Poweshiek County, Iowa

 

Founding: 1848 (declared in 1843)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: Poweshiek, Meskwaki chief
Seat: Montezuma (1848–)

Land area: 585 square miles

Population (2020): 18,662

Population (historic): 615 (1850); 15,581 (1870); 18,394 (1880); 19,414 (1900); 18,727 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1880; 1890–1920; 1930–1950; 1970s

Subdivisions: Ten cities; one CDP; 16 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,341 (25.6%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 55.4%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 9.6%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 1.8%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.4%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,121
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,383
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,179
Average farm size (1920): 145.9 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, and Ireland
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Montezuma

Namesake: Moctezuma II, Aztec emperor

Founding: 1848 (platting); 1849 (post office); 1868 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 1,442

Population (historic): 564 (1860); 921 (1880); 1,210 (1900); 1,257 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1848–1860; 1870–1900; 1910s; 1930s; 1970–1990; 2000s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 239 (35.4%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. John Ohland Farm (c. 1885). 3362 130th Road. Sheridan. Second Empire.

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