Keokuk

Formed December 21, 1837 (18^th county)

Keokuk County (10,035), Sigourney (2,009)

The towered masonry 1910 courthouse sits on a square at Washington, Marion, Jefferson, and Main streets.  Iowa State Highway 149 is Main Street in the town.  Wetherell & Gage are the architects for this Classical Revival courthouse.  The facility features a working clock tower and the grounds have memorials and fountain.  There was an 1857 courthouse also in Sigourney.  Sigourney was the first county seat with Lancaster assuming the role from 1848-1857 when Sigourney took over again.  The county was established on December 21, 1837 from Washington County as the 18^th county.  It is named for a Native American chief.  He is also the namesake of one of county seats of Lee County.  The county seat is named for author Lydia Huntley Sigourney.  Keokuk County was the birthplace of 1 Iowa Governor, Herschel C. Loveless. 

Keokuk County government consists of a sheriff, a recorder, an attorney, a treasurer, and an assessor (executive).  It has 3 Supervisors (legislative.)  Fifteen District Court Judges and Thirteen Magistrates serve Keokuk, Appanoose, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello, and Washington counties (judicial.) The county is in southeast Iowa.  Cedar Rapids, Iowa is northeast and Des Moines, Iowa is northwest of the county.  The county center is 1.3 East-Northeast of Sigourney.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Iowa, Washington, Jefferson, Wapello, Mahaska, and Poweshiek counties. 

The county has an area of 579 square miles.  It is 32 of 99 in the state.  It ranks 73 out of 99 in population in the state.  It has a density of 17.3 persons per square mile making it 81 out of 99 in the state.  Keokuk County has 62.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The county is a square.  Sigourney is located slightly west of center in the county.  Sigourney is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 20.0% of the county population.  The county is pronounced KEE-O-KUK.  The county seat is pronounced SEE-GOER-NEE.