Quasqueton, Iowa

Quasqueton is a city in Buchanan County, Iowa, United States. The population was 570 at the time of the 2020 census. Just northwest of the town is Cedar Rock, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, which is maintained by the state as a museum.

History
Quasqueton was the location that several Native American trails intersected. It was first settled by Euro-Americans in 1842 and had a post office starting in 1845. In 1858 the Quaqueton Mutual Protection Company was organized to prevent against horse thievery. In 1904 most of Quasqueton was destroyed in a fire.

Geography
Quasqueton is located at 42.39472°N, -91.75917°W (42.394662, -91.759173).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.16 sqmi, of which 1.13 sqmi is land and 0.03 sqmi is water.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 554 people, 232 households, and 162 families living in the city. The population density was 490.3 PD/sqmi. There were 269 housing units at an average density of 238.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.9% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 232 households, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.2% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 40.4 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 30.7% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.8% male and 48.2% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 574 people, 227 households, and 167 families living in the city. The population density was 501.0 PD/sqmi. There were 254 housing units at an average density of 221.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.04% White, 1.39% African American, 1.05% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.35% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 227 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,518, and the median income for a family was $45,417. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,913. About 7.9% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

 * Larry Lujack (born Larry Lee Blankenburg in Quasqueton, June 6, 1940; died December 18, 2013, in Santa Fe, New Mexico ) Radio DJ, member of the National Radio Hall of Fame and NAB Hall of Fame. Best known for his work on radio stations WCFL (AM), and WLS AM/FM in Chicago.

In popular culture
The place name Quasqueton entered popular culture with the 1979 publication by TSR, Inc. of the Dungeons & Dragons® B1 game module by Mike Carr, entitled “In Search of the Unknown.” The module, designed specifically for new players and Dungeon Masters, featured a fictional stronghold within a rocky promontory that its builders and former residents (a warrior named Rogahn and a wizard named Zelligar) had named Quasqueton.

Prior to creating that work, Carr had lived in nearby Cedar Rapids and, knowing of the town, chose the very distinctive name of Quasqueton for his fictional setting. Before the internet, few individuals outside of eastern Iowa had heard of it – but after the advent of online search engines, the actual source of the name was revealed to the curious.

In 2018, Goodman Games published "Into the Borderlands," a hardbound volume that reprinted the first two B series modules released by TSR -- B1 "In Search of the Unknown" and B2 "Keep on the Borderlands" by Gary Gygax -- presenting them as originally released for Basic Dungeons & Dragons and in updated versions for the 5th Edition of the D&D game.