Keosauqua, Iowa

Keosauqua is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,006 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Van Buren County.

History
Keosauqua was laid out in 1839. The word Keosauqua derives from the Meskwaki and Sauk name for the Des Moines River, "Ke-o-saw-qua", which literally translates as "Bend in the River". The Hotel Manning, a three story relic from the Des Moines River's steamboat days, is Keosauqua's most notable landmark. Also located in Keosauqua are 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 hosts its annual Fall Festival the second full weekend in October.

Geography
Keosauqua is located at 40.73222°N, -91.96306°W (40.732089, -91.963027).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.57 sqmi, of which, 1.45 sqmi is land and 0.12 sqmi is water.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,006 people, 459 households, and 251 families residing in the city. The population density was 693.8 PD/sqmi. There were 515 housing units at an average density of 355.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.6% White, 0.4% African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 459 households of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.3% were non-families. 41.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 50.9 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 28.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,066 people, 467 households, and 270 families residing in the city. The population density was 728.7 people per square mile (281.9/km²). There were 505 housing units at an average density of 345.2 per square mile (133.5/km²). 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.

Age spread: 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.

Education
Keosauqua is home to the Van Buren Warriors, one of two High Schools in Van Buren County.The other is the Harmony Rockets in Farmington, Iowa.

Government
Keosauqua is the location of Iowa's oldest courthouse in continuous use; it was built in 1840. The adjacent Hangman's Hollow is the site of the first legal hanging in the state of Iowa.

Notable people

 * Smith W. Brookhart (1869–1944) US Senator from Iowa
 * Henry Clay Caldwell (1832–1915) United States federal judge and Union Army officer.
 * James B. Howell (1816-1880), newspaper editor and U.S. Senator, resided in Keosauqua
 * Phil Stong (1899-1957), an American author, journalist and Hollywood scenarist. He is best known for writing the novel State Fair, on which three films (1933, 1945 and 1962) and one musical by that name were based.
 * Edward K. Valentine (1843–1916) US Representative from Nebraska
 * George G. Wright (1820–1896) US Senator from Iowa