Once inhabited by French trappers and traders in the late 1700s, present-day Scott County was sold to the federal government as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Adventuresome early settlers found their way into the new territory by way of boat, horseback, and on foot to find plentiful natural resources that would sustain them through the hardships to come. This volume illustrates the rugged, pioneering character of the county, which has witnessed the ebbs and flows of the state throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. From primitive dirt trails to the paved highways of today, this fascinating photographic history tells Scott County's progress through the years. The reader is sure to rediscover the beauty of the region's pastoral landscape, with its sprawling ranches and row-crop farms. Also included are flourishing churches, schools, and industries as well as Scott County residents at work and play.