Iowa's 10th congressional district existed from 1883 to 1933, when Iowa sent eleven congressmen to the United States House of Representatives. The district, known as "The Big Tenth,"[1] covered large areas of north-central Iowa.
From 1883 to 1886, the district included the north-central Iowa counties of Worth, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hardin, Story, Wright, Hamilton, Humboldt, Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago, Webster, and Boone.[2] Reapportionment in 1886 reflected the increasing population balance between eastern and western Iowa, resulting in a westward shift of the district's boundaries.[3] From 1886 until 1933, the district was made up of Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Crawford, Emmet, Greene, Hamilton, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Winnebago, and Webster counties.[3] After 1886, the boundaries of the district never changed;[4] the Iowa General Assembly refused to reapportion its districts until the loss of two seats following the 1930 census left the State with no other choice.
Demographics and underrepresentationEdit
The district was predominantly rural, especially in its 1886 reconfiguration. During that period, it included only one of Iowa's twenty largest cities — Fort Dodge — and included counties that had been relatively slow to settle. However, by 1895 the large area of the 10th District, coupled with increased migration to its small towns, caused it to have the largest population of any of Iowa's congressional districts.[5] By 1890, the continued disproportionate increase in the population of the 10th and 11th Districts caused some to predict that the General Assembly would need to reduce the area of each district,[5] but no such change occurred. By 1921, the 10th District had over 100,000 more residents than the 1st District, and nearly 60,000 more than the population of an ideally-sized Iowa congressional district.[6]
Voting patternsEdit
Every congressman elected from this district was a member of the Republican Party. As a general matter, the most influential event during each election year was not the November general election, but the Republican Party's district nominating convention (or later, the Republican primary). Two 10th district congressmen (Jonathan P. Dolliver and L. J. Dickinson) became well-known members of the U.S. Senate and sought national office.
After dissolutionEdit
Under the nine-district plan adopted by the Iowa General Assembly in 1931, the boundaries of the old 10th district were preserved as the new 8th district.[7] The last congressman elected by the old 10th district, Fred C. Gilchrist, was elected in the new 8th district in 1932. Ten years later, when the 1940 census caused Iowa to lose another seat, the new 6th district included all of the old 10th district's counties, plus Wright County. It was only after that district elected a Democrat (Merwin Coad from Boone County) and Iowa lost a seat due to the 1960 census that the Iowa General Assembly broke up the old 10th district's counties, dividing them among four districts.[8]
^"The 'Big Tenth,'" Emmet County Republican, 1897-05-27 at p. 9 (reprinted from the Jefferson Souvenir); "The State Ticket," Carroll Daily Sentinel, 1892-08-22 at p. 1.
^"Congressional Map of the State of Iowa - Official Census 1885" (Iowa Official Register 1886 2006-05-19 at the Wayback Machine at pp. 12-13).
^Iowa Official Register 1929-30 2013-11-12 at the Wayback Machine at p. 3.
^ ab"Redistricting in Iowa," Dubuque Sunday Herald, 1900-11-04 at p. 11.
^Editorial, "A Brilliant Idea," Waterloo Evening Courier, 1921-01-26 at 6.
^Iowa Official Register 1933-34 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine at p. 6.
^Editorial, "Another redrawing," Ames Daily Tribune, 1970-07-07 at p. 4 (depicting the 1941 and 1961 district maps).
Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
October 15, 2023
iowa, 10th, congressional, district, existed, from, 1883, 1933, when, iowa, sent, eleven, congressmen, united, states, house, representatives, district, known, tenth, covered, large, areas, north, central, iowa, obsolete, districtcreated1880eliminated1930years. Iowa s 10th congressional district existed from 1883 to 1933 when Iowa sent eleven congressmen to the United States House of Representatives The district known as The Big Tenth 1 covered large areas of north central Iowa Iowa s 10th congressional districtObsolete districtCreated1880Eliminated1930Years active1883 1933 Contents 1 Makeup 2 Demographics and underrepresentation 3 Voting patterns 4 After dissolution 5 List of members representing the district 6 See also 7 ReferencesMakeup EditFrom 1883 to 1886 the district included the north central Iowa counties of Worth Cerro Gordo Franklin Hardin Story Wright Hamilton Humboldt Hancock Kossuth Winnebago Webster and Boone 2 Reapportionment in 1886 reflected the increasing population balance between eastern and western Iowa resulting in a westward shift of the district s boundaries 3 From 1886 until 1933 the district was made up of Boone Calhoun Carroll Crawford Emmet Greene Hamilton Humboldt Kossuth Palo Alto Pocahontas Winnebago and Webster counties 3 After 1886 the boundaries of the district never changed 4 the Iowa General Assembly refused to reapportion its districts until the loss of two seats following the 1930 census left the State with no other choice Demographics and underrepresentation EditThe district was predominantly rural especially in its 1886 reconfiguration During that period it included only one of Iowa s twenty largest cities Fort Dodge and included counties that had been relatively slow to settle However by 1895 the large area of the 10th District coupled with increased migration to its small towns caused it to have the largest population of any of Iowa s congressional districts 5 By 1890 the continued disproportionate increase in the population of the 10th and 11th Districts caused some to predict that the General Assembly would need to reduce the area of each district 5 but no such change occurred By 1921 the 10th District had over 100 000 more residents than the 1st District and nearly 60 000 more than the population of an ideally sized Iowa congressional district 6 Voting patterns EditEvery congressman elected from this district was a member of the Republican Party As a general matter the most influential event during each election year was not the November general election but the Republican Party s district nominating convention or later the Republican primary Two 10th district congressmen Jonathan P Dolliver and L J Dickinson became well known members of the U S Senate and sought national office After dissolution EditUnder the nine district plan adopted by the Iowa General Assembly in 1931 the boundaries of the old 10th district were preserved as the new 8th district 7 The last congressman elected by the old 10th district Fred C Gilchrist was elected in the new 8th district in 1932 Ten years later when the 1940 census caused Iowa to lose another seat the new 6th district included all of the old 10th district s counties plus Wright County It was only after that district elected a Democrat Merwin Coad from Boone County and Iowa lost a seat due to the 1960 census that the Iowa General Assembly broke up the old 10th district s counties dividing them among four districts 8 List of members representing the district EditMember District Residence County Party Term Congress Electoral historyDistrict created March 4 1883 nbsp Adoniram J Holmes Boone Republican March 4 1883 March 3 1889 48th49th50th Elected in 1882 Re elected in 1884 Re elected in 1886 Lost renomination nbsp Jonathan P Dolliver Fort Dodge Republican March 4 1889 August 22 1900 51st52nd53rd54th55th56th Elected in 1888 Re elected in 1890 Re elected in 1892 Re elected in 1894 Re elected in 1896 Re elected in 1898 Resigned after being appointed to the U S Senate Vacant August 22 1900 December 4 1900 56th nbsp James P Conner Denison Republican December 4 1900 March 3 1909 56th57th58th59th60th Elected to finish Dolliver s term Re elected in 1900 Re elected in 1902 Re elected in 1904 Re elected in 1906 Lost renomination nbsp Frank P Woods Estherville Republican March 4 1909 March 3 1919 61st62nd63rd64th65th Elected in 1908 Re elected in 1910 Re elected in 1912 Re elected in 1914 Re elected in 1916 Lost renomination nbsp Lester J Dickinson Algona Republican March 4 1919 March 3 1931 66th67th68th69th70th71st Elected in 1918 Re elected in 1920 Re elected in 1922 Re elected in 1924 Re elected in 1926 Re elected in 1928 Retired to run for U S Senator nbsp Fred C Gilchrist Laurens Republican March 4 1931 March 3 1933 72nd Elected in 1930 Redistricted to the 8th district District eliminated March 4 1933See also EditIowa s congressional districtsReferences Edit The Big Tenth Emmet County Republican 1897 05 27 at p 9 reprinted from the Jefferson Souvenir The State Ticket Carroll Daily Sentinel 1892 08 22 at p 1 Congressional Map of the State of Iowa Official Census 1885 Iowa Official Register 1886 Archived 2006 05 19 at the Wayback Machine at pp 12 13 a b The Congressional Districts Waterloo Courier 1886 04 14 Iowa Official Register 1929 30 Archived 2013 11 12 at the Wayback Machine at p 3 a b Redistricting in Iowa Dubuque Sunday Herald 1900 11 04 at p 11 Editorial A Brilliant Idea Waterloo Evening Courier 1921 01 26 at 6 Iowa Official Register 1933 34 Archived 2011 07 25 at the Wayback Machine at p 6 Editorial Another redrawing Ames Daily Tribune 1970 07 07 at p 4 depicting the 1941 and 1961 district maps Martis Kenneth C 1989 The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress New York Macmillan Publishing Company Martis Kenneth C 1982 The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts New York Macmillan Publishing Company Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774 present Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Iowa 27s 10th congressional district amp oldid 1169764440, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
