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Allamakee County, Iowa facts for kids

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Allamakee County
Allamakee County Court House
Map of Iowa highlighting Allamakee County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting 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 21.337/sq mi (8.238/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st

Allamakee County is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,061. Its county seat is Waukon.

History

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. 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.

Geography

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.

Private land Alamakee Co Wiki Version
Soils 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.

Major highways

  • US 18 (IA).svg U.S. Highway 18
  • US 52 (IA).svg U.S. Highway 52
  • Iowa 9.svg Iowa Highway 9
  • Iowa 26.svg Iowa Highway 26
  • Iowa 51.svg Iowa Highway 51
  • Iowa 76.svg Iowa Highway 76

Adjacent counties

Demographics

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
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2018
AllamakeeCountyIowaPop2020
Population of Allamakee County from US census data

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 14,061 in the county, with a population density of 21.2970/sq mi (8.2228/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.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,330 in the county, with a population density of 22.39/sq mi (8.64/km2). There were 7,617 housing units, of which 5,845 were occupied.

Notable sites

EffigyMounds01
View of the Mississippi from Effigy Mounds National Monument

Communities

Cities

Townships

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

Ghost towns

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Allamakee County.

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Waukon City 3,897
2 Postville (mostly in Clayton County) City 2,227
3 Lansing City 999
4 New Albin City 522
5 Harpers Ferry City 328
6 Waterville City 144

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Allamakee para niños

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