Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city of 9,456 people in Jefferson County, Iowa, founded in 1839.
Why visit Fairfield
Townapedia lists 27 museums and landmarks, 21 parks and trails, 6 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Maharishi International University, Fairfield Public Library, Architecture of Henry K. Holsman Historic Campus District and Fairfield Golf and Country Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 14°F, and about 22 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Fairfield
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Fairfield
Fairfield is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. It has a population of 9,416 people, according to the 2020 census. Fairfield is an international center for Transcendental Meditation, the home of Maharishi International University.
From the Wikipedia article Fairfield, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Maharishi International University
School · 0.8 mi
American spiritual institution of general higher education in Iowa
Dalby Hall (Rich and Gail Dalby Meeting Hall)
Cinema and theater · 0.8 mi
Two level auditorium with stadium seating
Museums and landmarks27
Fairfield Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Public library in Iowa, United States of America
104 West Adams Avenue, Fairfield
Mo-We 09:30-20:00; Th-Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 13:00-17:00; Sep...
Architecture of Henry K. Holsman Historic Campus District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
United States historic place
August and Vera Luedtke Barn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Barn in Iowa, United States of America
Burnett-Montgomery House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Fairfield, Iowa
Evergreen Ridge Stock Farm Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic district in Iowa, United States
Former US Post Office Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States of America
George A. Wells House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
House in Fairfield, Iowa
Henn Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Mansion in Fairfield, Iowa, United States
James A. Beck House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Fairfield, Iowa, listed on the NRHP in Jefferson County
James F. Clarke House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Iowa, United States
Jefferson County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Iowa, United States
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McElhinny House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic building located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States
15 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds21
Lamson Woods State Preserve
Hiking and trails · 1.4 mi
2100 Mint Boulevard, Fairfield
24/7
Jefferson County Fairgrounds
Park · 1.5 mi
2606 West Burlington Avenue, Fairfield
9 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes6
Burger King
Fast food · Burger · 0.6 mi
1210 West Burlington Avenue, Fairfield
Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00
History
The area known as Jefferson County was first settled in 1836 and became Jefferson County in 1839, with the new community of Fairfield as the county seat. The name was suggested by Nancy Bonnifield, one of the settlers, because it aptly described the fair fields of the area. But author Susan Welty suggests it was also a play of words on the woman's own name (bonny field). By 1840, Fairfield had a population of 110 and grew to 650 in 1847. The city was the site of the first and second Iowa State Fairs.
The first fair was held October 25–27, 1854, on 6 acres (2.4 ha) of land surrounded by a 10-foot-high (3.0 m) fence. The total cost to hold the fair was around $320, and public admission was 25 cents per person. It is estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 fair goers attended this historical event. During the time leading up to the American Civil War, Fairfield was a stopping point for the Underground Railroad. Ultimately, over 1,600 residents of Jefferson County served in the Union Army. Parsons College was founded in 1875. In 1893, the first Carnegie Library west of the Mississippi was completed.
From the History section of Fairfield, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship24
First Christian Church
Church · Disciples Of Christ
207 West Burlington Avenue, Fairfield
First United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist
201 North Court Street, Fairfield
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries15
Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment
School · 0.6 mi
804 Doctor Robert Keith Wallace Drive, Fairfield
Healthcare3
Hy-Vee Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.6 mi
1300 West Burlington Avenue, Fairfield
Map of Fairfield
107 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 14°F | 1.5 in | 6.2 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 1.8 in | 7.2 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 28°F | 2.4 in | 2.7 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 39°F | 3.7 in | 1.0 in |
| May | 71°F | 50°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 41°F | 3.0 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 2.3 in | 0.9 in |
| Dec | 35°F | 20°F | 1.7 in | 3.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fairfield Hcn (1 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
Jefferson County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2015-07-31: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-05-31: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2008-01-04: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2007-03-14: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Fairfield Municipal Airport (FFL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Mount Pleasant 22 mi east, about 36 min by car
- Ottumwa 24 mi west, about 38 min by car
- Washington 25 mi northeast, about 40 min by car
- Sigourney 26 mi northwest, about 42 min by car
- Bloomfield 29 mi southwest, about 47 min by car
- New London 30 mi east, about 48 min by car
- Wellman 33 mi north, about 53 min by car
- Eddyville 36 mi west, about 58 min by car
- Columbus Junction 37 mi northeast, about 59 min by car
- Oskaloosa 40 mi northwest, 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
Loading what members have shared...
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
- Fairfield, Iowa (14201278112), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Fairfield library, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- James F. Clarke House, Robert Thall, Public domain
- McElhinny House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The George A. wells House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jefferson County, Iowa Courthouse, en:User:Cburnett, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Burnett-Montgomery House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Henn Mansion, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- R.R. And Antoinette Louden House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Wells-Stubbs Houseq, Fairfield, Iowa, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- R.B. And Lizzie Louden House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ewing Hall, Parsons College, C.C. Woodburn, Public domain
- Wooden Queen Anne house in Fairfield, Iowa, Jo Naylor, CC BY 2.0
- The William and Mary Jane Louden House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The R. Bruce and May W. Louden House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Former U.S. Post Office Building, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- U.S. Senator James F. Wilson House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rhodham Bonnifield House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The O.F. And Lulu E. Fryer House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The W.C. Ball House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Wilson Building, Fairfield Iowa, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gobble and Heer-Spurgeons Building, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Iowa Malleable Iron Company, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 117 E. Broadway former Auto Repair Shop, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Louden Whirl-Around, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
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