Elkader, Iowa
Elkader is a city of 1,293 people in Clayton County, Iowa, founded in 1846.
Why visit Elkader
Townapedia lists 12 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 1 place to eat, 3 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Elkader Opera House, Elkader Cinema, Carter House and Clayton County Courthouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 6°F, and about 36 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Elkader
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Elkader
Elkader is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,209 at the time of the 2020 census, down from 1,465 in 2000. It is the county seat of Clayton County. It is the site of Iowa's lowest recorded minimum temperature, −44 °C (−47 °F) on February 3, 1996.
From the Wikipedia article Elkader, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Elkader Opera House
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places
Opera house in Iowa, United States of America
Museums and landmarks12
Carter House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
House in Elkader, Iowa
Clayton County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Iowa, United States
Elkader Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Nationally recognized historic district located in Elkader, Iowa, United States
Elkader Keystone Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places
Road bridge in Iowa, United States of America
J.C. Stemmer House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Rialto Price House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic building located in Elkader, Iowa, United States
Schmidt House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Church building in Elkader, Iowa, United States of America
Timothy Davis House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Iowa, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds11
Restaurants and cafes1
History
The city is named after a Muslim Algerian leader, the Emir Abdelkader. When the community was platted in 1846, the founders, Timothy Davis, John Thompson and Chester Sage decided to name it for the young Algerian who was leading his people in resisting the French conquest of Algeria.
The town is known for the Elkader Keystone Bridge over the Turkey River, said to be the largest stone arch bridge west of the Mississippi River. It, and many of the local buildings, are made from locally quarried sandstone. The town's grocery store, Wilke's, is the oldest continuously operated grocery store west of the Mississippi, as well. The city is also home to the renovated Victorian-era Elkader Opera House, and the Turkey River Mall, a 29-room hotel converted into antique stores.
From the History section of Elkader, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship7
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries4
Healthcare1
Map of Elkader
42 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°F | 6°F | 1.2 in | 10.2 in |
| Feb | 31°F | 10°F | 1.3 in | 8.0 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 22°F | 2.0 in | 5.4 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 34°F | 4.0 in | 1.3 in |
| May | 70°F | 46°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 56°F | 6.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 58°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 48°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 37°F | 2.9 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 45°F | 24°F | 2.3 in | 2.3 in |
| Dec | 32°F | 14°F | 1.6 in | 8.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Elkader 6 Ssw (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Clayton County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-08-25: Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-03-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2017-08-27: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2016-10-31: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Prairie Du Chien Municipal Airport (PCD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 18 miles away.
- Strawberry Point 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
- Guttenberg 16 mi east, about 25 min by car
- Postville 18 mi northwest, about 29 min by car
- West Union 22 mi west, about 35 min by car
- Manchester 26 mi south, about 42 min by car
- Oelwein 29 mi southwest, about 46 min by car
- Waukon 29 mi north, about 46 min by car
- Dyersville 30 mi southeast, about 48 min by car
- Decorah 36 mi northwest, about 58 min by car
- Independence 37 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Downtown Elkader, Kevin Schuchmann, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Schmidt House - Elkader, Iowa, Kev319, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Carter House, Kevin Schuchmann, CC BY-SA 3.0
- J.C. stemmed House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Elkader Opera House, Kevin Schuchmann, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Elkader Keystone Bridge, Joseph Elliott, Public domain
- Clayton County Courthouse Elkader Iowa, ABreiholz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Timothy-Davis-House, Kevin Schuchmann, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rialto Price House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
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