Editing Elkader, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Elkader, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = Keystone of NE Iowa
|image_skyline            = Downtown Elkader.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = [[Elkader Downtown Historic District|Downtown Elkader]]
|image_map = Clayton_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Elkader_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Elkader, Iowa
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Iowa]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Clayton County, Iowa|Clayton]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         = 1846
<!-- 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           = 3.54
|area_land_km2            = 3.54
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.37
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.37
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|named_for                = [[Emir Abdelkader]]
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1209
|population_density_km2   = 341.39
|population_density_sq_mi = 884.42
<!-- General information -->
|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             = 814
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|51|27|N|91|24|10|W|region:US-IA|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 52043
|area_code                = [[Area code 563|563]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-24690
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2394652<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394652}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|elkader-iowa.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Elkader''' {{IPAc-en|E|l|'|k|ei|d|@r|}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Sherman |first=Barney |date=September 14, 2017 |title=Iowa Place Names: A-E |url=https://www.iowapublicradio.org/2017-09-14/iowa-place-names-a-e |access-date=June 16, 2021 |website=Iowa Public Radio}}</ref> is a city in [[Clayton County, Iowa|Clayton County]], [[Iowa]], United States. The population was 1,209 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], down from 1,465 in 2000.<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> It is the [[county seat]] of Clayton County.<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> It is the site of Iowa's lowest recorded minimum temperature, {{convert|-44|C|F}} on February 3, 1996.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

==History==
The city is named after a Muslim Algerian leader, the Emir [[Emir Abdelkader|Abdelkader]]. When the community was platted in 1846, the founders, [[Timothy Davis (Iowa politician)|Timothy Davis]], John Thompson and Chester Sage decided to name it for the young Algerian who was leading his people in resisting the [[French conquest of Algeria]].<ref>[http://www.elkader-iowa.com/History.html The History of Elkader, Iowa]</ref>
[[File:Elkader Keystone Bridge.jpg|thumb|[[Elkader Keystone Bridge]] is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Clayton County, Iowa|NRHP]]]]
[[File:St. Joseph, Elkader OldRockChurch.jpg|thumb|19th-century view of the original<br>Saint Joseph's Church]]
[[File:ElkaderIowaPopPlot2020.png|thumb|left|alt=The population of Elkader, Iowa from US census data|The population of Elkader, Iowa from US census data]]

The town is known for the [[Elkader Keystone Bridge]] over the [[Turkey River (Iowa)|Turkey River]], said to be the largest [[Arch bridge|stone arch bridge]] west of the [[Mississippi River]]. It, and many of the local buildings, are made from locally quarried sandstone. The town's grocery store, Wilke's, is the oldest continuously operated grocery store west of the Mississippi, as well.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} The city is also home to the renovated Victorian-era [[Elkader Opera House]], and the Turkey River Mall, a 29-room hotel converted into antique stores.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.39|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<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>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
| width       = auto
| collapsed   = yes
| single line = yes
| location    = Elkader 6 SSW, Iowa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–1920, 1934–present)
| Jan record high F = 64
| Feb record high F = 74
| Mar record high F = 88
| Apr record high F = 92
| May record high F = 95
| Jun record high F = 103
| Jul record high F = 111
| Aug record high F = 108
| Sep record high F = 102
| Oct record high F = 94
| Nov record high F = 79
| Dec record high F = 70
| year record high F = 111
| Jan high F = 26.3
| Feb high F = 31.0
| Mar high F = 44.4
| Apr high F = 58.6
| May high F = 69.7
| Jun high F = 79.3
| Jul high F = 82.2
| Aug high F = 80.5
| Sep high F = 74.1
| Oct high F = 61.5
| Nov high F = 45.3
| Dec high F = 32.2
| year high F = 57.1
| Jan mean F = 16.3
| Feb mean F = 20.6
| Mar mean F = 33.4
| Apr mean F = 46.3
| May mean F = 57.7
| Jun mean F = 67.7
| Jul mean F = 71.1
| Aug mean F = 69.0
| Sep mean F = 61.3
| Oct mean F = 49.1
| Nov mean F = 34.9
| Dec mean F = 23.3
| year mean F = 45.9
| Jan low F = 6.3
| Feb low F = 10.1
| Mar low F = 22.3
| Apr low F = 34.1
| May low F = 45.7
| Jun low F = 56.0
| Jul low F = 60.0
| Aug low F = 57.6
| Sep low F = 48.5
| Oct low F = 36.6
| Nov low F = 24.5
| Dec low F = 14.3
| year low F = 34.7
| Jan record low F = -41
| Feb record low F = -47
| Mar record low F = -31
| Apr record low F = -1
| May record low F = 19
| Jun record low F = 31
| Jul record low F = 35
| Aug record low F = 30
| Sep record low F = 17
| Oct record low F = 7
| Nov record low F = -22
| Dec record low F = -34
| year record low F = -47
| precipitation colour   = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.25
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.28
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.03
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.00
| May precipitation inch = 4.65
| Jun precipitation inch = 6.67
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.60
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.92
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.63
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.92
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.28
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.57
| year precipitation inch = 38.80
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days  = 7.9
| Feb precipitation days  = 7.4
| Mar precipitation days  = 8.4
| Apr precipitation days  = 10.6
| May precipitation days  = 12.4
| Jun precipitation days  = 11.9
| Jul precipitation days  = 9.5
| Aug precipitation days  = 9.5
| Sep precipitation days  = 9.5
| Oct precipitation days  = 9.0
| Nov precipitation days  = 7.3
| Dec precipitation days  = 8.5
| year precipitation days = 111.9
| Jan snow inch = 10.2
| Feb snow inch = 8.0
| Mar snow inch = 5.4
| Apr snow inch = 1.3
| 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 = 0.3
| Nov snow inch = 2.3
| Dec snow inch = 8.1
| year snow inch = 35.6
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days  = 6.2
| Feb snow days  = 5.3
| Mar snow days  = 3.1
| Apr snow days  = 0.9
| 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  = 0.3
| Nov snow days  = 1.5
| Dec snow days  = 5.4
| year snow days = 22.7
| source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=arx
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = April 2, 2024}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00132603&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = April 2, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= left
|width= 25%
|state= Iowa
|shading= 
|percentages= 
|1860|440
|1870|697
|1880|851
|1890|745
|1900|1321
|1910|1181
|1920|1223
|1930|1382
|1940|1556
|1950|1584
|1960|1526
|1970|1592
|1980|1688
|1990|1510
|2000|1465
|2010|1273
|2020|1209
|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=June 4, 2015}}</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=2020-03-28}}
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-1924690">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Elkader city, Iowa |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1924690&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref> the population was 1,209. The [[population density]] was {{convert|884.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 653 housing units at an average density of {{convert|477.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 1,273 people, 577 households, and 342 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|915.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 627 housing units at an average density of {{convert|451.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.7% White, 0.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3%.<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 the 577 households 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.7% were non-families. 35.7% of households were one person and 16.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.73.

The median age was 49.8 years. 18.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19% were from 25 to 44; 32.4% were from 45 to 64; and 24.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.2% male and 53.8% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 1,465 people, 645 households, and 403 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,049.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 693 housing units at an average density of {{convert|496.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 99.25% White, 0.20% African American, 0.07% Native American, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.07%.<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 the 645 households 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 35.0% of households were one person and 20.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.77.

20.6% are under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.0% 65 or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.

The median household income was $32,857 and the median family income  was $41,830. Males had a median income of $28,235 versus $19,550 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,785. About 2.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The municipality is within the boundary of the [[Central Community School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_CENTRAL.pdf|title=Central|publisher=[[Iowa Department of Education]]|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref>

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline --><!-- NOTICE : Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here as Notable people. This establishes notability.
The biographical article should say how they are associated with THIS CITY examples = born, raised, residing etc.
An external reliable source of their association with THIS CITY should be cited in their Article.
Alphabetical by last name please. Use a short one line description of Notability. -->

*[[Timothy Davis (Iowa politician)|Timothy Davis]], town founder and member of congress for Iowa
*[[Jack Dittmer]], [[Major League Baseball]] second baseman for the [[Atlanta Braves|Boston/Milwaukee Braves]] and [[Detroit Tigers]].
*[[Francis John Dunn]], [[Roman Catholic]] bishop
*[[Asle Gronna]], U.S. senator from [[List of United States Senators from North Dakota|North Dakota]], 1911-1921
*[[Donald Harstad]], novelist
*[[Leonard G. Wolf]], [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] from Iowa
*[[Heather Zichal]], Former Deputy Assistant of Energy and Climate Change under [[Barack Obama]]

==Sister city==
Elkader has one [[town twinning|sister city]], the city where Abdelkader was born, as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]: 
* {{flagicon|ALG}} [[Muaskar|Mascara]], [[Algeria]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Iowa}}
*[[Clayton County Courthouse (Elkader, Iowa)|Clayton County Courthouse]]
*[[St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Elkader, Iowa)]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
*[http://www.elkader-iowa.com/ Explore Elkader] Portal style website, Government, Business, Attractions and more
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/Elkader-Iowa.html City-Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Elkader

{{Clayton County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa county seats}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Elkader, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Clayton County, Iowa]]
[[Category:County seats in Iowa]]
[[Category:1846 establishments in Iowa Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1846]]