Since the Iowa presidential primary is such a political attraction in modern elections, presidential candidates flock to the state on their national tours. In fact, for several recent elections, the candidates have made a habit of stopping in Maquoketa multiple times.
Maquoketa is a historic community in eastern Iowa, with a population of over 6,100 people
Since the Iowa presidential primary is such a political attraction in modern elections, presidential candidates flock to the state on their national tours. In fact, for several recent elections, the candidates have made a habit of stopping in Maquoketa multiple times.
Maquoketa is a historic community in eastern Iowa, with a population of over 6,100 people. The town's name is a Meskwaki Indian phrase meaning "bears were here," though these days, you're more likely to see adults driving around and kids on bikes than anything four-legged, furry and growling. Maquoketa has a thriving main street culture of rental homes and apartments, plus a bit of rural peace and quiet on the edges of town.
If you're relocating from a larger city, you'll find Maquoketa a bit more easygoing, with a low cost of living compared to the rest of the country. You'll want to have a car, as public transit is limited and the town is too big to be entirely walkable. Like most of Iowa, Maquoketa has cold winters and hot, often rainy, summers, but this and the mighty Mississippi River give the region an abundance of green. With that in mind, try moving in the fall and spring to avoid the weather extremes. Make sure to have your car registration, personal identification and proof of income when you go looking for a house or apartment in town.
Maquoketa is known for its Victorian-style houses, owing to the first big development of the town happening in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The population density of the town is evenly distributed throughout a simple grid in the central area.
Main Street: The very core of Maquoketa is a slightly more built-up neighborhood along Main Street, which is where there are more apartments with paid utilities and other amenities than in the house-dominated suburbs in the surrounding area. This is also where a number of classic governmental buildings stand, such as the Jackson County Courthouse and the Old City Hall Gallery.
Maquoketa Country Club: The neighborhood around Maquoketa Country Club on the west edge of town is part rural and part planned community. Here you will find larger properties or a house to rent on the golf course. Other rental homes in the area are lined up next to farm plots. Elsewhere, past the center of town, are some farm houses and small industrial zones. The town high school, as well as Horseshoe Pond County Park, are prominent features of the south side of Maquoketa.
Maquoketa loves its history and isn't in the business of getting rid of classic attractions from its past. The town is home to the 61 Drive-In Theater, one of the last authentic outdoor movie theaters in the United States. If you like your history a little more, well, historical, there are small museums and Victorian tours all around town. You can also get both fancy and no-frills meals. For the former, True Restaurant at Maquoketa Country Club offers fine dining options, or you can stay on Main Street for the Decker Hotel and Restaurant. For something a little more relaxed, Happy Joe's Place or Flapjack's Family Restaurant would be better choices.
For starting as nothing more than a log cabin in the late 1800s, Maquoketa has come a long way. It has a good mix of industry and Iowa landscape to recommend it, plus plenty of opportunity for a quiet lifestyle.
