Dorchester, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorchester, Iowa
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 Dorchester, Iowa
Location in Iowa
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| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Allamakee |
| Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
52140
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| Area code(s) | 563 |
| GNIS feature ID | 455958 |
Dorchester is a small, quiet place in Iowa, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community," which means it doesn't have its own city government like a big town. You can find it in the northwestern part of Allamakee County, not far from Iowa Highway 76. It's north of Waukon, which is the main town in the county.
Dorchester sits about 738 feet (225 meters) above sea level. It was first settled by Harvey and Edmund Bell. They named it after a place called Dorchester in England. Even though it's unincorporated, Dorchester has its own post office. This post office opened a long time ago, on May 21, 1857. The area uses the ZIP code 52140. Dorchester is part of Waterloo Township.
The Story of Dorchester: A Look Back
Dorchester was officially planned out in 1873. This is when its streets and lots were mapped. In 1902, about 56 people lived there. By 1925, the number of residents grew to 90. The population kept growing, reaching 102 people in 1940.
Facing the Floods: Dorchester's Challenges
Dorchester is located near the Upper Iowa River. This means it can sometimes experience flooding. In August 2007, high waters caused some damage to the community.
The floods were even worse on June 8, 2008. Over seven inches (more than 18 cm) of rain fell that day. This caused record-high floods, reaching 22.5 feet (about 20.5 meters). The water almost completely destroyed a trailer park. This park was an important part of the small community. A large LP gas tank from Dorchester was found hours later in Lansing. Lansing is on the other side of the county!
Learning in Dorchester: School Life
Students who live in Dorchester attend school in the Allamakee Community School District. This school district is located in Waukon. Even though Dorchester is closer to Spring Grove, Minnesota, students go to school in Waukon.
