Unique was a

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

in Weaver Township, Humboldt County,

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...

, United States. The town contained a

post office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...

from April 1878 until September 1891. It was re-established April 1892 and discontinued permanently January 1902.

History

Settlers began building in the area when it was believed that a railroad would pass through the marshland. The Barker School was built at Unique in either 1873 or 1879. A post office was established in 1878. The state of Iowa moved the post office in 1880, to its present-day location in the northeast corner. An argument over where the Methodist Church should be established with the Reed's Corner settlement (two miles to the south) had to be settled by church authorities. The church was built in 1889 just north of the Unique schoolhouse. The first school building was replaced in 1937, and the second school closed in 1944.

Today

A rusted metal sign is all that remains of Unique. It formerly said "Unique, Iowa", but is now illegible. The intersection of Humboldt County Route C44 (230th Street) and Humboldt County Route P29 (Florida Avenue) is often referred to colloquially as "Unique Corner". The settlement still appears on the Iowa DOT Map and Google Maps.

Notable person

Roy L. Pinn Roy Lorin Pinn (May 9, 1888 – June 3, 1950) was an American carpenter and politician. Born in Unique, Iowa, Pinn was a journeyman carpenter and was involved with the state executive council of carpenters. He served as clerk and director of t ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

politician, was born in Unique.'Wisconsin Blue Book 1929,' Biographical Sketch of Roy L. Pinn, pg. 546

References

{{Humboldt County, Iowa Geography of Humboldt County, Iowa Ghost towns in Iowa Populated places established in 1878 1878 establishments in Iowa Populated places disestablished in 1902 1902 disestablishments in Iowa