Adel (ˈeɪdəl ) is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Iowa. It is located along the North Raccoon River. Its population was 6,153 at the time of the 2020 Census.
Adel is the oldest town within Dallas County. Originally called Penoach, Adel was incorporated in 1847, and changed to its current name in 1849. In 1855, there were about twenty-five houses in Adel and three stores. From that time onward, the city began to grow at a faster rate.
Situated along the river, Adel had a good supply of water-power for a flour mill. It was to be situated on a section of property owned by Noeingerl Cantrel & Co. J. H. Strong of Des Moines, and H. H. Moffatt built the mill in 1856–57 at a cost of 20,000.Thedamwasconstructedwithabouteightfeetofheadwater.Themillwaskeptingoodrepair,abletoaveragefromtwelvetofifteenbushelsperhour,withacapabilityofthirtyperhour,butwasdestroyedin1913.TherailroadreachedothertownsinDallasCountybeforeAdel,andthetownwasthreatenedwithlosingthecountyseat.AdelbusinessownersbackedtheDesMoinesWesternRailroadCompany,whichwassoonrenamedastheDesMoines,Adel,andWestern.Anarrowgaugerailroadwasbuiltinthe1870s.ThelinewasrebuiltasstandardgaugeaftertheMilwaukeeRoadpurchasedthelineinthe1890s.PassengerservicetoAdelwasdiscontinuedin1952,andthelinewasabandonedin1987.ThelinehasbeenrepurposedintothepopularRaccoonRiverValleyTrail.TheAdelbankwasrobbedonMarch6,1895.Twomenenteredinabuggyandshotateller,who,thoughwounded,managedtoclosethevaultandturnthetumblers,preventingthethievesfromtakingoffwithasubstantialamount.FutureGovernorofIowaGeorgeW.Clarkehadalawofficeonthesecondfloor.AsClarkedescendedthestairs,arobberfiredhisgun.However,theweaponmisfired,sparingClarke′slife.TheDallasCountyCourthouse,wascompletedin1902atacostofabout109,000, is located at the center of downtown Adel.
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