Editing Decorah, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Decorah, Iowa
| settlement_type                 = [[City]]
| image_skyline                   = 2009-0528-Decorah-downtown.jpg
| imagesize                       = 250px
| image_caption                   = Downtown Decorah
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                       = Winneshiek_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Decorah_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Decorah, Iowa
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = {{flag|Iowa}}
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek]]
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = Lorraine Borowski<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.luther.edu/magazine/?story_id=796592&issue_id=796219 | title=Meet Decorah's new mayor |work=Luther Magazine|access-date=2020-11-08|language=en-US}}</ref>
| established_title               = Incorporated
| established_date                = June 30, 1857<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sos.iowa.gov/business/pdf/IncCities.pdf|accessdate=2024-11-05|title=List of Incorporated Cities|publisher=Iowa Secretary of State Paul D. Pate|date=2022-11-02}}</ref>
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_19.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2                  = 18.80
| area_land_km2                   = 18.68
| area_water_km2                  = 0.11
| area_total_sq_mi                = 7.26
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 7.21
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.04
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 7587
| population_density_km2          = 406.08
| population_density_sq_mi        = 1051.71
| timezone                        = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset                      = -6
| timezone_DST                    = CDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -5
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft                    = 869
| coordinates                     = {{coord|43|17|50|N|91|46|02|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 52101
| area_code                       = [[Area code 563|563]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 19-19405
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 2394483<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394483}}</ref>
| website                         = {{URL|http://www.decorahia.org/}}
| footnotes                       = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
}}
[[File:FI0002825.jpg|alt=Main Street 1943|thumb|Main Street 1943]]
'''Decorah'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|d|@|'|k|Or|@|}} or {{IPAc-en|d|i|'|k|Or|@|}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iowapublicradio.org/2017-09-14/iowa-place-names-a-e|title=Iowa Place Names: A-E|last=Sherman|first=Barney|date=September 14, 2017|website=Iowa Public Radio|access-date=June 16, 2021}}</ref>}} is the largest city in and [[county seat]] of [[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek County]], [[Iowa]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref> The population was 7,587 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<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/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref> Decorah is located at the intersection of [[Iowa State Highway 9|State Highway 9]] and [[U.S. Route 52 in Iowa|U.S. Route 52]]. Located within the [[Driftless Area]] in northeastern Iowa, Decorah is situated in the bluffs of the Upper Iowa River, which flows through the city.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2013-09-28 |title=Decorah: Scenic, artsy town ready for fall colors |url=https://www.postbulletin.com/lifestyle/decorah-scenic-artsy-town-ready-for-fall-colors |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=Rochester Post Bulletin |language=en}}</ref> Decorah is a [[college town]], being the home of [[Luther College (Iowa)|Luther College]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Brian E. |title=Decorah's Vesterheim Museum tells Norwegian immigrant experience |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/travel/wisconsin/weekend-getaway/2017/12/22/decorahs-vesterheim-museum-tells-norwegian-immigrant-experience/962089001/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> It is known for its [[Norwegian Americans|Norwegian-American]] heritage and the corresponding [[Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Time Machine: Iowa's royal Norwegian connection |url=https://www.thegazette.com/history/time-machine-iowas-royal-norwegian-connection/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=www.thegazette.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehus |first=Donald V. |date=July 9, 2015 |title=Norwegian heritage alive in Iowa |url=https://www.norwegianamerican.com/norwegian-heritage-alive-in-iowa/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |website=The Norwegian American}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

==History==
Decorah was the site of a [[Ho-Chunk]] village beginning ''circa'' 1840. Several Ho-Chunks had settled along the [[Upper Iowa River]] that year when the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] forced them to remove from [[Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Whittaker|first1=William E.|title=An Analysis of Historic-Era Indian Locations in Iowa|journal=Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology|date=10 March 2016|volume=41|issue=2|pages=159–185|doi=10.1080/01461109.2016.1156799|s2cid=163755581}}</ref> In 1848, the United States removed the Ho-Chunks again to a new reservation in Minnesota, opening their Iowa villages to white settlers.
[[File:Waa-kaun-see-kaa.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Chief [[Waukon Decorah]] in 1825]]
[[Image:Decorah Iowa panoramic view.JPG|thumb|350px|center|Panoramic view of Decorah, 1908]]

The first European-Americans to settle were the Day family from [[Tazewell County, Virginia]]. According to local [[Congregational church|Congregationalist]] minister Rev. Ephraim Adams, the Days arrived in June 1849 with the Ho-Chunks' "tents still standing—with the graves of the dead scattered about where now run our streets and stand our dwellings."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sparks|first1=Charles H.|title=History of Winneshiek County, with Biographical Sketches of its Eminent Men|date=1877|publisher=Jas. Alex. Leonard|location=Decorah, Ia|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofwinnesh01spar/page/87 87]|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofwinnesh01spar}}</ref> Judge Eliphalet Price suggested that the Days name their new settlement ''Decorah'' after Ho-Chunk leader [[Waukon Decorah]], who was a U.S. ally during the [[Black Hawk War]] of 1832.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Alexander|first1=W.E.|title=History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties Iowa|date=1882|publisher=Western Publishing Co|location=Sioux City, Ia.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofwinnesh00alex/page/141 141]–142, 269|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofwinnesh00alex}}</ref>
[[File:Dunnings spring Decorah Iowa.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|Dunning's spring, 2018]]
During the 1850s and 1860s, Decorah grew quickly as settlers built dams and mills to harness water power at Dunning's Spring and other local streams.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Faldet|first1=David S.|title=Oneota Flow: the Upper Iowa River and its people|date=2009|publisher=University of Iowa Press|location=Iowa City|isbn=9781587298363|pages=104–105}}</ref> In 1851, the town became the county seat of Winneshiek County. Decorah also became the site of a [[United States General Land Office]] from 1855 to 1856, making it a destination for immigrants seeking [[land patent]]s in northern Iowa.

Since 1861, it has been the home of [[Luther College (Iowa)|Luther College]], a liberal arts institution affiliated with the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]].

The [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad|Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad]] opened a branch to [[Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Combination Depot|Decorah]] in 1869.<ref>Alexander (1882), pp. 190-191, 249, 271-272.</ref>

[[File:Vesterheim2006.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum]]
Decorah has become a center for [[Norwegian-American]] culture originating from a high number of Norwegian settlements beginning in the 1850s. Each July, Decorah is the host of [[Nordic Fest]], a celebration of Norwegian culture with ethnic dancing, food, and music. Decorah is also the home of the [[Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum]], the largest museum in the country devoted to a single immigrant group.<ref name=":1" /> Until 1972, one of the largest Norwegian language newspapers in the nation was published in Decorah, the ''[[Decorah Posten]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Humanities |first=National Endowment for the |title=Decorah-posten. [volume] |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024501/ |access-date=2024-11-05}}</ref>

==Geography==
Decorah is located approximately {{convert|15|mi|km}} south of the [[Minnesota]]-Iowa border. It is the northernmost major community located along [[U.S. Route 52 in Iowa]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|7.04|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.03|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref> Decorah is located in and on the bluffs of the [[Upper Iowa River]] valley; the river flows through the city en route to its confluence with the [[Upper Mississippi River]].<ref name=":0" /> The river is faced by steep bluffs, characteristic of the [[Driftless Area]].
{{wide image|Decorah, Iowa.jpg|400px|[[U.S. Route 52|US-52]] and [[Iowa Highway 9|IA-9]] junction on the southwestern part of town|100%|center
|alt=Decorah, Iowa US-52 and IA-9 junction on the southwestern part of town}}

===Impact crater===
{{main|Decorah crater}}
About 470 million years ago, a meteorite as big as a city block smashed into what is now Decorah, supporting a theory that a giant space rock broke up and bombarded Earth just as early life began flourishing in the oceans.<ref name="Crater found">{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Vastag|title=Crater found in Iowa points to asteroid break-up 470 million years ago |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/crater-found-in-iowa-points-to-asteroid-break-up-470-million-years-ago/2013/02/18/545131f8-76d5-11e2-aa12-e6cf1d31106b_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2013-02-18}}</ref>

The impact dug a crater nearly four miles wide that now lies beneath the town, said Bevan French, one of the world's foremost crater hunters and an adjunct scientist at the National Museum of Natural History.<ref name="Crater found"/>

The Decorah crater lay undiscovered until recently because almost none of it is above ground. Instead, it is filled by an unusual shale that formed after an ancient seaway sluiced into the crater, depositing sediment and an array of bizarre sea creatures that hardened into fossils.<ref name="Crater found"/> One such creature is ''[[Pentecopterus decorahensis]]'', which was named for the city.<ref name="BMC-20150901">{{cite journal |last1=Lamsdell |first1=James C. |last2=Briggs |first2=Derek E. G. |last3=Liu |first3=Huaibao |last4=Witzke |first4=Brian J. |last5=McKay |first5=Robert M. |title=The oldest described eurypterid: a giant Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian) megalograptid from the Winneshiek Lagerstätte of Iowa |date=1 September 2015 |journal=[[BMC Evolutionary Biology]] |volume=15 |pages=169 |doi=10.1186/s12862-015-0443-9 |pmid=26324341 |pmc=4556007 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box 
| location = Decorah, Iowa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
| single line = Y
| collapsed = yes
| Jan record high F = 62
| Feb record high F = 74
| Mar record high F = 85
| Apr record high F = 93
| May record high F = 102
| Jun record high F = 105
| Jul record high F = 111
| Aug record high F = 105
| Sep record high F = 100
| Oct record high F = 94
| Nov record high F = 79
| Dec record high F = 69
| year record high F = 111

|Jan avg record high F = 45.4
|Feb avg record high F = 49.6
|Mar avg record high F = 67.2
|Apr avg record high F = 80.3
|May avg record high F = 87.2
|Jun avg record high F = 91.5
|Jul avg record high F = 92.2
|Aug avg record high F = 90.8
|Sep avg record high F = 88.3
|Oct avg record high F = 81.6
|Nov avg record high F = 64.8
|Dec avg record high F = 49.2
|year avg record high F = 94.0

| Jan high F = 27.7
| Feb high F = 32.8
| Mar high F = 46.2
| Apr high F = 61.3
| May high F = 72.5
| Jun high F = 81.4
| Jul high F = 84.4
| Aug high F = 82.7
| Sep high F = 76.4
| Oct high F = 63.2
| Nov high F = 46.6
| Dec high F = 32.9
| year high F = 59.0
| Jan mean F = 19.0
| Feb mean F = 23.4
| Mar mean F = 36.0
| Apr mean F = 49.3
| May mean F = 60.5
| Jun mean F = 70.0
| Jul mean F = 73.5
| Aug mean F = 71.7
| Sep mean F = 64.4
| Oct mean F = 51.8
| Nov mean F = 37.5
| Dec mean F = 25.2
| year mean F = 48.5
| Jan low F = 10.4
| Feb low F = 14.0
| Mar low F = 25.9
| Apr low F = 37.3
| May low F = 48.4
| Jun low F = 58.6
| Jul low F = 62.6
| Aug low F = 60.7
| Sep low F = 52.3
| Oct low F = 40.4
| Nov low F = 28.4
| Dec low F = 17.4
| year low F = 38.0

|Jan avg record low F = -18.2
|Feb avg record low F = -12.3
|Mar avg record low F = 0.3
|Apr avg record low F = 19.7
|May avg record low F = 30.2
|Jun avg record low F = 42.3
|Jul avg record low F = 48.8
|Aug avg record low F = 46.8
|Sep avg record low F = 34.0
|Oct avg record low F = 21.8
|Nov avg record low F = 8.3
|Dec avg record low F = -8.4
|year avg record low F = -22.2

| Jan record low F = −43
| Feb record low F = −41
| Mar record low F = −33
| Apr record low F = 5
| May record low F = 20
| Jun record low F = 29
| Jul record low F = 38
| Aug record low F = 32
| Sep record low F = 18
| Oct record low F = -7
| Nov record low F = −16
| Dec record low F = −36
| year record low F = 
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.01
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.10
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.05
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.95
| May precipitation inch = 4.94
| Jun precipitation inch = 6.13
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.42
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.39
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.60
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.66
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.05
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.31
| year precipitation inch = 37.61
| Jan snow inch = 10.3
| Feb snow inch = 8.3
| Mar snow inch = 5.7
| Apr snow inch = 1.7
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 2.4
| Dec snow inch = 9.1
| year snow inch = 37.5
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 7.5
| Feb precipitation days = 6.2
| Mar precipitation days = 8.0
| Apr precipitation days = 12.0
| May precipitation days = 13.4
| Jun precipitation days = 12.2
| Jul precipitation days = 9.9
| Aug precipitation days = 10.0
| Sep precipitation days = 9.3
| Oct precipitation days = 9.4
| Nov precipitation days = 7.6
| Dec precipitation days = 8.4
| year precipitation days = 113.9
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 6.2
| Feb snow days = 5.2
| Mar snow days = 2.8
| Apr snow days = 1.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 1.9
| Dec snow days = 6.2
| year snow days = 23.3
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=arx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 25, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00132110&format=pdf
| title = Station: Decorah, IA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 25, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= right
|width= 20%
|state= Iowa
|shading= 
|percentages= 
|1860|1920
|1870|2110
|1880|2951
|1890|2801
|1900|3246
|1910|3592
|1920|4039
|1930|4581
|1940|5303
|1950|6060
|1960|6435
|1970|7237
|1980|8068
|1990|8063
|2000|8172
|2010|8127
|2020|7587
|source={{center|U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=2015-06-04}}</ref><ref name=cen2020/>}}|footnote=Source: {{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|title=U.S. Census website|access-date=2020-03-29}}
}}
[[File:DecorahIowaPopPlot.png|thumb|right|alt=The population of Decorah, Iowa from US census data|The population of Decorah, Iowa from US census data]]

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-1919405">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Decorah city, Iowa |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1919405&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=4 July 2022}}</ref> the population was 7,587. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,052.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,210 housing units at an average density of {{convert|445.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.4% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.5% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 3.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.6% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

The 2020 census population of the city included 1,463 people in student housing.<ref name="2020-P5-1919405">{{cite web|title=Group Quarters Population, 2020 Census: Decorah city, Iowa |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1919405&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P5 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref>

According to the [[American Community Survey]] estimates for 2016–2020, the median income for a household in the city was $55,920, and the median income for a family was $85,822. Male full-time workers had a median income of $49,643 versus $43,991 for female workers. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $27,154. About 4.5% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="2020-EconChar-1919405">{{cite web|title=Selected Economic Characteristics, 2020 American Community Survey: Decorah city, Iowa |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1919405&y=2020&d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Data%20Profiles&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP03 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> Of the population age 25 and over, 96.9% were high school graduates or higher and 43.8% had a bachelor's degree or higher.<ref name="2020-SocChar-1919405">{{cite web|title=Selected Social Characteristics, 2020 American Community Survey: Decorah city, Iowa |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1919405&y=2020&d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Data%20Profiles&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP02 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-05-11}}</ref> of 2010, there were 8,127 people, 2,855 households, and 1,527 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1159.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,121 housing units at an average density of {{convert|445.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 2,855 households, of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.5% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.76.

The median age in the city was 29.6 years. 14.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 32.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 15.3% were from 25 to 44; 19.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.1% male and 53.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 8,172 people, 2,819 households, and 1,561 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,275.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,968 housing units at an average density of {{convert|463.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.99% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.13% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.10% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.60% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.42% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.76% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.30% of the population. 34.0% were of [[norwegians|Norwegian]], 30.3% [[germans|German]], 5.4% [[English American|English]] and 5.2% [[Irish American|Irish]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]].

There were 2,819 households, out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.6% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.80.

The city's age demographics were spread out, with 15.0% under the age of 18, 31.4% from 18 to 24, 17.8% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
<!--  {{-}} FYI this break makes the next section drop below Historical Population table if needed-->

==Economy==
[[File:2009-0528-MN-IA13-Decorah-WinneshiekCourthouse.jpg|thumb|right|Winneshiek County Courthouse, which additionally holds the offices for the supervisors and county officers of Winneshiek County.]]
[[File:Decorah Municipal Center.jpg|thumb|Decorah Municipal Center]]
Decorah serves as the [[county seat]] of [[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek County]], which is a major employer. The county courthouse was built in 1903.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iowacourthouses.blogspot.com/2009/01/winneshiek-county-courthouse-at-decorah.html|title=Iowa Courthouses|author=Ms.Hegstrom|work=iowacourthouses.blogspot.com|date=8 January 2009|access-date=27 January 2016}}</ref>  Decorah's largest employer is [[Luther College (Iowa)|Luther College]], in addition to several national corporations. Because [[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek County]]'s economy is primarily based on farming, Decorah serves as an agricultural hub. Decorah is also home to [[Seed Savers Exchange]], an [[heirloom plant]] farm and preservation organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seedsavers.org/|title=Seed Savers Exchange - Saving America's Heirloom Seeds|work=seedsavers.org|access-date=27 January 2016}}</ref>

== Parks and recreation ==
Each July, Decorah hosts [[Nordic Fest]], a celebration of Norwegian culture. Decorah is also the home of the [[Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum]], the largest Norwegian museum in the United States.

Natural features include Dunning's Spring,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://environment.luther.edu/outdoor_parks.html|title=Environmental Studies|work=luther.edu|access-date=27 January 2016}}</ref> [[Decorah Ice Cave State Preserve|Ice Cave]], and Siewers Spring. The city is home to several parks built on bluffs, particularly Phelps Park, Palisades Park, and Pulpit Rock. Until 2003, Decorah had a community ski area, the Nor-Ski Runs Ski Area.

Decorah is home to an operating trout hatchery<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/programs/hatchery/decorah.html|title=Decorah Fish Hatchery|work=iowadnr.gov|access-date=27 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621210447/http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/programs/hatchery/decorah.html|archive-date=21 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as Twin Springs Park, the former home of the hatchery.

The [[Raptor Resource Project]]<ref>[http://www.raptorresource.org Raptor Resource Center]</ref> is located in Decorah. Each year they host a [https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/  livestreamed webcam] of a family of nesting [[bald eagles]] as they rear their young.

== Education ==
[[File:Decorah High School.jpg|thumb|[[Decorah High School]]]]
[[File:Luther College.jpg|thumb|[[Luther College (Iowa)|Luther College]]]]
Decorah is part of the [[Decorah Community School District]] in Winneshiek County.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.decorah.k12.ia.us/|title=Home - Decorah Community School District|work=decorah.k12.ia.us|access-date=27 January 2016}}</ref> The high school is [[Decorah High School]], and the mascot is the Vikings.

St. Benedict School of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque]] is in Decorah. It opened in 1885 in a two-story, four-room frame building. The school, with five nuns as teachers, was initially until high school but in 1919 became an elementary-middle school only. The convent, which had a second-floor bridge to the original school building, was renovated to be the second school building. In 1964 the current school was built for $268,000 in southern Decorah. A new addition was established in the 1980s, with a music room, a storage and teaching aid area, and two classrooms.<!--From: http://www.st-ben.pvt.k12.ia.us/--><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.st-ben.pvt.k12.ia.us/history.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031028202402/http://www.st-ben.pvt.k12.ia.us/history.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-10-28|title=History of St. Benedict School|work=St. Benedict School|date=2003-10-28|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref>

Decorah is also home to [[Luther College (Iowa)|Luther College]], a private four-year residential college affiliated with the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] and known especially for their [[Nordic Choir]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luther.edu/|title=Luther College|work=luther.edu|access-date=27 January 2016}}</ref> Their mascot is "The Norse."

==Media==
'''Newspaper:'''
The community newspaper is printed twice a week in Decorah - ''The Driftless Journal'' and ''Decorah Public Opinion''.
Newspaper office location: 110 Washington Street, Decorah, IA 52101.

'''Web:''' The local independent news web site is Decorah News.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.decorahnews.com/|title=Decorah news NOW! Local news, weather, sports & information.|work=decorahnews.com|access-date=2018-08-01|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Radio===
[[File:2009-0528-MN-IA16-Decorah-MilwaukeeRoadDepot.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Historic [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad|Milwaukee Road]] Depot; it is now used as a chiropractic office. Historic photo seen here:<ref>{{Schwieterman-Leaves-Western|pages=136-139}}</ref> ]]
* KLNI 88.7 ([[Minnesota Public Radio]] News)
* [[KPVL]] 89.1 (Studios in both Postville and Decorah)
* KLCD 89.5 (Classical [[Minnesota Public Radio]])
* K247BF-LP 97.3 (Translator for KWVI)
* K257CI-LP 99.3 (Translator for [[KQYB]]-FM)
* [[KDHK]] 100.5 "Hawk Rawk"
* K268AF-LP 101.5 (Translator for KFSI)
* [[KVIK]] 104.7 "The Viking"
* [[KDEC (AM)|KDEC]] 1240
* [[KWLC]] 1240 ([[Luther College (Iowa)|Luther College]])

'''Other nearby stations include:'''
* [[KCZQ]] 102.3 ([[Cresco, IA]])
* [[KOEL (AM)|KOEL]] 950 ([[Oelwein, IA]])
* [[KOEL-FM]] 92.3 ([[Oelwein]]-[[Waterloo, IA]])
* [[WIZM-FM]] 93.3 ([[La Crosse, WI]])
* [[KQYB]] 98.3 ([[Spring Grove, MN]]-[[La Crosse, WI]])
* [[KNEI]] 103.5 ([[Waukon, IA]])
* [[KROC-FM]] 106.9 ([[Rochester, MN]])

== Notable people == <!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WikiProject Cities/US Guideline-->
<!-- NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE
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An external reliable source of their association with THIS CITY should be cited in their Article and MUST be cited HERE.
Alphabetical by last name please. Use a short one line description of Notability.
If the person you think is Notable and does not have a Wikipedia Article for themselves create one.
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* [[Ephraim Douglass Adams]], [[Stanford University|Stanford]] historian
* [[Theodora Cormontan]], Norwegian-American pianist
* [[William Foege]], epidemiologist
* [[Edward L. Garden]], [[North Dakota]] politician
* [[Josey Jewell]], [[National Football League|NFL]] linebacker, [[Carolina Panthers]]
* [[Georgann Johnson]], actress
* [[John Brayshaw Kaye]], poet and politician
* [[Raef LaFrentz]], [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] power forward
* [[Hanna Astrup Larsen]] (1873–1945), writer and editor
* [[Weston Noble]], music educator
* [[Mark Pinter]], actor
* [[Harley Refsal]], woodcarver
* [[Jerry Reichow]], nine-year NFL veteran, offensive end for 1957 champion [[Detroit Lions]]
* [[Rob Sand]], [[Iowa State Auditor]]
* [[Dean Schwarz]], American Potter and Painter
* [[Oswald Veblen]], mathematician, geometer and topologist
* [[Johannes B. Wist]], journalist

==See also==
{{Portal|Iowa}}
* [[Decorah Municipal Airport]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
* [http://www.decorahia.org/ City website]
* [http://www.decorahnewspapers.com/ Decorah Newspapers]
* [http://www.decorah.k12.ia.us/ Decorah Community Schools]
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Decorah-Iowa.html City Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Decorah, Iowa
{{Winneshiek County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Decorah, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Winneshiek County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1849]]
[[Category:County seats in Iowa]]
[[Category:Driftless Area]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Norwegian-American culture in Iowa]]