GARWIN CITY HALL
205 Main Street
Garwin, IA 50632
(641) 499-2307
garwincity@verocitywireless.net
www.tamacountyiowa.org/garwin
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QUICK AND EASY FACTS
CITY LEADERSHIP
Council meets monthly, 1st Monday, 6 pm
Greg Ochs, Mayor (2012-2014)
Curt Bacon (2012-2016)
Gary Edwards (2012-2016)
Tracy Frasier (2012-2016)
Merle Parks (2010-2014)
Ron Smith (2010-2014)
Lori Leytham, City Clerk
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THE STORY OF GARWIN, IOWA
Garwin owes its existence to the fact that in 1879, at the county seat in Toledo, which is southeast of Garwin’s location, the Toledo and Northwestern Railroad was sold to the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. After the sale, the line was extended northwestward from Toledo. Other towns sprang up along the tracks, but Garwin was the first station beyond Toledo.
There was difficulty in giving the townsite a name. The first name chosen was Maple, or some say, Myrcle. Neither was an overwhelming favorite. The next choice was Marvin in honor of Marvin Hewitt, an official of the Northwestern railroad, but another town already bore that name. When the site was being considered, several landowners were interested in selling their land for that purpose, among them being George Rider and John Galvizer. After much controversy, these two men won out and a message was sent to Toledo: “G (for Glavizer) and R (for Rider) win”. This was construed to be Garwin and the town had its name.
