Parnell

History

Parnell was platted on July 5, 1887 as a station stop on the Chicago Great Western Railway and it was formally incorporated in 1888. The Chicago Great Western route passing through the community was called the Diagonal Route. It ran at northeast direction from Kansas City to Waterloo, Iowa including passing through the community of Diagonal, Iowa. Among the first businesses was the Diagonal Hotel. Ben Jones father Horace Jones organized the founding of the community and an early proposed names was Jonesville until it was discovered there was another Jonesville in Missouri. The name ultimately chosen was in honor or Irish politician Charles Stewart Parnell who was at the peak of influence in creating Irish homerule when Parnell was incorporated. After he retiring in 1976 Jimmy returned to 1,750 acre ranch in Parnell. He sold the ranch in 1986. He had no children and died in Maryville, Missouri in 2001. He left $7.2 million to St. Francis Hospital there.

Geography

Parnell is located at the junction of routes 46 and NN one-half mile from the Nodaway-Worth county line. The Platte River flows past the west side of the community. Ravenwood is approximately six miles to the south-southwest and Sheridan in northwest Worth County is five miles to the north. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Northeast Nodaway Elementary
  Elementary · Ravenwood · 126 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• NORTHEAST NODAWAY HIGH
  High · RAVENWOOD · 94 students · 7.8:1 ratio