Van Buren County, Iowa

Founding: 1836
Parent county: Des Moines

Namesake: Martin Van Buren, U.S. president
Seat: Farmington (1836–1837); Rochester (1837–1838); Keosauqua (1838–)

Land area: 485 square miles

Population (2020): 7,203

Population (historic): 12,270 (1850); 17,672 (1870); 16,253 (1890); 15,020 (1910); 12,603 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1870; 1890s; 1990s

Subdivisions: Seven cities; three CDPs; 15 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,340 (36.7%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 42.2%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 5.7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 10.6%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 15.9%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,630
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,376
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.4 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,013
Average farm size (1920): 103.9 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, and Germany
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Keosauqua

Namesake: A Meskwaki or Sauk name for the Des Moines River

Founding: 1839 (platting); 1844 (post office); 1851 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 936

Population (historic): 705 (1850); 869 (1870); 831 (1890); 1,009 (1910); 855 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1839–1880; 1890s; 1920–1950; 1980–2000
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 159 (31.2%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Robert Meek House (c. 1865). 29181 Road J40. Bonaparte. Italianate.
2. Edwin Manning Farm (c. 1865). Ivory Road, south of State Route 2. Des Moines. Italianate. Razed.
3. House (c. 1875). 27124 Hawk Road. Farmington. Italianate.
4. Parker Doughty Farm (c. 1875). 26705 225th Road. Henry. Italianate.
5. Charles Davis House (c. 1870). 23481 Nova Road. Henry.
6. Luther Sargeant Farm (c. 1895). 24259 Redbud Road. Henry. Queen Anne.
7. Daniel Reneker Farm (c. 1860). 16106 Hawk Road. Lick Creek.
8. Mount Zion Presbyterian Church (1903). 22989 170th Road. Van Buren. Gothic Revival.
9. William Davis Farm (c. 1885). 20502 215th Road. Van Buren. Italianate/Queen Anne.
10. Franklin Pearson House (c. 1845). 718 Dodge Street. Van Buren.
11. Abner Martin House (1858). 18260 Hawk Road. Van Buren.
12. Webb Barker Farm (c. 1885). 16677 State Route 1. Van Buren. Italianate.

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