Andrew

History

Andrew, located in Jackson County, was named for the seventh president, Andrew Jackson. In 1841 Ansel Briggs, the first governor of Iowa, settled on a location outside of Andrew known as Bluff Mills, later moving his family to town. He became the Jackson County deputy treasurer in 1843 then began a two-year term as Sheriff of Jackson County in 1844. Ansel Briggs won the election against Thomas McKnight for the governor of Iowa in 1846. Briggs served as governor until 1850. On September 22, 1909, the citizens of Andrew erected a granite monument in the city cemetery in his honor. Although Briggs was originally buried in Omaha, Nebraska, he was re-interred in 1909 in the Andrew Cemetery. Andrew was incorporated in 1863, with the first record of ordinances recorded in 1867. The county seat switched between Bellevue and Andrew several times until it was moved to Maquoketa in 1873. The county seat was responsible for much of the growth of the city. An orphans asylum and courthouse was built along with other structures to serve the county government. The Jackson County Jailhouse was built in 1870 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The three-story limestone structure includes sheriff's office, cell room, exercise yard, a jailer quarters, and prison kitchen. The jailhouse has since been restored and tours are given. The first school was made of logs in 1841 and the second was a framed structure. A brick building was built in 1889 at the present location of the school, 13 South Marion Street. Andrew Community School conducts preschool through eighth grade level classes, with the former high school being closed in 2011. Andrew is the birthplace of the first American military casualty of World War II, Captain Robert M. Losey, who was killed…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  286
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  248
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  216
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  208
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  204
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  200
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  196
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  171

Largest nearby schools

• Maquoketa Community High School
  High · Maquoketa · 498 students · 14.6:1 ratio
• Maquoketa Middle School
  Middle · Maquoketa · 315 students · 12.1:1 ratio
• Cardinal Elementary School
  Elementary · Maquoketa · 271 students · 11.8:1 ratio
• Briggs Elementary School
  Elementary · Maquoketa · 198 students · 11:1 ratio
• Andrew Elementary School
  Elementary · Andrew · 147 students · 10.5:1 ratio