[2] Stephen's State Forest was established in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) through an effort to expand hardwood and conifer populations in the area.
In the 1950s, the CCC sold the land to the state of Iowa and the forest was converted into a recreational property.
The 7 separate parcels of land that make up Stephens State Forest are referred to as the Lucas, Whitebreast, Woodburn, Cedar Creek, Chariton, Thousand Acres, and Unionville Units.
[2] In 1951, the state forest was named after T. C. Stephens, a professor of biology at Morningside College, ornithologist, and conservationist.
[3] Prior to this, the collective units of land were referred to as the Lucas-Monroe Forest Area.