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

National Register listings: 13

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.