Why visit Waterloo
Townapedia lists 72 museums and landmarks, 109 parks and trails, 159 places to eat, 19 places to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cotton Theatre, Crossroads 12 Theatre, Emerson School and Waterloo Public Library.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 11°F, and about 39 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Waterloo
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Waterloo
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. It is the eighth-most populous city in Iowa, with a population of 67,314 at the 2020 census. Waterloo comprises a twin conurbation with neighboring municipality Cedar Falls, and is the larger of the two cities. The Waterloo – Cedar Falls metropolitan area has an estimated 170,000 residents.
From the Wikipedia article Waterloo, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do8
Cotton Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
Theater in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States
University of Northern Iowa
School · 5.7 mi
Public university in Cedar Falls, Iowa
Waterloo Community Playhouse
Cinema and theater · 0.5 mi
224 Commercial Street, Waterloo
Museums and landmarks72
Emerson School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States
Waterloo Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic building and public library
415 Commercial Street
Mo-Th 09:00-19:00; Fr,Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 12:00-17:00; PH off
Whittier School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Bennington No. 4
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.9 mi
One-room schoolhouse near Waterloo, Iowa
Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Classical Revival veterans hall located at 194 West Fifth Street in downtown Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa
Black Hawk Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
Cedar Falls, Iowa, on the National Register of Historic Places, United States
C.A. Rownd Round Barn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
Round barn in Iowa, United States of America
Campbell Baking Company
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Cedar Falls Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.6 mi
Nationally recognized historic district located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States
Cedar Falls Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.6 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Chicago Great Western Railroad-Waterloo Freight Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
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Daniel and Margaret Wild House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.0 mi
Historic house in Iowa, United States
60 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds109
97 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes159
LJ's Neighborhood Bar & Grill
Diner · American · 2.2 mi
3550 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo
Tu-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-23:00; Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 08:00-20:00;...
Rancho Chico Mexican Restraunt
Restaurant · Mexican · 4.5 mi
618 Brandilynn Boulevard, Cedar Falls
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Carpenter's Diner
Restaurant · Burger, Sandwich, Salad, Breakfast, Pancake · 0.6 mi
518 Jefferson Street, Waterloo
Mo-Su 06:00-14:00
Gilmore's Pub
Diner · American · 4.5 mi
5307 Caraway Lane, Cedar Falls
Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00
The Slippery Pickle
Bar and pub · American · 0.8 mi
341 Fletcher Avenue
Mo-Th 13:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-01:00; Su 11:00-23:00
Ajla's Bakery & Grocery
Bakery · 0.8 mi
1206 West 9th Street, Waterloo
Fr-We 08:00-18:00
147 more on the map.
History
Waterloo was originally known as Prairie Rapids Crossing. The town was established near two Meskwaki American tribal seasonal camps alongside the Cedar River. It was first settled in 1845 when George and Mary Melrose Hanna and their children arrived on the east bank of the Red Cedar River (now just called the Cedar River). They were followed by the Virden and Mullan families in 1846. Evidence of these earliest families can still be found in the street names Hanna Boulevard, Mullan Avenue and Virden Creek.
On December 8, 1845, the Iowa State Register and Waterloo Herald was the first newspaper published in Waterloo.
From the History section of Waterloo, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay19
Best Western Plus Executive Residency Waterloo & Cedar Falls
Motel and hotel · 0.6 mi
205 West 4th Street, Waterloo
Churches and places of worship110
Grace Methodist Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Walnut Street Baptist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Shopping47
Gas and EV charging37
Schools, colleges and libraries46
Healthcare22
Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.7 mi
626 Commercial Street, Waterloo
Map of Waterloo
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 11°F | 1.1 in | 10.1 in |
| Feb | 33°F | 15°F | 1.1 in | 9.3 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 27°F | 2.0 in | 4.6 in |
| Apr | 61°F | 38°F | 4.0 in | 1.7 in |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 4.6 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 5.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 52°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 40°F | 2.8 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 28°F | 1.9 in | 3.1 in |
| Dec | 34°F | 17°F | 1.4 in | 9.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Waterloo Muni Ap 72548 (5 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
Black Hawk County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2016-10-31: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2014-08-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2010-07-29: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2009-08-13: Severe Storm (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Waterloo Regional Airport (ALO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 miles away.
- Evansdale 5 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Elk Run Heights 5 mi east, about 8 min by car
- Cedar Falls 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Hudson 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Raymond 6 mi east, about 10 min by car
- Washburn 7 mi southeast, about 11 min by car
- Gilbertville 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Marshalltown 42 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Cedar Rapids 50 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Marion 50 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 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
- 20170506-OC-PJK-0125 (34111882920), U.S. Department of Agriculture Preston Keres/Office of Communications-Photography Services Center, Public domain
- Greetings from Waterloo, Iowa - Large Letter Postcard (14140691061), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- HAER IOWA,7-WATLO,4- (sheet 1 of 1) - Rath Packing Company, Sycamore Street between Elm and Eighteenth Streets, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA, Unknown author, Public domain
- HAER IOWA,7-WATLO,4U- (sheet 1 of 2) - Rath Packing Company, Beef Killing Building, Sycamore Street between Elm and Eighteenth Streets, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA, Unknown author, Public domain
- HAER IOWA,7-WATLO,4U- (sheet 2 of 2) - Rath Packing Company, Beef Killing Building, Sycamore Street between Elm and Eighteenth Streets, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA, Unknown author, Public domain
- Greetings from Waterloo, Iowa - Large Letter Postcard (5326961218), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- OldLibraryWaterlooIA, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Emerson School Waterloo IA pic2, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Whittier School Waterloo IA pic2, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Roosevelt Elementary School, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- NewtonsWaterlooIA, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Grace Methodist front, Gitone, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WildHouse, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Walnut Baptist Church Waterloo Iowa, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cedar Falls IA pic1, RifeIdeas, CC BY 3.0
- Black Hawk Hotel Cedar Falls IA pic2, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Campbell Baking Company, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 214 Highland Blvd, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Cedar Falls Post Office, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cotton Theater Cedar Falls IA pic1, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Downtown Cedar Falls IA pic1, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Fowler Company Waterloo IA pic2, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Waterloo IA Public Library East pic1, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fire Station No. 2 Waterloo, Iowa, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bennington-4-Waterloo-Iowa-Schoolhouse, Joefreeman83, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Master Service Station, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marsh-Place Waterloo IA, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Waterloo Masonic Temple, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hotel Russell-Lamson, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Snowden House Front pic1, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hotel President(Waterloo,Iowa), Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- YMCA Waterloo IA pic1, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Henry Weis House Waterloo IA pic1, RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Dunsmore House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- RensselaerRussellHouse, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Rensselaer Russell House, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Ron Paul (6050773000), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ron Paul & Rand Paul (6050226057), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ron Paul (6050745072), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
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