Preparation, Iowa
{{Short description|Ghost town in Iowa, USA}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Preparation, Iowa
|settlement_type = ghost town
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Iowa
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Monona
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|timezone = Central (CST)
|utc_offset = -6
|timezone_DST = CDT
|utc_offset_DST = -5
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|coordinates = {{coord|41.88749|-95.89195|type:city|display=title}}
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|area_code = 712
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Preparation is a ghost town in Monona County, in the U.S. state of Iowa.
Geography
Preparation was located in Spring Valley Township.
History
Preparation was the first settlement in Spring Valley Township. Preparation was founded in 1853 by a schismatic Latter Day Saint sect led by Charles B. Thompson.{{cite web | url=http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/IowasStateParks/ParkDetails.aspx?ParkID=610160 | title=Preparation Canyon State Park | publisher=Iowa Department of Natural Resources | accessdate=25 March 2015 | archive-date=April 2, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101341/http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/IowasStateParks/ParkDetails.aspx?ParkID=610160 | url-status=live }} The community was named from their belief that life on Earth was a preparation for the afterlife.{{cite book|author=Chicago and North Western Railway Company|title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA115|year=1908|page=115}} A post office was established at Preparation in 1854, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1904.{{GNIS|1981929|name=Preparation Post Office (historical)}}
In 1890, Preparation was home to "a store, post-office and smithy. According to the State census of 1885, the town at that time had a total population
of 588, all of American birth with the exception of some ninety-seven, who are nearly all Scandinavians."{{cite book | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/58052318/ | title=History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the Governors of Iowa, and of the Presidents of the United States | publisher=National Publishing Company | year=1890 | location=Chicago, IL |language=en | pages=270-274}}
The site of Preparation is now a part of Preparation Canyon State Park.
See also
{{Portal|Iowa}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Monona County, Iowa}}
Category:Geography of Monona County, Iowa
Category:Populated places established in 1853
Category:1853 establishments in Iowa
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{{MononaCountyIA-geo-stub}}