Montezuma, IA

Montezuma is the Poweshiek County seat, laid out in June 1848 and named by veterans of the Mexican-American War for Moctezuma II. The early town grew around the courthouse and later became a regional railroad stop. Its most distinctive modern marker is the Bill of Rights monument on the town square, dedicated in 2008 and described as the first such display in the country. The Poweshiek County History Museum occupies the former county jail, giving the courthouse square another layer of local memory. Put it all together and Montezuma feels like a county-seat town with a military-era name, railroad roots, and a very specific civic landmark.