Iowaville

Iowaville is a ghost town site situated on lowland along the northeast bank of the Des Moines River, positioned between present-day Eldon and Selma in the Van Buren County area near the Davis County line. The settlement dates to around 1838, founded close to where earlier trading posts had already operated.

Today the location has reverted almost entirely to farmland, with virtually nothing visible to mark where the town once stood. Despite its unremarkable appearance on the ground, the site carries genuine historical weight as a recognized Iowa archaeological site.

Visitors should arrive with modest expectations — there are no preserved structures, marked trails, or interpretive facilities described here. The interest is historical and archaeological rather than scenic, making it a destination primarily for those drawn to Iowa history and early settlement research.