Scotland

Formed January 29, 1841 (77^th county)

Scotland County (4,709), Memphis (1,733)

The masonry Beaux Arts and Classical courthouse was built in 1907.  It is on a square at Monroe, Main, Madison, and Market streets.  United States Highway 136 Business is Monroe Street.  The courthouse architect was W. Chamberlain.  The building features a clock tower.  There were 1845 and 1856 earlier versions all in Memphis, the only county seat.  The county was created on January 29, 1841 from Native American Territory as the 77^th county.  It is named for the country of Scotland.  Memphis is named for Memphis, Egypt. 

Scotland 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 Scotland, Clark, and Schuyler counties and One County Court Judge and a court clerk serve Scotland County (judicial.)  The county is located on the northern border of the state.  Iowa is north of the border.  Des Moines, Iowa is northwest and Saint Louis, Missouri is southeast of the county.  The county center is 3.3 miles Southeast of Memphis.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Iowa and Clark, Knox, Adair, and Schuyler counties.  

The area of the county is 438 square miles.  It is 98 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 109 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 10.8 persons per square mile making it 104 out of 115 in the state.  Scotland County has 40.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 136 crosses east to west through the county from Clark County to Schuyler County.  The county is a rectangle.  Memphis is located slightly west of center in the county.  Memphis is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 36.8% of the county population.