| Official Name: | Montezuma, Iowa |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Poweshiek |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Colin Watts |
| Leader Title1: | Iowa House |
| Leader Name1: | Dean Fisher (R) |
| Leader Title2: | Iowa Senate |
| Leader Name2: | Annette Sweeney (R) |
| Leader Title3: | U.S. Congress |
| Leader Name3: | Ashley Hinson (R) |
| Established Date: | 1848 (Incorporated 1868) |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 6.44 |
| Area Land Km2: | 6.40 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.04 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.48 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.47 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.01 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1442 |
| Population Density Km2: | 225.37 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 583.81 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 290 |
| Elevation Ft: | 951 |
| Coordinates: | 41.5847°N -92.5253°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 50171 |
| Area Code: | 641 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 19-53490 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0459191 |
Montezuma is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,442 at the time of the 2020 census.[2] It is the county seat of Poweshiek County.[3]
Montezuma's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 41.584737, -92.525258.[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.49sqmi, of which 2.48sqmi is land and 0.01sqmi is water.[5]
Montezuma was first established in 1848, when local veterans of the Mexican–American War named the city after Monteuczomah, the last Aztec emperor of Mexico. Once a hub of regional railroad transport, Montezuma has continued to evolve and grow in a variety of ways. Montezuma was also a major stop on the stagecoach line between Iowa City and Des Moines on the original Diamond Trail.
Located on the southwest corner of Montezuma's square is the Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society, located in the historic Carnegie library. Housed in the former Poweshiek County Jail is the Poweshiek County History Museum.
The Scott Township School No. 7, also known as the Fitzsimmons School was moved from the original country landscape to the campus of the Poweshiek County Historical Society.
During the summer of 1934, Pentecostal evangelist Morris Plotts[6] held tent revivals throughout south central Iowa, establishing churches in Oskaloosa, New Sharon, Grinnell, Montezuma, and Lynnville. While in Montezuma, Plotts was cited with public disturbance and jailed. He continued to minister from his cell and revival broke out in the jail. Plotts' six-month sentence was suspended for good behavior.
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 1,462 people, 632 households, and 399 families living in the city. The population density was 589.5PD/sqmi. There were 692 housing units at an average density of 279/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.2% White, 0.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 632 households, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.83.
The median age in the city was 42.5 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 19.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 1,440 people, 601 households, and 390 families living in the city. The population density was 586.9sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 641 housing units at an average density of 261.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 98.75% White, 0.28% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.35% Asian, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.
There were 601 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.91.
23.6% were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,820, and the median income for a family was $43,083. Males had a median income of $31,483 versus $21,450 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,806. About 3.8% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Montezuma is home to the Montezuma Community School District, a K-12 school district. The mascots are the Braves and Bravettes and the school colors are blue and white.
Girls State Basketball Champions: 1969, 1970
Boys State Basketball Champions: 1971, 1990, 2021[9]
Montezuma's agricultural heritage is celebrated in barn quilt art and renewed interest in local preservation has inspired many to continue living out that history. Montezuma is the inaugural home to the first town square Bill of Rights monument in the United States.
Poweshiek County Freedom Rock
Freedom Rock painter Raymond “Bubba” Sorensen II of Greenfield finished the Poweshiek County Freedom Rock in 2016, and is located on the southeast corner of the courthouse square.
Recreational and residential lakes
The development of Diamond Lake, Lake Ponderosa, and Lake Silverado add to the recreational options of the area. Green spaces and wildlife areas like Fox Forest offer hiking and equestrian trails, as well as observation of native vegetation and wildflowers. Nearby Fleming Woods State Preserve offers sanctuary to several species of other indigenous plant life and animals. It is believed that Chief Poweshiek and other Native Americans once lived in these areas.
Montezuma is served by The Record, a weekly newspaper that started in Deep River, Iowa, in 1899. It was resurrected and relocated to Montezuma in 2010, after longtime newspaper the Montezuma Republican merged with the Brooklyn Chronicle in 2009, to form the Poweshiek County Chronicle-Republican or CR in Grinnell. The Record is an official newspaper for Poweshiek County, City of Montezuma, City of Deep River, and Montezuma Community School District.
Montezuma is home to several churches. These include the Community Hope Assembly of God, First Evangelical Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Jackson Church of Christ, Faith Christian Center and West Liberty Church.[10] [11] [12] [13]
Several of these congregations offer Sunday and mid-week services as well as weekly Bible study groups, children's education programs, youth group activities, and missions work opportunities.
Montezuma has its own Water Department,[14] with water sourced by nearby Diamond Lake.
In February 2024, Montezuma was selected as the nation's first microgrid community,[15] in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and Iowa State University.
Montezuma is located approximately 8 miles south of the exit 191 on Interstate 80 on U.S. Route 63. The city is also serviced by Iowa Highway 85 and county road F57.[16]
Montezuma residents have access to UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Montezuma Medical Clinic, located at 101 West Washington. When hospitalization is required the closest and most convenient hospital for residents is Grinnell Regional Medical Center, located at 210 4th Avenue in Grinnell, Iowa.