BlockFrom the record
48 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Lee County, Iowa
55 topographic sheets cover 38 settlements here, and 48 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 528 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 48 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 33 buildings, 9 districts, 5 structures and 1 site.
- 8 of the 48 listings were added during the 1970s.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 38 populated places in this county; 38 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
48Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
Wildfire, 2006 to 2020
45 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 45 of them, burning about 457 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 23 |
| Debris and open burning | 18 |
| Smoking | 2 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 1 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 April 2018 | Debris and open burning | 108 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 21 April 2018 | Debris and open burning | 100 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 6 March 2020 | Debris and open burning | 60 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 31 March 2020 | Debris and open burning | 40 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 8 April 2014 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 30 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 March 2020 | Debris and open burning | 15 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 29 March 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 218 & 240TH ST., S OF DONNELLSON, IOWA |
| 27 February 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
Storms, 1954 to 2026
60 of 530 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 530 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 15 injuries and about $40,565,790 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 239 |
| Hail | 154 |
| Flood | 44 |
| Tornado | 42 |
| Flash Flood | 36 |
| Funnel Cloud | 9 |
| Heavy Rain | 4 |
| Lightning | 2 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1967 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 1 killed, 6 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| January 1967 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 4 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1954 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Madison | 1 hurt, $3,000 | Trees and power lines down. A girl was injured when a temporary display at a store fell on her. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Donnellson | 1 hurt | An area newspaper reported that thunderstorms winds blew a semi-tractor trailer onto its side on U.S. Highway 218 south of Donnellson. One person was injured, and transported to a local hospital. |
| April 2006 | Lightning | Montrose | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| February 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Montrose | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Ft Madison | $15,000,000 | Numerous car windows broken |
| June 2008 | Flood | Wever | $4,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Donnellson | $2,000,000 | KHQA TV |
| May 2003 | Hail | Donnellson | $2,000,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Ft Madison | $2,000,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | West Pt | $2,000,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Ft Madison | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Tornado (F2) | Argyle | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| May 2010 | Flash Flood | Viele | $859,000 | Heavy rains resulted in some flash flooding of several streets in Fort Madison, IA during the late evening hours of May 12 and early morning hours of May 13. The flood waters were 1 to 1.5 feet deep along 14th Street. Several creeks overflowed their banks. |
| September 2008 | Flood | St Paul | $500,000 | The Skunk River near Augusta, IA experienced major flooding from the evening of September 13 to the late afternoon of September 15. It crested near 21.4 feet during the evening of September 14. The major flood stage level is 20.0 feet. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Keokuk | $500,000 | Also heavy rain |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Madison | $500,000 | Trees down or snapped off |
| May 2003 | Hail | Argyle | $500,000 | no account filed |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Keokuk | $250,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be 75 mph caused two weakened buildings to collapse in Keokuk, IA around 115 am CDT June 27. The Pallet Building on Johnson Street and the Redemption Center Building on S 4th Street and Johnson Street collapsed. In addition, several trees were uprooted or snapped near the base and several other large tree limbs were also blown down. A spotter also contributed to this report. |
| June 2011 | Flash Flood | Houghton | $250,000 | Heavy rains caused some flash flooding and flooding across much of Lee County during the early morning of June 15. Several roads and yards were flooded in Keokuk. In Fort Madison, a storm sewer collapsed and a basement flooded. The beginnings of a retaining wall collapsed along Mississippi River Road just south of Sandusky, IA. A mudslide occurred near 275th Ave and Sandusky. Belfast Rd was closed due to flooding in several spots near Croton, IA. Highway 16 was closed due to flood waters between W55 and Highway 218 near Houghton, IA. Highway 136 was closed due to water flowing over the road near the Iowa-Missouri state line. |
| June 2010 | Flood | Croton | $250,000 | Heavy rains during the third week of June resulted in the Des Moines River at St. Francisville going above the moderate flood stage level of 22 feet on June 22 around 530 am. It crested around 22.8 feet around 7 am June 22. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 930 pm June 22. |
| June 2010 | Flood | Croton | $250,000 | Heavy rains during the second week of June resulted in the Des Moines River at St. Francisville going above the moderate flood stage level of 22 feet on June 13 around 12 pm. It crested around 22.2 feet around 7 pm June 13. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 8 pm June 13. |
| May 2010 | Flood | Croton | $250,000 | Heavy rains during the second week of May resulted in the Des Moines River at St. Francisville going above the moderate flood stage level of 22 feet on May 13 around 6 am. It crested around 23 feet around 7 am May 13. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 12 pm May 13. |
| June 2010 | Flood | St Paul | $250,000 | Heavy rains during the second and third weeks of June resulted in the Skunk River at Augusta going above the moderate flood stage level of 17 feet on June 14 around 2 pm. It crested above the major flood stage around 21.6 feet around 1 am June 22. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 1 am June 27. |
| August 2010 | Flash Flood | Viele | $250,000 | Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding of Fort Madison, IA during the evening of August 10. Flood waters 1 foot deep were observed flowing across 14th Street. Some streets had flood waters 2 to 3 feet deep. The North Lee Historical Society building flooded and its parking lot had about 2 feet of water covering it, with the water up to the tail lights of cars. |
| July 2010 | Flash Flood | Viele | $250,000 | Heavy rains resulted in moderate to major flash flooding throughout Fort Madison, IA during the evening of July 19 and morning of July 20. The flooding was particularly bad along Highway 61 near 2nd Street and Avenue G. |
| May 2010 | Flood | St Paul | $250,000 | Heavy rains during the second week of May resulted in the Skunk River at Augusta going above the moderate flood stage level of 17 feet on May 13 around 2 am. It crested around 19.4 feet around 1 pm May 13. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 9 pm May 15. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Keokuk | $250,000 | Numerous large trees down |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Montrose | $250,000 | Roof partially off business |
| July 2010 | Flood | Croton | $250,000 | no account filed |
| August 2010 | Flood | Croton | $250,000 | no account filed |
| August 2010 | Flood | St Paul | $250,000 | no account filed |
| August 2009 | Flood | St Paul | $250,000 | no account filed |
| October 1979 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| June 1978 | Tornado | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 1977 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1967 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 2009 | Flood | St Paul | $150,000 | Heavy rains from May 12th to May 16th resulted in the Skunk River at Augusta going above the moderate flood stage level of 17 feet around 12 am on May 16. It crested around 17.5 feet around 9 am on May 16. It fell back below the moderate flood stage level around 11 am on May 17. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Madison | $150,000 | Large tree down |
| June 2011 | Flood | Croton | $125,000 | no account filed |
| July 2010 | Flood | South Augusta | $125,000 | no account filed |
| July 2010 | Flood | Croton | $125,000 | no account filed |
| August 2010 | Flood | Croton | $125,000 | no account filed |
| February 2014 | Flood | Franklin | $100,000 | Heavy rains of 1 to 3 inches resulted in some flooding in and around Fort Madison, IA on February 20th. Two feet of water covered Old Highway 61 west of Fort Madison. Water was flowing down streets in town. The high school was flooded with water flowing into it through doorways. |
| July 2010 | Flash Flood | Viele | $100,000 | Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding of several streets in Fort Madison, IA during the late night of July 5 and early morning of July 6. Several streets had to be closed due to the high water. |
| June 2010 | Flash Flood | Mooar | $100,000 | Heavy rains resulted in significant flash flooding of several streets in Keokuk, IA during the early morning hours of June 22. The flooding severity peaked between 215 am and 315 am. |
| June 2010 | Flash Flood | Donnellson | $100,000 | Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding in Donnellson, IA and Fort Madison, IA during the evening of June 21. Water was over several roads in Donnellson. In Fort Madison, the flood waters were 1 to 1.5 feet deep on some main streets in the downtown area. Some streets were impassible. Water flowed into some buildings in the downtown area. A trained spotted also contributed to this report. |
| June 2010 | Flash Flood | Mooar | $100,000 | Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding of several parts of Keokuk, IA during the afternoon of June 12. The intersection of 11th and Main was blocked by flood waters. The intersection of 7th and Rondo was closed due to high water. In addition, some stores along Main Street had flood waters flowing into them. A portion of this report was provided by WGEM. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Donnellson | $100,000 | IDOT RWIS |
| June 2010 | Flood | Montrose | $75,000 | Heavy rains during the third week of June resulted in the Mississippi River at Keokuk going above the moderate flood stage level of 17.5 feet on June 22 around 5 am. It crested around 18.6 feet around 7 pm June 22. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 1 pm June 25.||The Mississippi River at Gregory Landing went above the moderate flood stage level of 18 feet on June 22 around 3 am. It crested around 19.7 feet around 1 am June 23. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 8 am June 28. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sandusky | $60,000 | 3 to 4 foot diameter trees down |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Keokuk | $60,000 | Lock & Dam 19 |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Montrose | $60,000 | Numerous trees down |
| July 2003 | Hail | Houghton | $60,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Madison | $50,000 | Trees down; One tree fell on a trailer home destroying it |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Keokuk | $50,000 | Several large trees down |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Madison | $50,000 | Power lines down |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Madison | $50,000 | Trees down Ft Madison to Keokuk |
Mines and quarries
23 recordedThe Survey's mineral resources record lists 23 workings inside this county. 6 still produce and 17 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 14 |
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 6 |
| Molybdenum | 1 |
| Phosphorus-Phosphates | 1 |
| Limestone, Dimension, Stone, Crushed/Broken | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Madison Agrico | Phosphorus-Phosphates | Plant | ||
| Fort Madison Conversion Mo Plant | Molybdenum | Producer | ||
| Schroeder Quarry | Limestone, Dimension, Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Brockman Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Vincennes Sand Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Argyle Pit | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Argyle Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Augusta Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Beach Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Donnellson Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Franklin Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Graner Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Hawkeye Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Lange Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Mc Manus and Tucker Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Sandusky Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| T.E. Driscoll Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Every populated place in the county
38Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
-
Bricker
Jefferson township · 52639 · Nauvoo quadrangle
15 sheets, 1936 to 1990
No longer a settlement
-
Buena Vista
Keokuk city · 52632 · On Hog Thief Creek · Keokuk quadrangle
17 sheets, 1936 to 1990
No longer a settlement
-
Bullard
Jefferson township · 52627 · Nauvoo quadrangle
15 sheets, 1936 to 1990
No longer a settlement
-
Fort Madison
Madison township · 52627 · On French Creek · Fort Madison quadrangle
15 sheets, 1936 to 1990
-
Franklin
Franklin township · 52656 · On Bonnell Creek · Donnellson quadrangle
12 sheets, 1958 to 1990
-
Jeffersonville
Jefferson township · 52639 · On Painter Creek · Nauvoo quadrangle
15 sheets, 1936 to 1990
No longer a settlement
-
Keteban Switch
Harrison township · 52626 · Farmington quadrangle
12 sheets, 1958 to 1990
No longer a settlement
-
Russellville
Cedar township · 52649 · Hillsboro quadrangle
11 sheets, 1958 to 1990
No longer a settlement
-
Sugar Creek
Jackson township · 52632 · On Sugar Creek · Wayland quadrangle
17 sheets, 1903 to 1990
No longer a settlement
-
Summit
Washington township · 52627 · Fort Madison quadrangle
15 sheets, 1936 to 1990
No longer a settlement
The vanished settlements of Lee County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
Provenance
- Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
- Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
- Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
- Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
- Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
- Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.