Editing Allamakee County, Iowa

{{short description|County in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Allamakee County
 | state                = Iowa
 | ex image             = AllamakeeCountyCourthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 240px
 | ex image cap         = [[Allamakee County Court House]] in [[Waukon, Iowa]]
 | seal                 = 
 | logo                 = AllamakeeCountyIAlogo.png
 | logo size            = 130px
 | founded year         = 1847
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Waukon
 | largest city wl      = Waukon
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 659
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 639
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 20
 | area percentage      = 3.0
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 14061
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 14074 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = https://allamakeecounty.iowa.gov/
 | district             = 2nd }}

'''Allamakee County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|l|ə|m|ə|ˌ|k|i}}) is the northeasternmost [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Iowa]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 14,061.<ref name="cen2020">{{Cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Waukon, Iowa|Waukon]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alexander |first=W. E. |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofwinnesh00alex |title=History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa |publisher=Western Publishing Company |year=1882 |page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofwinnesh00alex/page/326 326]}}</ref>   The first [[Old Allamakee County Courthouse (Waukon, Iowa)|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]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Allamakee Co IA Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Allamakee County]]
[[File:Private_land_Alamakee_Co_Wiki_Version.jpg|thumb|Soils of private land in Allamakee County]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|659|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|639|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|20|sqmi}} (3.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=April 23, 2011 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

In the northern part of the county is the [[Upper Iowa River]]. In the southern part is the [[Yellow River (Iowa)|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 (Iowa)|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 (Iowa)|Yellow River]]. [[Clear Creek (Allamakee County, Iowa)|Clear Creek]] flows into [[Lansing, Iowa|Lansing]]. [[Village Creek (Allamakee County, Iowa)|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 [[Wisconsin glaciation|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.<ref>[http://www.iowadnr.com/forestry/yellowriver.html Iowa DNR site on Yellow River State Forest] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714135713/http://www.iowadnr.com/forestry/yellowriver.html |date=July 14, 2007 }}</ref>

===Major highways===
*[[File:US 18.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 18 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 18]]
*[[File:US 52.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 52 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 52]]
*[[File:Circle sign 9.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 9]]
*[[File:Elongated circle 26.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 26]]
*[[File:Elongated circle 51.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 51]]
*[[File:Elongated circle 76.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 76]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Houston County, Minnesota]]  (north)
*[[Vernon County, Wisconsin]]  (northeast)
*[[Crawford County, Wisconsin]]  (east)
*[[Clayton County, Iowa|Clayton County]]  (south)
*[[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek County]]  (west)
*[[Fayette County, Iowa|Fayette County]]  (southwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 777
|1860= 12237
|1870= 17868
|1880= 19791
|1890= 17907
|1900= 18711
|1910= 17328
|1920= 17285
|1930= 16328
|1940= 17184
|1950= 16351
|1960= 15982
|1970= 14968
|1980= 15108
|1990= 13855
|2000= 14675
|2010= 14330
|2020= 14061
|estyear=2023
|estimate=14074
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=April 2, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=July 13, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=July 13, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt |access-date=July 13, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=July 13, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name="census-quickfacts">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19005.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607063411/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19005.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=July 13, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
}}
[[File:AllamakeeCountyIowaPop2020.png|thumb|right|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 {{Pop density|14061|660.234209|sqmi|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.<ref name=cen2020/>

===2010 census===
The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,330 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|14330|640|sqmi|km2}}. There were 7,617 housing units, of which 5,845 were occupied.<ref name="USCB">{{Cite web |title=Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State &ndash; County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929225050/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table |archive-date=September 29, 2015 |access-date=March 6, 2011 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] American FactFinder}}</ref>

[[File:AllamakeeCountyIA2022PopPyr.png|thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Allamakee County from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> of 2000, there were 14,675 people, 5,722 households, and 3,931 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|23|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 7,142 housing units at an average density of {{convert|11|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.88% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.82% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.70% from two or more races. 3.54% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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==
[[File:EffigyMounds01.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|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==
*''[[Waukon Standard|The Waukon Standard]]''
*''[[Postville Herald-Leader|The Postville Herald-Leader]]''

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Harpers Ferry, Iowa|Harpers Ferry]]
*[[Lansing, Iowa|Lansing]]
*[[New Albin, Iowa|New Albin]]
*[[Postville, Iowa|Postville]] (part)
*[[Waterville, Iowa|Waterville]]
*[[Waukon, Iowa|Waukon]]

===Townships===
Allamakee County is divided into eighteen [[Township (United States)|townships]]:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Center Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Center]]
* [[Fairview Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Fairview]]
* [[Franklin Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Franklin]]
* [[French Creek Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|French Creek]]
* [[Hanover Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Hanover]]
* [[Iowa Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Iowa]]
* [[Jefferson Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Jefferson]]
* [[Lafayette Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Lafayette]]
* [[Lansing Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Lansing]]
* [[Linton Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Linton]]
* [[Ludlow Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Ludlow]]
* [[Makee Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Makee]]
* [[Paint Creek Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Paint Creek]]
* [[Post Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Post]]
* [[Taylor Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Taylor]]
* [[Union City Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Union City]]
* [[Union Prairie Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Union Prairie]]
* [[Waterloo Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Waterloo]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Church, Iowa|Church]]
*[[Dorchester, Iowa|Dorchester]]
*[[Ludlow, Iowa|Ludlow]]
*[[Lycurgus, Iowa|Lycurgus]]
*[[Rossville, Iowa|Rossville]]
*[[Volney, Iowa|Volney]]

===Ghost towns===
*[[Columbus, Iowa|Columbus]]
*[[Hardin, Iowa|Hardin]]
*[[Ion, Iowa|Ion]]
*[[Myron, Iowa|Myron]]
*[[Village Creek, Iowa|Village Creek]]

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] of Allamakee County.<ref name=cen2020/>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2020 Census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''†''' '''[[Waukon, Iowa|Waukon]]''' 
| City
| 3,827
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[Postville, Iowa|Postville]]''' (''partially in [[Clayton County, Iowa|Clayton County]]'')
| City
| 2,228 (2503 total)
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Lansing, Iowa|Lansing]]''' 
| City
| 968
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[New Albin, Iowa|New Albin]]''' 
| City
| 432
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 5
|'''[[Harpers Ferry, Iowa|Harpers Ferry]]''' 
| City
| 262
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[Waterville, Iowa|Waterville]]''' 
| City
| 109
|}

==Politics==
Allamakee County has been a Republican stronghold for most of its history. Between 1932 and 2008, no Democrat obtained an absolute majority in the county, though [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and [[Bill Clinton]] won it by plurality in 1936 and 1992, respectively. In 2008 [[Barack Obama]] won the county with a full majority and again in 2012, and since then the Republican strength in the county has increased significantly. The county saw the strongest Republican support in 2024 since the 1952 landslide election.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Allamakee County, Iowa|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 25, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,857|2,350|111|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,735|2,576|111|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,093|2,421|409|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|3,264|3,553|117|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|2,965|3,971|126|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,530|3,449|83|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,277|2,883|302|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,457|2,551|773|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,627|2,362|1,690|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,186|2,768|41|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,997|2,282|75|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,000|2,170|416|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,648|2,568|87|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,150|2,271|141|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,449|2,245|416|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,691|3,504|5|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,970|2,933|13|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,182|2,622|20|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,087|2,341|10|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,474|3,172|80|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,017|2,893|19|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,840|3,258|24|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,053|4,327|383|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,009|4,783|56|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,785|3,227|39|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|2,755|1,289|3,131|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,192|1,833|65|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,411|1,714|34|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,269|1,767|1,325|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,521|1,725|51|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,609|1,571|44|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,659|1,850|41|Iowa}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Republican|2,471|1,897|112|Iowa}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Iowa}}
*[[Cota Creek]]
*[[Duck Lake (Iowa)]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Allamakee County, Iowa]]
*[[Allamakee County Court House]]
*The [[Old Allamakee County Courthouse (Waukon, Iowa)|former Allamakee County Courthouse]], now a museum

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hancock |first=Ellery M. |title=Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa |publisher=S. J. Clarke Publishing Company |year=1913 |volume=1 |location=Chicago}} ({{Internet Archive|id=pastpresentofall01hanc|name=Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa}})
* {{Cite book |last=Hancock |first=Ellery M. |title=Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa |publisher=S. J. Clarke Publishing Company |year=1913 |volume=2 |location=Chicago}} ({{Internet Archive|id=pastpresentofall02hanc|name=Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa}})
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
*[http://www.allamakee.com/ Allamakee County Information]
*[http://www.allamakeecounty.com/ Allamakee County Official Site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050404095908/http://www.allamakeecounty.com/countymap.html Allamakee County Map]
*[https://archive.today/20130111040850/http://www.lmhscscorecard.com/sc/brief.cgi?s=2&c=1 Allamakee County Health and Demographic Data]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050916003400/http://www.waukonstandard.com/main.asp?SectionID=24 ''Waukon Standard'' (Newspaper)]
*[http://www.kneiradio.com/ KNEI/KHPP Radio]
*[http://www.allamakeehistory.com/ Allamakee County History Website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Allamakee County, Iowa
|North     = [[Houston County, Minnesota]]
|Northeast = [[Vernon County, Wisconsin]]
|East      = [[Crawford County, Wisconsin]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Clayton County, Iowa|Clayton County]]
|Southwest = [[Fayette County, Iowa|Fayette County]]
|West      = [[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Allamakee County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}
{{authority control}}

{{coord|43|17|12|N|91|22|27|W|region:US-IA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Allamakee County, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:1847 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Iowa placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Driftless Area]]
[[Category:Iowa counties on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1847]]