Lee County Iowa has two county seats—Fort Madison and Keokuk—and recorded a population of 33,555 in the 2020 U.S. Census, according to federal and local sources.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts lists Lee County’s 2020 population as 33,555, giving the most recent decennial count used by planners and businesses. The county government’s pages and geographic profiles also identify Fort Madison and Keokuk as the county seats.
Lee County Iowa is unique in the state: it is the only Iowa county with more than one county seat. That detail appears in reference entries and local histories that note both Fort Madison and Keokuk serve official county functions.
Local reporting has shown the dual-seat arrangement has been a recurring topic. A 2014 Des Moines Register piece examined debates over whether to consolidate the county seats, reflecting occasional local discussion about governance and costs.
For readers and businesses tracking demographics, the 33,555 figure from the 2020 census remains the baseline used in planning, grant applications, and market analyses. Population estimates since 2020 vary by source, but the Census decennial count is the definitive reference for the county’s official population number.
That dual-seat arrangement can matter for regional finance and services because two administrative centers affect where records are held, where permitting is issued, and where residents go for county services.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — provided the 2020 population figure for Lee County (33,555).
- Wikipedia — noted that Fort Madison and Keokuk are county seats and that Lee County is the only Iowa county with more than one county seat.
- Des Moines Register — coverage of a 2014 local debate over whether Lee County should end its split county-seat arrangement.
