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Charleston, Iowa

Coordinates: 40°35′27″N 91°31′53″W / 40.59083°N 91.53139°W / 40.59083; -91.53139
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Charleston, Iowa
An aerial photo of Charleston, taken on 22 August 2024
An aerial photo of Charleston, taken on 22 August 2024
Charleston is located in Iowa
Charleston
Charleston
Location in Iowa
Charleston is located in the United States
Charleston
Charleston
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°35′27″N 91°31′53″W / 40.59083°N 91.53139°W / 40.59083; -91.53139
CountryUnited States
StateIowa
CountyLee
Elevation
699 ft (213 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code319
GNIS feature ID455355[1]

Charleston is an unincorporated community in Lee County, Iowa, United States, in the state's southeastern corner. Charleston is located at 40°35′27″N 91°31′53″W / 40.59083°N 91.53139°W / 40.59083; -91.53139.

History

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Charleston, a town in Charleston Township, was laid out by George Berry on September 23, 1848, for Jacob Hufford, and the plat was registered in the office of the County Recorder on June 1, 1849.[2] The original plat was 48 small and 3 large lots, with Hackberry, Main, and Elm Streets crossed by numbered streets east and west. The population in 1914 was 65, with three churches, public school, post office, express and telegraph offices, telephone connections, a hotel, a general store, and depot.[2]

By 1925, the population of Charleston had increased to 105 persons.[3] The population was 40 in 1940.[4]

The water tower and restaurant which was constructed at the site of the Prairie House, which burned in 2009

In 2010 the unincorporated town of Charleston consisted of 32 people living in 15 homes. The Lee County owned square is managed by Lee County Conservation Board where there is a shelter with a picnic table. The Rathbun Regional Water Association water tower #33 is a local landmark. A fire on Sunday, July 5, 2009, destroyed the Prairie House restaurant under the tower. Five fire departments from nearby communities – Donnellson, Des Moines Township, Montrose, Fort Madison, and West Point – were unable to save the building. South of Charleston is the Charleston Cemetery.

Another unincorporated town in Charleston Township is New Boston.

References

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  1. ^ "Charleston". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b The History of Lee County, Iowa, Nelson C. Roberts & S.W. Moorhead, eds; Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1914.
  3. ^ Premier Atlas of the World: Containing Maps of All Countries of the World, with the Most Recent Boundary Decisions, and Maps of All the States,territories, and Possessions of the United States with Population Figures from the Latest Official Census Reports, Also Data of Interest Concerning International and Domestic Political Questions. Rand McNally & Company. 1925. p. 190.
  4. ^ The Attorneys List. United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Attorney List Department. 1940. p. 295.