Waukon, Iowa
Waukon is a city of 3,792 people in Allamakee County, Iowa, founded in 1853.
Why visit Waukon
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 1 place to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Town Theatre, Allamakee County Court House and Fred W. Meier Round Barn.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 8°F.
Weather in Waukon
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Waukon
Waukon is a city in Makee Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States, and the county seat of Allamakee County. The population was 3,827 at the time of the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Waukon, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks6
Allamakee County Court House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Waukon, Iowa
Fred W. Meier Round Barn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Round barn in Iowa, United States of America
Old Allamakee County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
County courthouse in Waukon, Iowa
Otto J. Hager House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes1
History
Waukon is often said to be named for Waukon Decorah, a Ho Chunk (Winnebago) leader who was a U.S. ally during the 1832 Black Hawk War, although the city is also said to be named for his son Chief John Waukon. Winnebagos lived in this area of Iowa in the 1840s, before being forced to relocate to Minnesota.
The first white settler arrived in 1849, and the city was founded and the Waukon Post Office opened in 1853. A courthouse was completed in 1861, and the county seat was moved to Waukon in 1867 after 8 elections attempting to decide the location of the county seat. The city was incorporated on April 4, 1883.
Waukon is only about 16 miles from Waukon Junction, on the Mississippi River, but the rail line between these two points was 33 miles long, climbing 600 feet through some of the roughest terrain in Iowa. The Waukon and Mississippi Railroad, which opened in 1877, was originally built as a narrow gauge line. The line was originally controlled by the Chicago and Northwestern but was quickly acquired by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. The line was widened to standard gauge after purchase by the Milwaukee Road. Its only marginal traffic through its existence led to the road's abandonment in the late 1960s.
From the History section of Waukon, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship8
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Healthcare1
Map of Waukon
30 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 8°F | 1.2 in |
| Feb | 29°F | 12°F | 1.2 in |
| Mar | 42°F | 23°F | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 34°F | 4.1 in |
| May | 68°F | 46°F | 4.7 in |
| Jun | 77°F | 58°F | 5.9 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 62°F | 4.7 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 59°F | 4.7 in |
| Sep | 72°F | 51°F | 3.9 in |
| Oct | 59°F | 39°F | 2.9 in |
| Nov | 42°F | 26°F | 2.3 in |
| Dec | 29°F | 15°F | 1.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Waukon (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
Allamakee 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
Waukon Municipal Airport (UKN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Postville 13 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Lansing 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
- Decorah 16 mi west, about 25 min by car
- Elkader 29 mi south, about 46 min by car
- Cresco 33 mi west, about 53 min by car
- Guttenberg 38 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- La Crosse 41 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Strawberry Point 41 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Onalaska 45 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- New Hampton 45 mi west, 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
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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
- AllamakeeCountyCourthouse, Jatakuck at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Otto J- Hager House 2012-09-26 20-07-08, James M Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.