Marne is located in Brighton township, one of the original 7 townships of Cass County. On May 17th 1875, investors from a German settlement in Davenport filed papers to plat a new town on land purchased from Thomas Meredith. It was named Marne in honor of the city of Marne, Germany. The 1875 census documents the population at 617—we are now at 149 and holding.

The first schoolhouse was built in 1877 in the lot adjacent to the current community room / fire station. It was torn down in 1951 when the current structure at 4th & Washington was completed. Marne consolidated with Atlantic in 1960—the elementary school was maintained here until 1972. The building is now home to our Community center, City Hall & Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept.