Council Bluffs is a small city in Pottawattamie County in western Iowa. It covers 39.7 sq mi (102.7 sq km) and has a population of 62,000 people (2011 estimate). The city is across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska.

Old Pottawattamie County Jail, Council BluffsOld Pottawattamie County Jail, Council Bluffs
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The area that becomes present-day Council Bluffs was first settled in 1838 by Sauganash, who is of an Irish father and a Mohawk mother. He had led a band of Pottawatomie Native Americans to the east side of the Missouri River. At that time, encroachment by European-Americans into the area forced more and more Native Americans to resettle in the Council Bluffs area.

Coming to minister to the natives was Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, who witnessed the many social ills of the Native Americans. He tried with little success to convert them to Christianity.

In 1948, the town was given the name Kanesville, after benefactor Thomas L. Kane. It was only renamed Council Bluffs in 1852. The city was the starting point of the Emigrant Trail. Mormons also left from here on their march to Utah.

Thomas E Cavin House, Council BluffsThomas E Cavin House, Council Bluffs
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Today Council Bluff is a grain transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural land. To prop up its economy, the state of Iowa liberalized its gambling laws, enabling Council Bluffs to be the 19th largest casino market in the country.

Visiting Council Bluffs

Interstate 80 and 29 are the main highways connecting Council Bluff with the rest of the country. The I-80 runs east-west, connecting it with Omaha to the west and Des Moines to the east. The I-29 runs north-south, connecting it with Sioux City to the north and St Joseph to the south.

O.P. Wickham House, Council BluffsO.P. Wickham House, Council Bluffs
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Places of Interest in Council Bluffs

  1. Casinos of Council Bluffs
    Among the casinos in Council Bluffs include Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs, Harrah's Council Bluffs and Horseshoe Council Bluffs.

  2. RailsWest Railroad Museum
    Railway museum at South Main Street and Sixteenth Avenue.

  3. Old Pottawattamie County Jail
    In use from 1885until 1969, this is one of the three remaining examples of a Rotary Jail, and is toady listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Popularly known as the Squirrel Cage Jail.

  4. Union Pacific Museum
    Museum occupying the building that was once the Council Bluffs Free Public Library.

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