Lee County is very unique because it has two county
seats, Fort Madison and Keokuk. Lee county has a population of approximatly 39,017 people.
One of the county seats is Fort Madison. Fort Madison
Iowa is a community of approximatley 11,618. It is a business-oriented city with many
historical landmarks. Over the last two centuries, Fort Madison has established itself as
a center of trade of industry, retail, and tourism. The community of Fort Madison offers a
compelling quality of life to all who choose to settle here. Descendants of those people
have built a strong, modern community with all the "good things" in life - arts,
recreations and entertainment, quality health care, friendly shopping, breathtaking
scenery, and a crime rate so low it's practically non-existent.
The 1990 census sets Fort Madison's population at just under 12,000.
Rural residents outside the city limits boost that figure to over 30,000. Fort Madison
area offers a variety of retail shopping experiences for consumers. Many businesses are
locally owned, assuring you of the finest merchandise at competitive prices, with the kind
of "first name basis" customer service available only in a community our size.
Students in Fort Madison's public and parochial school systems are representative of
Iowa's first-in-the-nation status in education. The community is dedicated to providing
the finest education for our young people.
Truly a city in a garden, Fort Madison maintains seven lovely city
parks and recreation areas including the 250 acre Rodeo Park and the city's crown jewel,
Riverview Park, which provides access to the Mississippi. Lee County maintains several
nearby parks, lakes, and recreation areas, and Shimek State Forest, Iowa's largest is
located a few miles away. The City Parks and Recreation Department, and the YMCA offer
year round programs of activities for all ages, including swimming, at our new municipal
pool, and indoors at the YMCA.
Keokuk, the other county seat,
is situated on the banks of the rolling Mississippi River. It is a community of about
13,000 friends and neighbors. With its scenic beauty and traditional family values, Keokuk
provides the favorable amenities of a small town, along with easy access to larger metro
areas. With numerous professional, recreational and social opportunities, along with the
absence of "big city" hassles, it's no wonder Iowa and the Midwest have become
the place of choice for many families looking to relocate.
Keokuk plays a vital role as one of the tri-state area's economic
engines. Diversity is the key to the region's economic base. Manufacturers are situated
throughout the region and the service sector has experienced tremendous growth. This
strategic location to the Midwestern metropolitan areas, enhanced and supported by a fully
developed intermodal transportation system make the tri-state area a first choice for
industry.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that Iowa ranks first among the
ten Midwestern states in worker productivity, while Iowans are a full 20% more productive
than the national average. This strong Midwestern work ethic, along with "business
friendly" tax laws, a wide array of state and local financial incentives, easy access
to transportation and many natural resources, are just a few of the reasons why the roster
and size of companies located in Keokuk, continues to grow. |
