Livermore Map
Livermore is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 431 at the 2000 census. Livermore is the hometown of Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark.
Lott's Creek, a small stream west of present-day Livermore, was the sight of a historic altercation between Indians and settlers. Henry Lott had set up a cabin and had conducted illegal trading in Webster County before an Indian group under Sidominadota ordered him to leave. Relunctantly he left and ended up building a cabin for him and his family on a stream near the location of present-day Livermore now called Lott's Creek in 1853. Not far from the cabin was the lodge of Sidominadota and his family. In January 1854, Lott and his stepson assassinated the Indian leader while on the same night went to the lodge and killed Sidominadota's whole family. Lott and his stepson then burned their cabin and fled from Iowa. Authorities from Webster County were too late to capture them after they discovered the incident. Locals have since also called the creek 'Bloody Run' because of the blood that had run in the river that day. The massacre increased tensions between the settlers and Indians in northern Iowa for the next few years.
Livermore was founded in 1879. The community grew in importance as an agricultural center with grain elevators and feed mills and merchants serving the surrounding rich farmland. The community is located adjacent to the confluence of the East Fork Des Moines River and Lott's Creek. Early industries included a brick and tile factory and agricultural products processing. As north central Iowa's rural population dwindled, so has Livermore's population. Its remaining elementary school closed in 2005.
Nearby cities include Ottosen, Dakota City, Humboldt, Renwick, Algona.