The Office of the County Recorder was created by the First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa in 1839. In 1860, the law provided that "each organized county shall elect a judge of the county court, a prosecuting attorney, a clerk of the district, a recorder, a sheriff, a surveyor, a coroner and a supervisor of roads." It also provided that the recorder shall be treasurer of the county. The law required the recorder to "keep books for entering deeds" and a deed was not to be considered lawfully recorded unless previously acknowledged (notarized) or proved as provided by law.
Your County Recorder continues to maintain official records of documents affecting real estate in order to protect innocent third parties in real estate transactions. The County Recorder's office is at the hub of county administration. A significant portion of duties performed by other county officials is dependent on work performed by your County Recorder. Although this basic duty remains relatively unchanged, many additional functions have been added to the office.