Plymouth County is one of the largest counties in Iowa, claiming 864 square miles. The early pioneers made this observation: "If you stared long enough at the open prairie, it would stare back at you " The first white settlers arrived in 1856 and began establishing the communities of Westfield and Melbourne that same year. The town of Le Mars was founded in 1869. The town name was derived from the first initials of five women who visited the site...