Louisa County, Iowa

Founding: 1836
Parent county: Des Moines

Namesake: Unclear—perhaps Louisa County, Virginia
Seat: Wapello (1838–)

Land area: 402 square miles

Population (2020): 10,837

Population (historic): 4,939 (1850); 12,877 (1870); 11,873 (1890); 12,855 (1910); 11,575 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1880; 1890s; 1960–1980; 1990s

Subdivisions: Nine cities; 12 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,840 (36.5%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 57.5%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 5%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 8.5%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.3%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,183
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,423
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.5 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,470
Average farm size (1920): 126.8 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois
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Wapello

Namesake: Wapello, Meskwaki chief

Founding: 1837 (platting); 1837 (post office); 1856 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 2,084

Population (historic): 336 (1850); 870 (1870); 1,009 (1890); 1,326 (1910); 1,502 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1837–1900; 1910–1950; 1960–2000; 2010s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 301 (34.7%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Francis Springer Farm (c. 1870). 12925 Road X17. Columbus City. Italianate. Razed.
2. House (c. 1875). 13603 Road X17. Columbus City. Gothic Revival.
3. Benjamin Stoddard Farm (c. 1855). 12856 Q Road. Columbus City.
4. Wesley Garner House (c. 1855). 2309 Spring Street. Columbus City. Italianate.
5. James Brockway Farm (c. 1915). 15817 L Road. Grandview. Craftsman.
6. Josiah Vertrees Farm (c. 1855). 3036 N Road. Morning Sun.
7. Bethel Methodist Church (1855). 35th Road, west of US Highway 61. Wapello. Greek Revival.
8. Sylvanus Dunham Farm (c. 1860). 17869 100th Road. Wapello. Italianate.

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