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Poweshiek

Poweshiek is a name with Native American origins that has been used to refer to a Fox (Meskwaki) leader and to places in Iowa, most notably Poweshiek County. The name is an anglicized form of the leader’s name, which has appeared in various spellings, including Poweshik. The figure is remembered as a prominent Fox-Sauk leader who lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Poweshiek County, Iowa, is a rural county in central Iowa. It lies in the rolling farmland region

Chief Poweshiek, the Fox (Meskwaki) leader associated with the name, is noted in historical accounts from the

of
the
state
and
includes
several
small
towns,
with
Montezuma
serving
as
the
county
seat.
The
county’s
economy
is
largely
based
on
agriculture,
with
crops
such
as
corn
and
soybeans
playing
a
central
role,
complemented
by
local
services
and
light
manufacturing
in
the
towns.
period
of
early
contact
between
Native
peoples
and
European
settlers.
The
lasting
use
of
his
name
in
regional
toponyms
reflects
his
impact
on
local
history,
with
Poweshiek
County
standing
as
the
most
prominent
example
of
this
legacy.