[3][4] Keokuk County Courthouse is located in the Public Square Historic District.

Keokuk County was opened for Euro-American settlement in 1843, and the town got its start in 1844 when S.A. James built the first cabin there.

Other families began to settle there as well, and in 1844, the town was named by county commissioner Dr. George H. Stone in honor of popular poet Lydia Sigourney.

A large oil-painted portrait of her still graces the foyer of the county courthouse.

[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.18 square miles (5.65 km2), all of it land.

There were 972 housing units at an average density of 449.3 per square mile (173.5/km2).

Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.

There were 987 housing units at an average density of 452.8 per square mile (174.8/km2).

34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 992 housing units at an average density of 456.4 per square mile (176.2/km2).

33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.