University Heights, Iowa
University Heights is a city of 1,384 people in Johnson County, Iowa, founded in 1935.
Why visit University Heights
Townapedia lists 86 museums and landmarks, 31 parks and trails, 129 places to eat, 13 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Benton Street Bridge, Coldren Opera House, Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Passenger Station and Congregational United Church of Christ.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 15°F.
Weather in University Heights
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About University Heights
University Heights is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,228 at the time of the 2020 census. It is an enclave surrounded by Iowa City, located near the campus of the University of Iowa.
From the Wikipedia article University Heights, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
Benton Street Bridge
Bridge · 1.1 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Coldren Opera House
Cinema and theater · 1.3 mi
Former theater in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Museums and landmarks86
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Passenger Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Former M&M RR station in Iowa City, Iowa
Congregational United Church of Christ
Monument and historic site · Evangelical · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Church building in Iowa, United States of America
Englert Theatre
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Theater and arts center in Iowa City, Iowa
Jefferson Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Nationally recognized historic district located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Pentacrest
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
District in Iowa City, Iowa
Trinity Episcopal Church
Monument and historic site · Episcopal · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Church building in Iowa, United States of America
320 East College Street
A.W. Pratt House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic building located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
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Arthur Hillyer Ford House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic building located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Bethel AME Church
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Church building in Iowa, United States of America
Billingsley-Hills House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic building located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Boerner-Fry Company/Davis Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Hotel building in Iowa City, United States of America
Bohumil Shimek House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic building located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
74 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds31
19 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes129
Iowa Chop House
Restaurant · Regional · 1.4 mi
223 East Washington Street, Iowa City
Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
Big Grove Brewery
Bar and pub · 1.5 mi
1225 South Gilbert Street, Iowa City
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
Brothers Bar and Grill
Bar and pub · 1.3 mi
125 South Debuque Street
Mo-Fr 11:00-02:00; Sa 15:00-02:00; Su 19:00-02:00
Power Cafe
Cafe · 1.1 mi
309 South Madison Street, Iowa City
Mo-Fr 07:00-23:00; Sa,Su 08:00-23:00; PH off
Red Ginger
Restaurant · 1.5 mi
1301 ste 6 South Gilbert Street
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 12:00-21:30
The Box
Bar and pub · 1.5 mi
525 South Gilbert Street, Iowa City
Mo-We 16:00-00:00; Th-Fr 16:00-02:00; Sa 12:00-02:00; Su 12:00-00:00
117 more on the map.
History
At the turn of the 20th century, the area of present-day University Heights was known as West Lucas Township and consisted of several small farms and properties. At that time, the University of Iowa and Iowa City at large had not yet expanded westward past the Iowa River.
In the early 1920s, brothers Lee and George Koser began purchasing and developing the land that became the city of University Heights, anticipating the westward expansion of the university and the city. With the construction of the university's General Hospital in 1928 and Kinnick Stadium in 1929, those predictions came true. By 1933, the City of Iowa City began annexing land on the west side of the river and in 1935, the city of University Heights was incorporated. By the 1960s, most of the remaining lots west of Sunset St. were developed and the land surrounding University Heights had been annexed by Iowa City, limiting future growth.
From the History section of University Heights, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay13
Hilton Garden Inn Iowa City Downtown University
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
328 South Clinton Street, Iowa City
Hotel Chauncey Iowa City, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
404 East College Street, Iowa City
Marriott Element Iowa City
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
314 South Clinton Street, Iowa City
Churches and places of worship23
Iowa City Seventh-day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 0.8 mi
1007 Rider Street, Iowa City
Shopping18
Gas and EV charging13
Schools, colleges and libraries36
Healthcare14
Westlawn - Student Health Services
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.0 mi
4189 Westlawn South, Iowa City
Map of University Heights
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 15°F | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 1.2 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 2.2 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 3.8 in |
| May | 73°F | 52°F | 4.5 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 5.3 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.9 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.9 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 30°F | 2.2 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 1.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Iowa City Muni Ap (2 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
Johnson County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-08-17: Severe Storms (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-08-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-07-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-05-31: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Iowa City Municipal Airport (IOW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Iowa City 1 mi east, about 2 min by car
- Coralville 4 mi northwest, about 6 min by car
- North Liberty 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Swisher 15 mi northwest, about 24 min by car
- Lisbon 20 mi northeast, about 33 min by car
- Cedar Rapids 22 mi north, about 36 min by car
- Marion 27 mi north, about 43 min by car
- Springville 28 mi north, about 45 min by car
- Kent Estates 29 mi southeast, about 47 min by car
- Muscatine 30 mi southeast, about 49 min 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
- University Heights IA Melrose triangle, American007, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iowa City train station, Ron Reiring, CC BY 2.0
- Congregational United Church of Christ (Iowa City, Iowa) - cropped, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Trinity Episcopal Church 1, Zachary Roper, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SUI Isolation Hospital, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Capitol Iowa City, Billwhittaker ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Economy Advertising Company 1, Zachary Roper, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Image The Cavanaugh-Zetek House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Image Rose Hill, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iowa city carson house, Billwhittaker ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Image The Windrem House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- NickingHome, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Brown Historical District 3, Zachary Roper, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Arthur Hillyer Ford House, Zachary Roper, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Charles Berryhill House, Zachary Roper, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old post office iowa city, Billwhittaker at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Unitarian Church (Iowa City, Iowa), Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Close house iowa city, Billwhittaker at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Image The A.W. Pratt House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Johnson county courhouse iowa, Billwhittaker at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rittenmeyer Home, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- College Green Park Gazebo, Zachary Roper, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CoralvillePublic 2014-10-04, Highlandia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Weatherby House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Franklin Printing House, Zachary Roper, CC BY-SA 3.0
- IowaCityIA JAmesMcCollisterFarmstead, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Park house hotel iowa city, Billwhittaker at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Johnson County Savings Bank - Iowa City, Iowa (2017), Alan Light, CC BY 2.0
- OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF JOHNSON COUNTY CABINS, JOHNSON COUNTY, IA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image The Letovsky-Rohret House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Brick Iowa 2, Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Image The Cannon House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- NedAshtonHouse-NWview, Douglas W. Jones, CC0
- CORALVILLE UNION ECCLESISTICAL CHURCH, JOHNSON COUNTY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- MELROSE HISTORIC DISTRICT, IOWA CITY, JOHNSON COUNTY, IA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- IowaCityIA DrAlbertHenryByfieldHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oakes-Wood Home, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Image Kirkwood House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Emma J. Harvat and Mary E. Stach House, Zachary Roper, CC BY-SA 3.0
- College Gameday (6108541885), Phil Roeder from Des Moines, IA, USA, CC BY 2.0
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