Montezuma is a city in and the county seat of Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,442 at the time of the 2020 census.
Geography
Montezuma's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 41.584737, -92.525258.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
History
Montezuma was first established in 1848, when local veterans of the Mexican–American War named the city after Moctezuma II, the second to 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 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.