Pottawattamie County is the most populous county in southwest Iowa, home to 90,000 citizens spread over 960 square miles. As part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, it joins communities in Nebraska and Iowa having a combined population of just under one million residents. The County, was established on February 24, 1847 with its seats at Kanesville, modern day Council Bluffs, in the west and Avoca in the east. Other population communities in the Pottawatatmie County include: Carson, Carter Lake, Crescent, Hancock, Macedonia, McClelland, Minden, Neola, Oakland, Shelby, Treynor, Underwood, and Walnut. The County is administered by its Board of Supervisors, composed of five at-large members who are elected to four-year terms. The County provides services through departments and offices including: Animal Control Attorney Assessor Auditor Buildings and Grounds Community Services Conservation Emergency Management GIS / Information Technology Human Resources Medical Examiner Planning & Development Public Health Recorder Engineering / Secondary Roads Sheriff Treasurer Veteran Affairs