[6] The city is named for the historic Cahokia tribe of the Illiniwek or Illinois Confederacy, which occupied territory on both sides of the Mississippi River in this area at the time of European encounter.

The Fox River flows past about one mile to the northeast.

[10] Kahoka is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 2,078 people, 883 households, and 521 families living in the city.

There were 1,001 housing units at an average density of 637.6 per square mile (246.2/km2).

36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,014 housing units at an average density of 662.4 per square mile (255.8/km2).

35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.