Hancock County, Administrative county in northern Iowa, United States
Hancock County is a county in northern Iowa, with Garner as its county seat. The area is made up mostly of flat farmland, with several small towns spread across the territory.
The county was established in 1851 and named after John Hancock, a signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Its early growth was tied to farming settlers who moved into the region during the mid-19th century.
Britt, one of the smaller towns in the county, hosts a national hobo convention every summer that draws visitors from across the country. The event celebrates a traveling way of life that was once common among itinerant workers in America.
Garner is the best starting point for anyone needing county offices or public services, as most official buildings are located there. Traveling by car is the most practical way to reach the smaller towns, since distances across the flat land can be long.
Britt is home to the National Hobo Museum, one of the few museums in the world dedicated to the history of American hobos. The collection presents objects and personal stories linked to the lives of people who traveled the country on freight trains.
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