859, the first courthouse was built and the first public school opened its doors with 32 pupils. In 1872, the county seat was moved to Le Mars and a new courthouse and a jail were built there in 1873. The courthouse in present use was built in 1900 of red sandstone.

During the Great Depression, the farmers organized a group, which they named the Farmers Holiday Group. The goal was to keep farm products off the market until the desired price was met. A radical group among them abducted Judge Bradley from his court chamber and threatened to hang him in the front of the courthouse. Bradley was freed, but the governor ordered the national guard to Plymouth County and declared state of emergency, which meant the end of the Farmers Holiday Group