Lee County, Iowa

Founding: 1836
Parent county: Des Moines

Namesake: Unknown
Seats: Fort Madison (1836–); Keokuk (1847–)

Land area: 518 square miles

Population (2020): 33,555

Population (historic): 18,861 (1850); 37,210 (1870); 39,719 (1900); 41,268 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1840–1870; 1880–1900; 1910–1930; 1940–1960; 1970s

Subdivisions: Eight cities; one CDP; 16 townships

National Register listings: 47

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 6,258 (38.5%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 54.1%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 8.6%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.1%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.1%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,171
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,790
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.3 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,297
Average farm size (1920): 89.5 acres
Sources of settlement: Germany, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Ireland
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Fort Madison

Namesake: Fort Madison

Founding: 1835 (platting); 1836 (post office); 1895 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 10,270

Population (historic): 1,509 (1850); 4,011 (1870); 9,278 (1900); 13,779 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1835–1900; 1910–1960; 2000s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,596 (50.4%)
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Keokuk

Namesake: Keokuk, Sauk chief

Founding: circa 1827 (founding); 1841 (post office); 1847 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 9,900

Population (historic): 2,478 (1850); 12,766 (1870); 14,641 (1900); 15,106 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1870; 1880–1900; 1910–1930; 1940–1960
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,192 (45.1%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Isaac Bell Farm (c. 1870). 1285 140th Road. Cedar. Gothic Revival.
2. *Christian Herschler House (c. 1865/1871). 503 6th Street. Franklin.
3. Michael Seyb Farm (c. 1870). 1996 200th Road. Franklin. Greek Revival.
4. *Samuel Kern Farm (c. 1860). 3836 187th Road. Green Bay. Gothic Revival.
5. Nathaniel Prouty House (c. 1865). 3964 Valley Road. Jackson. Italianate.
6. George Powell Farm (c. 1845). 1557 170th Road. Marion. Federal. Razed.
7. Nathaniel Fox House (c. 1855). 2721 156th Road. Pleasant Ridge. Greek Revival. Razed.
8. Jacob Danover House (c. 1880). 2213 St. Paul Road. Pleasant Ridge. Italianate.
9. Omer Hayes House (c. 1870). 1799 303rd Road. Washington. Italianate.
10. Lyman Marsh Farm (c. 1870). 1681 330th Road. Washington. Italianate.
11. Sidney Willard House (c. 1870). 1774 330th Road. Washington. Italianate.
12. *Otway Cutler House (c. 1870). 2140 US Highway 61. Washington. Italianate.
13. Julius Reichelt House (c. 1890). 2178 US Highway 61. Washington. Queen Anne/Romanesque.
14. Casper Strothman House (c. 1870). 57 5th Street. West Point.
15. Charles Graner Farm (c. 1865). 2203 Golden Road. West Point. Gothic Revival.