Winterset, Iowa
Winterset is a city of 5,416 people in Madison County, Iowa, founded in 1849.
Why visit Winterset
Townapedia lists 28 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 14 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Holliwell Covered Bridge, The Iowa Theater/ Winterset Stage, C.D. and Eliza Heath Bevington Privy and C.D. Bevington House and Stone Barn.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 10°F, and about 31 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Winterset
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Winterset
Winterset is a city in the county seat of Madison County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,353 at the time of the 2020 census. Located in rolling farmland 35 miles south of Des Moines, Winterset is part of the Des Moines metropolitan area. It is known most notably for being the birthplace of actor John Wayne.
From the Wikipedia article Winterset, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Holliwell Covered Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historical street bridge in the United States
Museums and landmarks28
C.D. and Eliza Heath Bevington Privy
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic building located in Winterset, Iowa, United States
C.D. Bevington House and Stone Barn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Cutler–Donahoe Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Madison County, Iowa
Emily Hornback House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Iowa, United States
George and Susan Guiberson Armstrong House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Guiberson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
House in Winterset, Iowa, United States
Henry and Elizabeth Adkinson Evans House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Henry C. Wallace House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
J.G. and Elizabeth S. Vawter House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic house
John M. Duncan House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Madison County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Courthouse in Iowa, United States
Miles and Elizabeth Smith Kellogg House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Historic building located southwest of Winterset in rural Madison County, Iowa, United States
16 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes14
Anything Sweet & More Cafe
Cafe · 0.7 mi
52 East Court Avenue, Winterset
Tu-Sa 11:00-15:00; Mo 11:00-14:00
The Honey Lounge
Bar and pub · 0.7 mi
111 South 1st Avenue, Winterset
Mo,We 12:00-17:00; Tu off; Th-Sa 12:00-21:00; Su 12:00-17:00
The Bakery Unlimited
Bakery · 0.6 mi
119 North John Wayne Drive, Winterset
Mo off; Tu-Sa 05:30-15:00; Su off
Pheasant Run
Bar and pub · 0.7 mi
103 South 1st Avenue, Winterset
Mo-Tu 10:00-24:00; We 10:00-22:00; Th 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa...
The Drift
Bar and pub · 0.7 mi
112 North 1st Avenue, Winterset
Mo-Tu closed; We-Th 15:00-21:00; Fr 15:00-22:00; Sa 11:00-22:00;...
2 more on the map.
History
Winterset was platted during a cool spell in the summer of 1849. The name was originally to be "Summerset", but the unseasonable coldness made the commissioners reverse this to "Winterset".
On March 5, 2022, a low-end EF4 tornado struck the areas just outside the city, killing six people.
From the History section of Winterset, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship11
Winterset Seventh-day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 1.1 mi
903;1001 West Summit Street, Winterset
First United Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.6 mi
210 West Green Street, Winterset
Shopping8
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare3
Montross Pharmacy, Gift Shop, and Fountain
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.6 mi
120 North 1st Avenue, Winterset
Map of Winterset
89 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 10°F | 0.8 in | 7.3 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 13°F | 1.3 in | 8.3 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 25°F | 2.1 in | 4.7 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 35°F | 3.6 in | 0.8 in |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 5.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 59°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 51°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 38°F | 2.9 in | 0.9 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 26°F | 2.0 in | 2.7 in |
| Dec | 35°F | 16°F | 1.2 in | 5.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Winterset 1S (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
Madison County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-03-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2010-07-29: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2010-03-02: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Storm)
- 2008-05-27: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Winterset Municipal Airport (3Y3) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Earlham 12 mi northwest, about 19 min by car
- Van Meter 13 mi north, about 21 min by car
- De Soto 13 mi north, about 22 min by car
- Waukee 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- West Des Moines 19 mi northeast, about 30 min by car
- Norwalk 19 mi northeast, about 31 min by car
- Stuart 19 mi northwest, about 31 min by car
- Clive 22 mi northeast, about 35 min by car
- Urbandale 24 mi northeast, about 38 min by car
- Des Moines 26 mi northeast, about 42 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
- DSC 5559w, Teddi Yaeger, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Winterset 1 Street opposite to Courthouse 02, Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Winterset Madison County Courthouse, Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Winterset banner, Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Winterset John Wayne Drive, Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Winterset 1 Street opposite to Courthouse 01, Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC0
- Winterset Iowa - Madison County - High School, Bridgepix, CC BY-SA 4.0
- John Wayne Birth Place at Winterset IA - panoramio, Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Winterset, Iowa 7.26.07 (910062375), John Edwards, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Winterset, Iowa 7.26.07 (910937204), John Edwards, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Winterset, Iowa 7.26.07 (910078363), John Edwards, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Winterset, Iowa 7.26.07 (910074367), John Edwards, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Winterset, Iowa 7.26.07 (910926028), John Edwards, CC BY-SA 2.0
- WintersetIAPark1, Photo by Madmaxmarchhare, CC BY 2.5
- C.D. AND ELISHA HEATH BEVINGTON PRIVY, MADISON COUNTY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- WILLIAM R. AND MARTHA FOSTER SHRIVER HOUSE, MADISON COUNTY IA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Holliwell Covered bridge 16 July 2011, Lexandalf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- C.D. BEVINGTON HOUSE AND STONE BARN; MADISON COUNTY, IA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- EMILY HORNBACK HOUSE, MADISON COUNTY, IA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- MUNGER AND COMPANY WHITE STORE, MADISON COUNTY, IA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Winterset, Guimir, CC BY-SA 3.0
- W. J. AND NETTIE J. CORNELL HOUSE, MADISON COUNTY, IA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- HENRY C. WALLACE HOUSE, MADISON COUNTY, IA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Miller Richard and Mary Fisher Tidrick House 2013-07-12 08-05-34, porterhse, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Madison County, Iowa Courthouse, en:User:Cburnett, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GULBERSON HOUSE, MADISON COUNTY, IA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hogback Bridge taken on 16 July 2011, Lexandalf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Amy Klobuchar (48208402942), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar (48208405902), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar (48208361106), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar (48208358011), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar (48208364786), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar (48208347396), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- John Bessler (48208359691), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar (48208341681), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar & John Bessler (48208409017), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar with supporter (48208390712), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar & John Bessler with supporters (48208344446), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Amy Klobuchar with supporter (48208388732), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
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