Keosauqua, Iowa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Keosauqua, pronounced: Key'-Oh-Saw'-Kwa is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Van Buren County^GR6.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Keosauqua is located at 40°43′56″N, 91°57′47″W (40.732089, -91.963027)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²). 3.8 km² (1.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (7.59%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,066 people, 467 households, and 270 families residing in the city. The population density was 281.9/km² (728.7/mi²). There were 505 housing units at an average density of 133.5/km² (345.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.59% White, 0.19% African American, 0.28% Asian, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.09% of the population.

There were 467 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.0% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 31.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,833, and the median income for a family was $37,063. Males had a median income of $25,489 versus $19,904 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,097. About 7.7% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Keosauqua is a Native American word meaning "big bend", referring to the horseshoe-shaped bend that the Des Moines River makes around Keosauqua. Keosauqua contains Iowa's oldest courthouse in continuous use (1840). The adjacent Hangman's Hollow is the site of the first legal hanging in the state of Iowa. The Hotel Manning, a three story relic from the Des Moines River's steamboat days, is Keosauqua's most notable landmark. Keosauqua also contains many other notable historic sites. The 1847 Pearson House was a stop on the underground railroad. The Honey War was fought south of Keosauqua in what is now Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. Lacey-Keosauqua is one of the largest state parks in Iowa and was built by the Civil Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Keosauqua is home to the Van Buren Warriors, one of two High Schools in Van Buren County. Keosauqua hosts its' annual Forest Craft Fall Festival the first full weekend in October.

Source: "The Village of Keosauqua Iowa", Viewed 10/2/2005, <http://keosauqua.com>.