Jefferson, Iowa
Jefferson is a city of 4,152 people in Greene County, Iowa, founded in 1855.
Why visit Jefferson
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 1 place to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Sierra Community Theatre, Greene County Courthouse and Jefferson Square Commercial Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 9°F, and about 32 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Jefferson
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Jefferson
Jefferson is a city in, and the county seat of Greene County, Iowa, United States, along the North Raccoon River. The population was 4,182 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the home of the Mahanay Memorial Bell Tower, 168 feet (51 m) tall, located on the town square, and visible for miles. The tower is named for Floyd Mahanay, a businessman, philanthropist, and former resident.
From the Wikipedia article Jefferson, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks10
Greene County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Iowa, United States
Jefferson Square Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Nationally recognized historic district located in Jefferson, Iowa, United States
Jefferson station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Railway station in Jefferson, Iowa
Lincoln Highway in Greene County, Iowa
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Multiple listing in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Statue of Abraham Lincoln
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Statue in Jefferson, Iowa
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Restaurants and cafes1
History
While platted and settled a few years earlier, "New Jefferson" was organized in the winter of 1855–56 and officially incorporated in January 1872. It began as a farming community and remains so today. The first settlers of the new city were the family of George S. Walton who built there in 1855. During the Civil War, Jefferson as well as Greene County contributed its sons to raising Company H, 10th Iowa Infantry (1861) and Company E, 39th Iowa Infantry (1862). The railway came to Jefferson in the decades after the Civil War. Jefferson's first mayor was Mahlon Head, elected in 1872. Jefferson's library was completed in 1904 through the generosity of the Carnegie library fund. The stretch of Lincoln Highway that runs through Jefferson was completed c. 1924.
From the History section of Jefferson, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship13
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Healthcare2
Map of Jefferson
49 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 9°F | 1.0 in | 8.2 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 13°F | 1.3 in | 8.2 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 25°F | 2.0 in | 4.8 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 36°F | 3.6 in | 0.9 in |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 51°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 39°F | 2.6 in | 0.6 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 26°F | 1.7 in | 1.5 in |
| Dec | 33°F | 16°F | 1.4 in | 7.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Jefferson (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
Greene County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2022-02-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-08-17: Severe Storms (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-03-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2013-07-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Jefferson Municipal Airport (EFW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Coon Rapids 18 mi southwest, about 29 min by car
- Carroll 25 mi west, about 40 min by car
- Lake City 25 mi northwest, about 40 min by car
- Boone 26 mi east, about 42 min by car
- Granger 34 mi southeast, about 55 min by car
- Fort Dodge 36 mi north, about 57 min by car
- Grimes 38 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Ames 39 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Waukee 39 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Urbandale 41 mi southeast, 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
- GreeneCountyCourthouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- JeffersonIA JeffersonSquareCommercialHD 1, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JeffersonIA MahanayTower, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JeffersonIA JeffersonSquareCommercialHD 2, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JeffersonIA JeffersonSquareCommercialHD 4, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JeffersonIA JeffersonSquareCommercialHD 3, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JeffersonIA LincolnStatue, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 19950722 15 UP PRNPB Jefferson, IA (5358022450), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- UP 4014 "Big Boy" EB near Jefferson, IA 7-15-19 - 02, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- UP 4014 "Big Boy" EB near Jefferson, IA 7-15-19 - 01, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- GreeneCountyCourthouse2, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ChicagoMilwaukeeStPaulDepot, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS065-E-85901 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS038-E-4456 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS038-E-4459 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS038-E-4460 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS038-E-4457 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS038-E-4458 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS041-E-84412 - View of Minnesota, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.