Fort Dodge is located in
Webster County and it is the county seat. It lies north of
Des Moines between
Sioux City and
Waterloo along U.S. Highway 169, on the banks of the Des Moines River.
In summer 1850, the troops of Company E, Sixth United States Infantry under Brevet Major Samuel Woods, chose a plateau overlooking the river valley to build a fort. The site presented several advantages, including potable water, indications of coal and building stone, and timber. From the fort's inception, the soldiers envisioned a future city and erected the main fort buildings in a line that might form a city street.
Fort Dodge, population 26,057, was designated an All American City in 2001. Attractions include the Fort Museum, featuring more than 20 historic buildings such as Trading Post, Ole Fjetland Cabinet Shop and the E Co. Barracks. In addition, visit the Blanden Memorial Art Museum, a center of art and culture for Fort Dodge and a large area of north central Iowa.
