Allamakee County, Iowa

County in Iowa, United States

U.S. county in Iowa

Allamakee County

U.S. county

Allamakee County Court House

Location within the U.S. state of Iowa

Iowa's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Iowa
Founded| 1847
Seat| Waukon
Largest city| Waukon
Area

• Total| 659 sq mi (1,710 km2)
• Land| 639 sq mi (1,660 km2)
• Water| 20 sq mi (50 km2)  3.0%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 14,061
• Density| 21/sq mi (8.2/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| allamakeecounty.iowa.gov

Allamakee County (/ˈæləməˌki/) is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,061.[1] Its county seat is Waukon.[2]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2020 census
* 3.2 2010 census
* 3.3 2000 census
* 4 Notable sites
* 5 Media
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Townships
* 6.3 Unincorporated communities
* 6.4 Ghost towns
* 6.5 Population ranking
* 7 Politics
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 Further reading
* 11 External links

## History

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Allamakee County was formed on February 20, 1847. The derivation of the name is debated, some believing it was the name of an Indian chief, others think it was named for Allen Magee, an early historic trader.[3] The first Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon, built in 1861, now serves as the Allamakee County Historical Museum. The present Allamakee County Court House was built in 1940. Both courthouse buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 659 square miles (1,710 km2), of which 639 square miles (1,660 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (3.0%) is water.[5]

Soils of Allamakee CountySoils of private land in Allamakee County, Iowa

In the northern part of the county is the Upper Iowa River. In the southern part is the Yellow River. The eastern boundary is the Mississippi River. All offer scenic and recreational opportunities, particularly in Yellow River State Forest.

French Creek flows north of Waukon, outside the city limits. Paint Creek, named after Paint Rock Bluff, flows out of the south of Waukon. Norfolk creek originates in the western outskirts of Waukon and is effluent to the Yellow River. Clear Creek flows into Lansing. Village Creek flows through essentially rural terrain. All are tributary to the Mississippi River.

The landforms encountered in the county are very unlike those found in most of Iowa, which is mostly absent Glacial Drift. As part of the Driftless Area, the county was ice free during the last ice age, and as one progresses to the Mississippi River, the streams and rivers display high-walled canyons carved of Silurian period bedrock. This Driftless Area also includes parts of Clayton, Fayette, Winneshiek, Howard, Dubuque, and Jackson Counties.[6]

### Major highways

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* U.S. Highway 18
* U.S. Highway 52
* Iowa Highway 9
* Iowa Highway 26
* Iowa Highway 51
* Iowa Highway 76

### Adjacent counties

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* Houston County, Minnesota (north)
* Vernon County, Wisconsin (northeast)
* Crawford County, Wisconsin (east)
* Clayton County (south)
* Winneshiek County (west)
* Fayette County (southwest)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1850| 777| | —
1860| 12,237| | 1,474.9%
1870| 17,868| | 46.0%
1880| 19,791| | 10.8%
1890| 17,907| | −9.5%
1900| 18,711| | 4.5%
1910| 17,328| | −7.4%
1920| 17,285| | −0.2%
1930| 16,328| | −5.5%
1940| 17,184| | 5.2%
1950| 16,351| | −4.8%
1960| 15,982| | −2.3%
1970| 14,968| | −6.3%
1980| 15,108| | 0.9%
1990| 13,855| | −8.3%
2000| 14,675| | 5.9%
2010| 14,330| | −2.4%
2020| 14,061| | −1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[11]
Population of Allamakee County from US census data

### 2020 census

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The 2020 census recorded a population of 14,061 in the county, with a population density of 21.2970/sq mi (8.22281/km2). 96.88% of the population reported being of one race. 81.08% were non-Hispanic White, 1.10% were Black, 8.68% were Hispanic, 0.65% were Native American, 0.29% were Asian, 0.04% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 8.17% were some other race or more than one race. There were 7,668 housing units of which 5,797 were occupied.[1]

### 2010 census

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The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,330 in the county, with a population density of 22.39/sq mi (8.65/km2). There were 7,617 housing units, of which 5,845 were occupied.[12]

### 2000 census

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2000 Census Age Pyramid for Allamakee County

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 14,675 people, 5,722 households, and 3,931 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 7,142 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.88% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.82% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 3.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,722 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,967, and the median income for a family was $40,589. Males had a median income of $26,122 versus $19,098 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,599. About 6.40% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

## Notable sites

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View of the Mississippi from Effigy Mounds National Monument

* Effigy Mounds National Monument is found in the southeast corner of the county.
* Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge encompasses the River.
* Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge, a collection of small, non-contiguous parcels harboring two endangered species.
* Yellow River State Forest is a four-season state park.

## Media

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* The Waukon Standard
* The Postville Herald-Leader

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Harpers Ferry
* Lansing
* New Albin
* Postville (part)
* Waterville
* Waukon

### Townships

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Allamakee County is divided into eighteen townships:

* Center
* Fairview
* Franklin
* French Creek
* Hanover
* Iowa
* Jefferson
* Lafayette
* Lansing
* Linton
* Ludlow
* Makee
* Paint Creek
* Post
* Taylor
* Union City
* Union Prairie
* Waterloo

### Unincorporated communities

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* Church
* Dorchester
* Ludlow
* Lycurgus
* Rossville
* Volney

### Ghost towns

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* Columbus
* Hardin
* Ion
* Myron
* Village Creek

### Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Allamakee County.[1]

† county seat

Rank  | City/Town/etc.  | Municipal type  | Population (2020 Census)

|
|
|

1  | † Waukon | City  | 3,827
2  | Postville (partially in Clayton County)  | City  | 2,228 (2503 total)
3  | Lansing | City  | 968
4  | New Albin | City  | 432
5  | Harpers Ferry | City  | 262
6  | Waterville | City  | 109

## Politics

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United States presidential election results for Allamakee County, Iowa[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 4,735  | 63.80% | 2,576  | 34.71%  | 111  | 1.50%
2016 | 4,093  | 59.12% | 2,421  | 34.97%  | 409  | 5.91%
2012 | 3,264  | 47.07%  | 3,553  | 51.24% | 117  | 1.69%
2008 | 2,965  | 41.99%  | 3,971  | 56.23% | 126  | 1.78%
2004 | 3,530  | 49.99% | 3,449  | 48.84%  | 83  | 1.18%
2000 | 3,277  | 50.71% | 2,883  | 44.61%  | 302  | 4.67%
1996 | 2,457  | 42.50%  | 2,551  | 44.13% | 773  | 13.37%
1992 | 2,627  | 39.33% | 2,362  | 35.36%  | 1,690  | 25.30%
1988 | 3,186  | 53.14% | 2,768  | 46.17%  | 41  | 0.68%
1984 | 3,997  | 62.91% | 2,282  | 35.91%  | 75  | 1.18%
1980 | 4,000  | 60.73% | 2,170  | 32.95%  | 416  | 6.32%
1976 | 3,648  | 57.88% | 2,568  | 40.74%  | 87  | 1.38%
1972 | 4,150  | 63.24% | 2,271  | 34.61%  | 141  | 2.15%
1968 | 4,449  | 62.57% | 2,245  | 31.58%  | 416  | 5.85%
1964 | 3,691  | 51.26% | 3,504  | 48.67%  | 5  | 0.07%
1960 | 4,970  | 62.78% | 2,933  | 37.05%  | 13  | 0.16%
1956 | 5,182  | 66.23% | 2,622  | 33.51%  | 20  | 0.26%
1952 | 6,087  | 72.14% | 2,341  | 27.74%  | 10  | 0.12%
1948 | 4,474  | 57.91% | 3,172  | 41.06%  | 80  | 1.04%
1944 | 5,017  | 63.27% | 2,893  | 36.49%  | 19  | 0.24%
1940 | 5,840  | 64.02% | 3,258  | 35.72%  | 24  | 0.26%
1936 | 4,053  | 46.25%  | 4,327  | 49.38% | 383  | 4.37%
1932 | 3,009  | 38.34%  | 4,783  | 60.95% | 56  | 0.71%
1928 | 4,785  | 59.43% | 3,227  | 40.08%  | 39  | 0.48%
1924 | 2,755  | 38.40%  | 1,289  | 17.97%  | 3,131  | 43.64%
1920 | 5,192  | 73.23% | 1,833  | 25.85%  | 65  | 0.92%
1916 | 2,411  | 57.97% | 1,714  | 41.21%  | 34  | 0.82%
1912 | 1,269  | 29.10%  | 1,767  | 40.52% | 1,325  | 30.38%
1908 | 2,521  | 58.67% | 1,725  | 40.14%  | 51  | 1.19%
1904 | 2,609  | 61.77% | 1,571  | 37.19%  | 44  | 1.04%
1900 | 2,659  | 58.44% | 1,850  | 40.66%  | 41  | 0.90%
1896 | 2,471  | 55.16% | 1,897  | 42.34%  | 112  | 2.50%

## See also

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* Cota Creek
* Duck Lake (Iowa)
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Allamakee County, Iowa
* Allamakee County Court House
* The former Allamakee County Courthouse, now a museum

## References

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1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Alexander, W. E. (1882). History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa. Western Publishing Company. p. 326.
4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. ^ Iowa DNR site on Yellow River State Forest Archived July 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
12. ^ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State -- County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2011.[dead link]
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.

## Further reading

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* Hancock, Ellery M. (1913). Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa. Vol. 1\. Chicaco: S. J. Clarke publishing Company. (Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa at the Internet Archive)
* Hancock, Ellery M. (1913). Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa. Vol. 2\. Chicaco: S. J. Clarke publishing Company. (Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa at the Internet Archive)

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Allamakee County, Iowa.

* Allamakee County Information
* Allamakee County Official Site
* Allamakee County Map
* Allamakee County Health and Demographic Data
* Waukon Standard (Newspaper)
* KNEI/KHPP Radio
* Allamakee County History Website

Places adjacent to Allamakee County, Iowa

|  | Houston County, Minnesota | Vernon County, Wisconsin

|
|

|  |
Winneshiek County |

Allamakee County, Iowa

| Crawford County, Wisconsin
|  |
Fayette County | Clayton County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Allamakee County, Iowa, United States

County seat: Waukon

Cities|

* Harpers Ferry
* Lansing
* New Albin
* Postville‡
* Waterville
* Waukon

Map of Iowa highlighting Allamakee County

Townships|

* Center
* Fairview
* Franklin
* French Creek
* Hanover
* Iowa
* Jefferson
* Lafayette
* Lansing
* Linton
* Ludlow
* Makee
* Paint Creek
* Post
* Taylor
* Union City
* Union Prairie
* Waterloo

Unincorporated
communities|

* Church
* Dalby
* Dorchester
* Elon
* Ion
* Ludlow
* Lycurgus
* Maud
* Quandahl
* Rossville
* Thompson Corner
* Village Creek
* Volney
* Waukon Junction

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Iowa

Des Moines (capital)

Topics|

* Archaeology
* Area codes
* Attorney General
* Auditor of State
* Capitol
* Code
* Congressional districts
* Crime
* Delegations
* Representatives
* Senators
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Regions|

* Coteau des Prairies
* Des Moines metropolitan area
* Dissected Till Plains
* Driftless Area
* Great River Road
* Honey Lands
* Iowa Great Lakes
* Loess Hills
* Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area
* Quad Cities
* Siouxland

Largest cities|

* Ames
* Ankeny
* Bettendorf
* Burlington
* Cedar Falls
* Cedar Rapids
* Clinton
* Council Bluffs
* Davenport
* Des Moines
* Dubuque
* Fort Dodge
* Iowa City
* Marion
* Marshalltown
* Mason City
* Muscatine
* Ottumwa
* Sioux City
* Urbandale
* Waterloo
* West Des Moines

Counties|

* Adair
* Adams
* Allamakee
* Appanoose
* Audubon
* Benton
* Black Hawk
* Boone
* Bremer
* Buchanan
* Buena Vista
* Butler
* Calhoun
* Carroll
* Cass
* Cedar
* Cerro Gordo
* Cherokee
* Chickasaw
* Clarke
* Clay
* Clayton
* Clinton
* Crawford
* Dallas
* Davis
* Decatur
* Delaware
* Des Moines
* Dickinson
* Dubuque
* Emmet
* Fayette
* Floyd
* Franklin
* Fremont
* Greene
* Grundy
* Guthrie
* Hamilton
* Hancock
* Hardin
* Harrison
* Henry
* Howard
* Humboldt
* Ida
* Iowa
* Jackson
* Jasper
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Jones
* Keokuk
* Kossuth
* Lee
* Linn
* Louisa
* Lucas
* Lyon
* Madison
* Mahaska
* Marion
* Marshall
* Mills
* Mitchell
* Monona
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Muscatine
* O'Brien
* Osceola
* Page
* Palo Alto
* Plymouth
* Pocahontas
* Polk
* Pottawattamie
* Poweshiek
* Ringgold
* Sac
* Scott
* Shelby
* Sioux
* Story
* Tama
* Taylor
* Union
* Van Buren
* Wapello
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Winnebago
* Winneshiek
* Woodbury
* Worth
* Wright

Coordinates: 43°17′12″N 91°22′27″W﻿ / ﻿43.28667°N 91.37417°W﻿ / 43.28667; -91.37417
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