Why visit West Branch
Townapedia lists 30 museums and landmarks, 9 parks and trails, 6 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, Downey Savings Bank and Cedars Edge Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 12°F, and about 28 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in West Branch
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About West Branch
West Branch is a city in Cedar and Johnson counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 2,509 as of the 2020 census. It is the birthplace of the only American president born in Iowa, Herbert Hoover.
From the Wikipedia article West Branch, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks30
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa, United States
Downey Savings Bank
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Bank building in Cedar County, United States of America
Downey School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic building located in the unincorporated community of Downey, Iowa, United States
Gruwell and Crew General Store
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States of America
West Branch Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic district in Iowa, United States
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
Museum
Presidential library and museum for U.S. President Herbert Hoover in West Branch, Iowa
18 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds9
Restaurants and cafes6
Herb N Lou's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.4 mi
105 North Downey Street, West Branch
Where to stay1
History
West Branch was laid out in 1869 by Joseph Steer. It was incorporated in 1875.
The city was first settled chiefly by Quakers from Ohio. Its name is derived from the meeting place of the West Branch Quakers, and the location of the city on the west branch of the Wapsinonoc Creek. Most of Main Street is part of the West Branch Commercial Historic District.
Before the American Civil War, areas in and around West Branch were stops of the Underground Railroad. Abolitionist John Brown once stayed at the Maxson farm east of West Branch. He also stayed at James Townsend's inn, the Traveler's Rest, in the winter of 1856. In 2008, archaeologists found evidence of unmarked graves in nearby North Liberty Cemetery while investigating an account of 17 escaped slaves who died before reaching Canada.
West Branch experienced rapid growth after the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway was built through it.
President Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch in 1874. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum was dedicated here by Hoover and his close friend, President Harry Truman, in 1962. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, which includes the Library-Museum, the Hoover Birthplace Cottage and the gravesites of President and Lou Henry Hoover, was authorized by Congress on August 12, 1965.
From the History section of West Branch, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship4
West Branch Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 0.5 mi
203 North Downey Street, West Branch
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare1
Map of West Branch
59 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 12°F | 1.1 in | 7.6 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 16°F | 1.4 in | 7.5 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 27°F | 2.3 in | 3.2 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 37°F | 3.9 in | 0.5 in |
| May | 72°F | 49°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 52°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 40°F | 3.0 in | 0.4 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 28°F | 2.3 in | 1.1 in |
| Dec | 34°F | 18°F | 1.6 in | 7.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Iowa City (9 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
Cedar County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-05-24: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 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)
- 2013-07-31: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Iowa City Municipal Airport (IOW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- West Liberty 8 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Iowa City 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- University Heights 11 mi west, about 18 min by car
- Coralville 13 mi west, about 21 min by car
- Solon 13 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Tipton 13 mi northeast, about 21 min by car
- North Liberty 15 mi west, about 24 min by car
- Tiffin 16 mi west, about 26 min by car
- Mount Vernon 18 mi north, about 30 min by car
- Lisbon 18 mi north, about 29 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
- 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
- West branch downtown, Rpogge at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- West Branch - Herbert Hoover National Historic Site - 20220511154418, Riis2602, CC BY-SA 4.0
- West Branch - Herbert Hoover National Historic Site - 20220511154634, Riis2602, CC BY-SA 4.0
- West Branch - Herbert Hoover National Historic Site - 20220511154507, Riis2602, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover birthplace, Billwhittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
- West-branch gruwell-crew, Bill Whittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Downey Savings Bank, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Downey School - Downey, Iowa, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - edge of the woods, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - Rooms big enough to swing a cat in, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - Hoover Presidential Foundation building, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - P.T. Smith House, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover Presidental Library - panoramio, Wallace Parry, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - approaching the bridge on the boardwalk, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - Iowa Award plaques, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover Presidential Library - entrance to exhibit area, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover Presidential Library - Hoover's New York Office, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover Presidential Library - telex, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - statue of Isis, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - side view of Quaker meetinghous, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - Quaker meetinghouse, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - stream towards bridge, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - Raised With Quaker Values, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover Presidential Library - signage at the edge of the parking lot, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - Helpng War Victims, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover Presidential Library - feeding the world, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover Presidential Library - famine bread, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - approaching the birthplace cottage, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - inside the birthplace cottage, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - dresser in cottage, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - wood on the back porch of the birthplace, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - looking around the corner to the replica blacksmith's shop, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - H. Varney House, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - stove in cottage, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - inside view of birthplace, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - porch view of the Varney House, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - beds in cottage, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - shed, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - back view of birthplace, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herbert Hoover NHS - parking area of the library, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
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