Keokuk, IA

Keokuk sits at the very southeastern tip of Iowa, right where the Des Moines River flows into the Mississippi. Home to around 9,900 residents, it serves as a tri-state hub with Illinois and Missouri directly across the water. Life here has always revolved around the river, from its early days as a bustling steamboat stop to the massive lock and hydroelectric dam that still powers the local economy today.

ATTRSmallbones / Public domain

For newcomers, Keokuk offers a relaxed, small-town pace with plenty of historic charm and scenic bluff views. Victory Park overlooks the water with its retired paddlewheel museum, while the downtown district along Main Street features local shops, the historic Grand Theatre, and the public library. Families have access to local public schools as well as a branch campus of Southeastern Community College. Between its affordable historic homes, active waterfront, and easy highway connections across state lines, Keokuk gives residents an authentic Mississippi River town setting.