Keokuk County, Iowa

 

Founding: 1844 (declared in 1837)
Parent counties: Dubuque and unorganized territory

Namesake: Keokuk, Sauk chief
Seat: Lancaster (1848–1856); Sigourney (1844–1848, 1856–)

Land area: 579 square miles

Population (2020): 10,033

Population (historic): 4,822 (1850); 19,434 (1870); 23,862 (1890); 21,160 (1910); 19,148 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1900

Subdivisions: 16 cities; 17 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,316 (47.5%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 44.5%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 7.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.2%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,053
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,959
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.6 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,764
Average farm size (1920): 109.8 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Germany, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Ireland, and England
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Sigourney

Namesake: Lydia Sigourney, Connecticut poet

Founding: 1844 (platting); 1844 (post office); 1858 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 2,004

Population (historic): 162 (1850); 992 (1870); 1,523 (1890); 2,032 (1910); 2,262 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1844–1880; 1890–1940; 1950s; 1990s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 461 (45.3%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church (1898–1899). 30832 242nd Road. Clear Creek. Gothic Revival.
2. Nathan Miller House (c. 1850). 27421 110th Road. English River.
3. Charles Singmaster Farm (1893). 32263 190th Road. Lafayette. Classical Revival.
4. Frank Besser Farm (c. 1910). 28431 200th Road. Lafayette. Classical Revival.
5. St. Elizabeth Rectory (c. 1885). 20456 285th Road. Lafayette. Italianate.

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