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Draft:Iowa Bootheel

Coordinates: 40°31′N 91°29′W / 40.517°N 91.483°W / 40.517; -91.483
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Iowa Bootheel
Region
Map of the Iowa bootheel, designated as a half-breed tract.
Map of the Iowa bootheel, designated as a half-breed tract.
Coordinates: 40°31′N 91°29′W / 40.517°N 91.483°W / 40.517; -91.483
Country United States
State Iowa
County
Area
 • Total
480 km2 (190 sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (Central)
Area codes319

The Iowa Bootheel[1], also known as the Lee County peninsula, is a peninsula and bootheel located in the southeasternmost part of the U.S. state of Iowa. It is contained within Lee County and portions of Van Buren County. It includes all of Keokuk and Montrose, as well as some parts of Fort Madison. It is bounded by Missouri and the Des Moines River to the west, and Illinois and the Mississippi River to the east.[2] The peninsula is an eastward extension of the Sullivan Line.[3]

History

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The Iowa Bootheel was part of the land designated in 1824 as a Half-Breed Tract by the United States government as part of the fourth Treaty of Prairie du Chien.

During the American Civil War, a small portion of the peninsula was involved in the site of the battle of Athens, the only battle that was fought along the Iowa-Missouri border.

The peninsula has suffered major floods affecting the Des Moines River and Upper Mississippi River, most notably the 1851 and 1993 floods.

Geography and geology

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Typical scene of the Southern Iowa drift plain, an area that covers much of the peninsula

The lowest point and the southernmost point in the state are both located near the peninsula. The lowest point in the state is 480 feet (150 m), which is located on the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers, while the southernmost point is located near the peninsula. The Southern Iowa drift plain covers most of the peninsula.

References

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  1. ^ Patterson, Marion; Patterson, Rich (April 23, 2017). "Rambling Iowa's bootheel". The Gazette. Gazette Communications, Inc. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Doore, Keith (May 2016). "Geology of Lee County" (PDF). Explore Iowa Geology. University of Northern Iowa. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  3. ^ "1 IELSEB Land Surveying Syllabus and Bibliography 1 1/2016 Revision" (PDF). iowa.gov. State of Iowa. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2024.