Moville is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,687 in the 2020 census, an increase from 1,583 in 2000.
History
John B McDermott is credited with naming the town of Moville after his birthplace in Moville, Ireland (County Donegal). In 1868, he and other men from the area established a post office at the McDermott home. Because McDermott and his wife Martha housed the post office, they chose to name their new town "Moville." Only two Movilles exist in the world. It is pronounced "MOH-vil."
On April 23, 1887, the West Town Lot Company filed at the Woodbury County Courthouse a platted map to be known as the town of Moville, Iowa. Moville citizens approved incorporation of the town in a special election held Aug. 10, 1889. The Articles of Incorporation were filed and approved on Aug. 13, 1889 by the clerk of district court, Woodbury County. Townspeople celebrated its centennial June 19–21, 1987 and celebrated its quasquicentennial (125 years) in 2012.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
Moville is located just north of U.S. Route 20, approximately east of Sioux City.