Allamakee County, Iowa

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Allamakee County, Iowa
Allamakee County Court House
Location in the state of Iowa
Iowa's location in the U.S.
Founded	1847
Seat	Waukon
Largest city	Waukon
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	659 sq mi (1,707 km²) 639 sq mi (1,655 km²) 20 sq mi (52 km²), 3.0
Population  - (2020)  - Density	14,061
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	https://allamakeecounty.iowa.gov/

Allamakee County ( /ˈæləməˌki/) is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,061. Its county seat is Waukon.

History

Allamakee County was formed on February 20, 1847. The derivation of the name is debated, some believing it was the name of an Indian chief, others think it was named for Allen Magee, an early historic trader. The first Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon, built in 1861, now serves as the Allamakee County Historical Museum. The present Allamakee County Court House was built in 1940. Both courthouse buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 659 square miles (1,710 km²), of which 639 square miles (1,660 km²) is land and 20 square miles (52 km²) (3.0%) is water. File:Allamakee Co IA Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

Soils of private land in Allamakee County Iowa

In the northern part of the county is the Upper Iowa River. In the southern part is the Yellow River. The eastern boundary is the Mississippi River. All offer scenic and recreational opportunities, particularly in Yellow River State Forest.

French Creek flows north of Waukon, outside the city limits. Paint Creek, named after Paint Rock Bluff, flows out of the south of Waukon. Norfolk creek originates in the western outskirts of Waukon and is effluent to the Yellow River. Clear Creek flows into Lansing. Village Creek flows through essentially rural terrain. All are tributary to the Mississippi River.

The landforms encountered in the county are very unlike those found in most of Iowa, which is mostly absent Glacial Drift. As part of the Driftless Area, the county was ice free during the last ice age, and as one progresses to the Mississippi River, the streams and rivers display high-walled canyons carved of Silurian period bedrock. This Driftless Area also includes parts of Clayton, Fayette, Winneshiek, Howard, Dubuque, and Jackson Counties.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 18
• U.S. Highway 52
• Iowa Highway 9
• Iowa Highway 26
• Iowa Highway 51
• Iowa Highway 76

Adjacent counties

• Houston County, Minnesota (north)
• Vernon County, Wisconsin (northeast)
• Crawford County, Wisconsin (east)
• Clayton County (south)
• Winneshiek County (west)
• Fayette County (southwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	777		—
1860	12,237		1,474.9%
1870	17,868		46.0%
1880	19,791		10.8%
1890	17,907		−9.5%
1900	18,711		4.5%
1910	17,328		−7.4%
1920	17,285		−0.2%
1930	16,328		−5.5%
1940	17,184		5.2%
1950	16,351		−4.8%
1960	15,982		−2.3%
1970	14,968		−6.3%
1980	15,108		0.9%
1990	13,855		−8.3%
2000	14,675		5.9%
2010	14,330		−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

Population of Allamakee County from US census data

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 14,061 in the county, with a population density of 21.2970/sq mi (8.22281/km²). 96.88% of the population reported being of one race. 81.08% were non-Hispanic White, 1.10% were Black, 8.68% were Hispanic, 0.65% were Native American, 0.29% were Asian, 0.04% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 8.17% were some other race or more than one race. There were 7,668 housing units of which 5,797 were occupied.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,330 in the county, with a population density of 22.39/sq mi (8.65/km²). There were 7,617 housing units, of which 5,845 were occupied.

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Allamakee County

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,675 people, 5,722 households, and 3,931 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 7,142 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.88% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.82% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 3.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,722 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,967, and the median income for a family was $40,589. Males had a median income of $26,122 versus $19,098 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,599. About 6.40% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Notable sites

View of the Mississippi from Effigy Mounds National Monument

• Effigy Mounds National Monument is found in the southeast corner of the county.
• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge encompasses the River.
• Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge, a collection of small, non-contiguous parcels harboring two endangered species.
• Yellow River State Forest is a four-season state park.

Media

• The Waukon Standard
• The Postville Herald-Leader

Communities

Cities

• Harpers Ferry
• Lansing
• New Albin
• Postville (part)
• Waterville
• Waukon

Townships

Allamakee County is divided into eighteen townships:

• Center
• Fairview
• Franklin
• French Creek
• Hanover
• Iowa
• Jefferson
• Lafayette
• Lansing
• Linton
• Ludlow
• Makee
• Paint Creek
• Post
• Taylor
• Union City
• Union Prairie
• Waterloo

Unincorporated communities

• Church
• Dorchester
• Ludlow
• Lycurgus
• Rossville
• Volney

Ghost towns

• Columbus
• Hardin
• Ion
• Myron
• Village Creek

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Allamakee County.

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Waukon	City	3,827
2	Postville (partially in Clayton County)	City	2,228 (2503 total)
3	Lansing	City	968
4	New Albin	City	432
5	Harpers Ferry	City	262
6	Waterville	City	109

Politics

United States presidential election results for Allamakee County, Iowa

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,735	63.80%	2,576	34.71%	111	1.50%
2016	4,093	59.12%	2,421	34.97%	409	5.91%
2012	3,264	47.07%	3,553	51.24%	117	1.69%
2008	2,965	41.99%	3,971	56.23%	126	1.78%
2004	3,530	49.99%	3,449	48.84%	83	1.18%
2000	3,277	50.71%	2,883	44.61%	302	4.67%
1996	2,457	42.50%	2,551	44.13%	773	13.37%
1992	2,627	39.33%	2,362	35.36%	1,690	25.30%
1988	3,186	53.14%	2,768	46.17%	41	0.68%
1984	3,997	62.91%	2,282	35.91%	75	1.18%
1980	4,000	60.73%	2,170	32.95%	416	6.32%
1976	3,648	57.88%	2,568	40.74%	87	1.38%
1972	4,150	63.24%	2,271	34.61%	141	2.15%
1968	4,449	62.57%	2,245	31.58%	416	5.85%
1964	3,691	51.26%	3,504	48.67%	5	0.07%
1960	4,970	62.78%	2,933	37.05%	13	0.16%
1956	5,182	66.23%	2,622	33.51%	20	0.26%
1952	6,087	72.14%	2,341	27.74%	10	0.12%
1948	4,474	57.91%	3,172	41.06%	80	1.04%
1944	5,017	63.27%	2,893	36.49%	19	0.24%
1940	5,840	64.02%	3,258	35.72%	24	0.26%
1936	4,053	46.25%	4,327	49.38%	383	4.37%
1932	3,009	38.34%	4,783	60.95%	56	0.71%
1928	4,785	59.43%	3,227	40.08%	39	0.48%
1924	2,755	38.40%	1,289	17.97%	3,131	43.64%
1920	5,192	73.23%	1,833	25.85%	65	0.92%
1916	2,411	57.97%	1,714	41.21%	34	0.82%
1912	1,269	29.10%	1,767	40.52%	1,325	30.38%
1908	2,521	58.67%	1,725	40.14%	51	1.19%
1904	2,609	61.77%	1,571	37.19%	44	1.04%
1900	2,659	58.44%	1,850	40.66%	41	0.90%
1896	2,471	55.16%	1,897	42.34%	112	2.50%
1892	1,832	46.94%	1,956	50.12%	115	2.95%
1888	1,903	47.93%	2,023	50.96%	44	1.11%
1884	1,732	46.45%	1,995	53.50%	2	0.05%
1880	1,838	49.66%	1,531	41.37%	332	8.97%

See also

• Cota Creek
• Duck Lake (Iowa)
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Allamakee County, Iowa
• Allamakee County Court House
• The former Allamakee County Courthouse, now a museum

Further reading

• Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa. 1. Chicaco: S. J. Clarke publishing Company. 1913.  (Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa on Internet Archive)
• Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa. 2. Chicaco: S. J. Clarke publishing Company. 1913.  (Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa on Internet Archive)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Allamakee County, Iowa

• Allamakee County Information
• Allamakee County Official Site
• Allamakee County Map
• Allamakee County Health and Demographic Data
• Waukon Standard (Newspaper)
• KNEI/KHPP Radio
• Allamakee County History Website