[6] The town was not platted originally, having grown naturally at a crossroads around a store and blacksmith.

[7] During the Civil War, on 22 September 1863, the Mount Zion Church east of Hallsville was burned by northern troops.

According to one claim by William Franklin Switzler, this was because Iowa Lieutenant Hartman found the church to be a "bushwhacker's nest."

[7][8] Hallsville is also the hometown to the famous painter in the 20th century Charles Morgenthaler.

He later moved to St. Louis, where he became a successful illustrator and mural painter.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.33 square miles (3.44 km2), all land.

27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 978 people, 404 households, and 275 families living in the city.

28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.