Augusta, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Augusta, Iowa
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 Augusta, Iowa
Location in Iowa
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| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Des Moines |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.84 sq mi (2.18 km2) |
| • Land | 0.75 sq mi (1.94 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 51 |
| • Density | 68.09/sq mi (26.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-03700 |
Augusta is a small, unincorporated community located in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. It sits right by the Skunk River. It's about 10 miles southwest of Burlington and 9 miles north of Fort Madison. You can find it near U.S. Route 61 and Iowa Highway 16. Even though it's small, Augusta is part of the larger Burlington, Iowa–IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
Augusta's Population
Augusta is a very small community. According to the 2020 census, only 51 people lived there.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 51 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
History of Augusta, Iowa
Augusta has a rich history, especially for its size. It was one of the first places settled in this part of Iowa.
Early Settlers and Mills
In 1835, a man named Levi Moffitt was one of the first settlers in Augusta. He built the very first water-powered "flouring" mill in the state of Iowa. A flouring mill uses water power to grind grain into flour.
Community and Travel
In 1842, Levi Moffitt teamed up with Dan Jones to build a church in Augusta. Dan Jones was also a steamboat captain. He helped transport immigrants up the river to Nauvoo, Illinois. Their small steamboat was called the Maid of Iowa.
Education and Societies
Augusta was also an early center for education. The Augusta Academy was started in January 1839. It was a school for both boys and girls, which was quite advanced for its time. Later, in 1879, the Augusta Literary and Debating Society was founded. This group likely met to discuss books and practice public speaking.
Post Office and Population Changes
The first postmaster in Augusta was Joshua Holland. He was appointed on October 2, 1846, which meant Augusta had its own official mail service. Over the years, Augusta's population has changed. In 1902, 163 people lived there. By 1925, the population was 110, and in 1940, it was 87.
