Harper

• Official Name — Harper, Iowa • Type — City • Image Map — Keokuk_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Harper_Highlighted.svg • Map Size — 250x200px • Map Caption — Location of Harper, Iowa • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Iowa • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Keokuk • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Km2 — 0.23 • Area Land Km2 — 0.23 • Area Water Km2 — 0.00 • Area Total Sq Mi — 0.09 • Area Land Sq Mi — 0.09 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.00 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 118 • Population Density Km2 — 515.15 • Population Density Sq Mi — 1340.91 • Time Zone — Central (CST) • Utc Offset — -6 • Time Zone Dst — CDT • Utc Offset Dst — -5 • Elevation Ft — 810 • Postal Code Type — ZIP code • Postal Code — 52231 • Area Code — 641 • Custom Label Sec1 — FIPS code • Custom Data Sec1 — 19-34545 • Custom Label1 Sec1 — GNIS feature ID • Custom Data1 Sec1 — 2394300 Harper is a city in Keokuk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 118 at the time of the 2020 census. • Illustration — An aerial view of Harper, on July 1, 2025

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.09 sqmi, all of it land.

• Illustration — The population of Harper, Iowa from US census data

As of the census of 2020, there were 118 people, 50 households, and 33 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,334.2 inhabitants per square mile (515.2/km 2). There were 50 housing units at an average density of 565.4 per square mile (218.3/km 2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.7% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races and 7.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.5% of the population. Of the 50 households, 44.0% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 12.0% were cohabitating couples, 16.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 20.0% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 34.0% of all households were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The median age in the city was 35.0 years. 35.6% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.9% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 27.1% were from 25 and 44; 17.8% were from 45 and 64; and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

As of the census of 2010, there were 114 people, 49 households, and 28 families living in the city. The population density was 1266.7 PD/sqmi. There were 56 housing units at an average density of 622.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.7% White, 0.9% Native American, 1.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.3% of the population. There were 49 households, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.9% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age in the city was 31.5 years. 26.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 17.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 134 people, 55 households, and 40 families living in the city. The population density was 1,523.7 PD/sqmi. There were 61 housing units at an average density of 693.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White. There were 55 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.78. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 28.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $37,875, and the median income for a family was $38,594. Males had a median income of $22,083 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,620. There were 4.9% of families and 4.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including 3.9% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Keota Community School District operates local public schools.

• Landmarks • The Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Harper is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Saints Peter and Paul cemetery is the final resting place of eight Hammes children who all died in a tragic car-train accident in October 1956.

• Phil Slattery, baseball player.