DICKINSON, a new county in the N. W. part of Iowa, bordering on Minnesota, has an area of about 430 -square miles. It is intersected by the Okoboji river, a branch of the Little Sioux river, which flows into the Missouri. It has several small lakes, the principal of which is Spirit lake. This county is not included in the census of 1850. County seat not located. Named in honor of Senator Dickinson of New York. (Baldwin's New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States..., 1854)
DICKINSON COUNTY Is in the northern tier of counties, and the third east of the western boundary of the State, and on the grand divide which separates the waters of the Missouri from those of the Mississippi. It is 24 miles east and west, and 18 north and south, thus containing 432 square miles. Spirit Lake, which covers about one third of a township, is the largest lake in the State. Okoboji Lake lying south of Spirit Lake, consists of two irregular bodies of water ten or twelve miles long, and about a mile wide. Its outlet flows into the Little Sioux River. The beautiful lands and some bodies of timber adjoining these lakes attracted settlers as early as 1856, although the county is as yet sparsely settled. It was organized in 1857.
SPIRIT LAKE CITY is south of Spirit Lake, and at the head of Okoboji Lake, and is the county seat. It contains three general stores, one saw mill, one flour mill, two hotels, etc.
OKOBOJI is near the southern end of the lake of the same name, and contains one general store, one gunsmith, and one blacksmith shop. (Hair's Iowa State Gazetteer..., 1865)