Schuyler

Formed February 25, 1845 (94^th county)

Schuyler County (4,034), Lancaster (675)                

The modern 1962 red brick Federalist courthouse was constructed on the square on Jefferson, Green, Washington, and Marion streets.  United States Highway 136 is Washington Street in the town.  A small tower adorns the top of the building.  Kenneth O. von Achen was the architect.  There have been 1845, 1856, and 1895 versions of the courthouse earlier.  The county was organized on February 25, 1845 from Native American Territory as the 94^th county.  Tippecanoe was the first county seat replaced by Lancaster in 1845.  Schuyler County is named for New York Senator Philip Schuyler.  The county seat is named for Lancaster, Ohio. 

Schuyler County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a collector, a coroner, an assessor and a clerk (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  One Circuit Court Judge serves Schuyler, Clark, and Scotland counties and One County Court Judge and a court clerk serve Schuyler County (judicial.)  This county is on the northern border with Iowa.  Des Moines, Iowa is northwest and Saint Louis, Missouri is southeast.  The county center is 3.2 miles South-Southeast of Lancaster.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Iowa and Scotland, Adair, and Putnam counties. 

The area of the county is 308 square miles.  It is 113 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 112 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 13.1 persons per square mile making it 95 out of 115 in the state.  Schuyler County has 50.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 63 goes north to south in the county from Iowa to Adair County.  United States Highway 136 passes east to west from Scotland County to Putnam County.  The county is an overall rectangle.  Lancaster is in the northern quarter of the county.  Lancaster is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 16.7% of the county population.  The county is pronounced SKIE-LUR.  This county is in the Kirksville Micropolitan Statistical Area.