Monti is located in the northern part of Newton Township, the southeasternmost of Buchanan County's townships. The village lies along County Road W-45, where that road meets with Washington Avenue, an unpaved and unimproved gravel road.
History
The town traces its roots to the late 19th century, when large numbers of Irish immigrants flocked to the state in search of new lives in the New World. The town's Catholic roots can be traced back to the first Irish settlers of Iowa. A large church, St Patrick's Catholic Church of Monti, built in 1870, actually predates the town's existence. A town post office was built in either 1882 or 1885. Postal service was discontinued in 1902, with the introduction of Rural Free Delivery; mail was routed through nearby Masonville. The nearby villages of Newtonville and Kiene were also located in Newton Township. In 1905, the Chicago, Anamosa and Northern Railway was built through Monti and Kiene . The railroad sparked renewed interest in Monti, and a number of new buildings were constructed in 1905. The townsite was platted that year, and St. Patrick's Church registered 400 members. Monti was a sizeable community in 1913 when E.R. Hensley took a panoramic photograph of the 70 students in St Patrick's confirmation class . However, years of rural migration gradually shrank the area's population, emptying Monti and its nearby sister communities; the town's population began to dwindle. The CAN Railway was sold for scrap after World War I. The remains of the railroad grade can still be seen today at the north edge of the hamlet. During the early-to-mid-20th Century, Monti attracted some attention from the ornithology community. Noted ornithologist Fred J. Pierce reported that a large tract of timber 1 mile "southeast of the village of Monti, in the southeastern corner of the county" was a particularly good area for birdwatching. In a 1930 paper, Pierce noted the unusual birds he had spotted between 1923 and 1928. Among these were one specimen each of the ruffed grouse, cerulean warbler, and in 1928 a yellow-bellied flycatcher and a Connecticut warbler. As late as 1945, the Monti woods were home to at least 62 species of bird; the area was used as one of fourteen birding stations in the state. The woods contained the largest confirmed populations of gray-cheeked thrushes, bobolinks, eastern vesper sparrows, eastern field sparrows, and ruby-crowned kinglets in the state during the Spring of 1945.. In 1966, the Monti Consolidated School District was disbanded. The northern portions of the district went to East Buchanan Community School District, while the southern areas were ceded to North Linn Community School District. In 1998, RAGBRAI, a massive cross-state bicycle ride across the state, passed through the hamlet.
Monti today
Today there are fewer than two dozen residents in this dwindling farm community. Because Monti was never incorporated, population figures were never compiled. Although population figures for Monti do not exist, 423 persons live in Newton Township, the around Monti, according to the 2000 Census. In 2005, St Patrick's Catholic Church, which had operated for 135 years, closed its doors. The parish was open from 1870 until July 2005. Since the church has been changed to an oratory the Parish Hall was purchased by the community and the Monti Community Center was formed. It continues to have several community events throughout the year as well as hosting many weddings, reunions, and anniversaries. The church itself continues to have weddings throughout the year as well as holiday, reunion, and anniversary masses. Though the town is very small, it has a community center. The Monti Festival is held in June. An unusual railroad flatcar bridge, constructed from two decommissioned flatcars, was built at the eastern edge of Monti in 2007. The, bridge spans Buffalo Creek on York Avenue, a gravel road, one mile southeast of the community. Monti students may attend school in either the East Buchanan Community or North Linn School Districts. On Saturday March 16, 2019 a Machine Gun Shoot was hosted by one of the residents of Monti with the state chapter of the International Veteran's Group Drinkin' Bro's. With sponsorship by Brownells, Jerry's Machine Guns, Creative Arms and Lewis Machine and Tool, 300 Veterans, LEO's and like minded people enjoyed a day of fraternity. Danny Worsnop, lead singer of Asking Alexandria was in attendance as well and this was the 2nd time in a year that Danny had spent time with Iowa Drinkin' Bros. Monti is not found on most maps and can be difficult to locate. The town of Monticello, east, also causes some confusion. Monti appears on the official State Map of Iowa. Visitors to Monti may locate the community by heading east from Quasqueton on D-47, then turning right on county road W-45, and following that road south then east to a cluster of six houses approximately southeast of Quasqueton. These houses mark the nucleus of the community. The large Catholic church is the most visible landmark.
Parks and recreation
There are two wildlife areas near Monti. Buffalo Creek Wildlife Area, one mile northwest of the community, is a park established in 1969. Hunting and fishing are allowed with permits. southeast of Monti is the Newton Township Natural Area. Canoeing, fishing, and hunting are permitted at the park, which was established in 1998.
