Maquoketa () is a city in Jackson County,

Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

. Located on the

Maquoketa River The Maquoketa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed May 13, 2011 in northeastern Iowa in the United States. I ...

, it is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

of Jackson County. U.S. Route 61 adjoins the city, which therefore hosts traffic between

Dubuque Dubuque (, ) is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Dubuque was 59,667. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a ...

and the

Quad Cities The Quad Cities is a region of cities (originally four, see History) in the U.S. states of Iowa and Illinois: Davenport and Bettendorf in southeastern Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in northwestern Illinois. These cities are t ...

. Iowa Highways 62 and 64 also pass through the city.

Maquoketa Caves State Park Maquoketa Caves State Park is a state park of Iowa, United States, located in Jackson County, Iowa, Jackson County. It stands northwest of the city of Maquoketa, Iowa, Maquoketa. In 1991 on the east side of the park were listed as a Historic distr ...

is located a few miles northwest of Maquoketa. The population was 6,128 at the time of the 2020 census.

History

Maquoketa was originally called Springfield, and under the latter name was laid out in 1838. The present name, after the

, was adopted in 1844. The river's name derives from ''Maquaw-Autaw'', which means "Bear River" in

Meskwaki The Meskwaki (sometimes spelled Mesquaki), also known by the European exonyms Fox Indians or the Fox, are a Native American people. They have been closely linked to the Sauk people of the same language family. In the Meskwaki language, th ...

. The Davenport and St. Paul Railroad was extended to Maquoketa in 1870 prompting growth. The county seat was transferred from

Andrew Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is frequently shortened to "Andy" or "Drew". The word is derive ...

to Maquoketa in 1873.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2010, there were 6,141 people, 2,655 households, and 1,612 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was . There were 2,856 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.0%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 0.7%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.3%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.6% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population. There were 2,655 households, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.3% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age in the city was 41 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 19.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 6,112 people, 2,614 households, and 1,599 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,797 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.10%

, 0.16%

, 0.21% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.34%

, 0.34% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population. There were 2,614 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were

living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90. Age spread: 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $28,984, and the median income for a family was $36,705. Males had a median income of $25,819 versus $19,421 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $16,360. About 9.1% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

Maquoketa is located at (42.066901, −90.666238), primarily in Jackson County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Climate

Government

Maquoketa is governed by the Mayor with city council form of government, with several departments, boards, and commissions. The council votes on and passes motions, resolutions and ordinances. Resolutions are statements of policy and ordinances are the laws of the city. The votes of each council member are recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The council also approves expenditures and the budget, contracts, city policies and zoning changes. Mayor The mayor is Don Schwenker. The mayor is the city's chief executive officer and presides over council meetings. Current Mayor: Don Schwenker City Council The city council members are (listed by seniority): *Joshua Collister (2010) *Kevin Kuhlman (2015) *Mark Lyon (2017) *Jacob Baker (2018) *Jessica Kean (2018) *Erica Barker (2018) *Ronald Horan Jr. (2018) City Manager Maquoketa's day-to-day operations are run by the city manager, Gerald Smith

Education

Public schools

The

Maquoketa Community School District The Maquoketa Community School District is a rural public school district based in Maquoketa, Iowa. The district is mainly in Jackson County, with small areas in Clinton, and Dubuque counties. The district serves the cities of Maquoketa, ...

, in partnership with the community, oversees the public school system of education for the city of Maquoketa and the surrounding area. The Maquoketa High School, home of the Cardinals, has enrollment of approximately 620 students, grades 9 through 12, with a staff of over 50 educators and administrators. The Maquoketa Middle School is the oldest school building in Maquoketa due to it being built in 1922 after the previous structure burned down, formally a home to a junior high, high school and junior college. The school has approximately 375 students, grades 6 through 8, with a staff of over 60 educators and administrators. Briggs Elementary School, built in 1954, is named after Ansel Briggs, the first Governor of Iowa, who was an early settler in Jackson County. The school has approximately 300 students, grades 3 through 5, with a staff of 35 educators and administrators. Cardinal Elementary School, built in 1974, started as a school for grades 1 through 6. Gradual changes were made to the building and the grade levels taught. The decision to teach only kindergarten through 2nd grade was implemented at Cardinal in May 2002. The school has a staff of 37 educators and administrators.

Private

Sacred Heart Elementary School is a

Catholic school Catholic schools are pre-primary, primary and secondary educational institutions administered under the aegis or in association with the Catholic Church. , the Catholic Church operates the world's largest religious, non-governmental school syste ...

teaching preschool through the sixth grade. The current school enrollment (see references) has 132 students and 20 staff.

Preschools

The Little Shepherd Preschool operates in the lower levels of the First

Lutheran Church Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...

of Maquoketa. Sunshine Preschool and Daycare is a

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

started in 1973. All children age 6 months up to 12 years of age including those with disabilities are accepted. Currently (see references) there are 145 children with 30 staff.

College

Clinton Community College added a Maquoketa campus right next to the Maquoketa High School. The 11,000 square foot facility opened in 2009 and offers associate degrees and non-credit training. They also offer classes to high school students to supplement their high school education.

Attractions

* Hurstville Lime Kilns, north of Maquoketa * Jackson County Iowa Historical Society * Clinton Engines Museum * 61 Drive-in theater *Camp Shalom Inc. * The town also holds host to a historic district containing many great examples of Victorian architecture. Despite its size, the town also attracts many presidential candidates. 2008 Democratic presidential candidate

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...

visited the town twice during his campaign and again while president on August 16, 2011. The Old City Hall Gallery displays the oil paintings of International-known Maquoketa artist Rose Frantzen, whose exhibit "Portrait of Maquoketa", the oil paintings of 180 residents of Maquoketa, was once on display at the

Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery The National Portrait Gallery is a historic art museum between 7th, 9th, F, and G Streets NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. Founded in 1962 and opened to the public in 1968, it is part of the Smithsonian Institution. Its collections f ...

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morg ...

. It is now housed in the permanent collection of the

Figge Art Museum The Figge Art Museum is an art museum in Davenport, Iowa. The Figge, as it is commonly known, has an encyclopedic collection and serves as the major art museum for the eastern Iowa and western Illinois region. The Figge works closely with sever ...

Davenport Davenport may refer to: Places Australia *Davenport, Northern Territory, a locality *Hundred of Davenport, cadastral unit in South Australia **Davenport, South Australia, suburb of Port Augusta ** District Council of Davenport, former local govern ...

, Iowa.

Notable people

Norris Brown Norris Brown (May 2, 1863January 5, 1960) was a Senator from Nebraska. Brown was born in Maquoketa, Iowa. The son of William Henry Harrison and Eliza Ann Phelps Brown, he attended Jefferson Iowa Academy and graduated with a law degree from the U ...

, Senator from Nebraska *

Craig Callahan Craig Callahan (born May 26, 1981) is an American-born naturalized Italian professional basketball player who last played for Pallacanestro Cantù of the Lega Basket Serie A. Biography Early life and education Craig Nicholas Callahan was born in ...

, professional basketball player * James H. Cartwright, Illinois Supreme Court justice * Betty Francis, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player * Herbert E. Hitchcock, Senator from South Dakota *

Charles Wycliffe Joiner Charles Wycliffe Joiner (February 14, 1916 – March 10, 2017) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Education and career Born on February 14, 1916, in Maquoketa, Iowa, Jo ...

, US federal judge * Matthew Luckiesh, physicist * Junius Ralph Magee, former Methodist bishop * Eben Martin, former US Representative * Robert A. Millikan,

Nobel Prize The Nobel Prizes ( ; sv, Nobelpriset ; no, Nobelprisen ) are five separate prizes that, according to Alfred Nobel's will of 1895, are awarded to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind." Alfr ...

laureate *

Joseph Otting Joseph M. Otting (born 1957) is an American businessman and government official. He served as the 31st Comptroller of the Currency from November 27, 2017Reuters (November 27, 2017).Joseph Otting, former banker, sworn in as top U.S. bank regulator ...

, Businessman and 31st Comptroller of the Currency *

Sage Rosenfels Sage Jamen Rosenfels (born March 6, 1978) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Iowa State. He was then drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played with the Miami Dolp ...

, former quarterback in the NFL * George Homer Ryan, former Governor of Illinois * William Welch, originated the printing of high school diplomas

References

External links

Official Maquoketa City Website
Portal website, City government, Chamber of Commerce, Economic development, Tourism
Maquoketa Community School DistrictMaquoketa Area Chamber of Commerce
Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Maquoketa
{{authority control Cities in Iowa Cities in Clinton County, Iowa Cities in Jackson County, Iowa County seats in Iowa Populated places established in 1838 1838 establishments in Iowa Territory