Elkader, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elkader, Iowa
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Downtown Elkader
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| Motto(s):
Keystone of NE Iowa
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Location of Elkader, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Clayton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.37 sq mi (3.54 km2) |
| • Land | 1.37 sq mi (3.54 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 732 ft (223 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,209 |
| • Density | 884.42/sq mi (341.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52043
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| Area code(s) | 563 |
| FIPS code | 19-24690 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0456303 |
Elkader is a small city in Clayton County, Iowa, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,209 people lived there. It is the main town, or county seat, for Clayton County. Elkader is also known for having the coldest temperature ever recorded in Iowa, which was -44 degrees Celsius (-47 degrees Fahrenheit) on February 3, 1996.
Contents
History of Elkader
Elkader was founded in 1846 by Timothy Davis, John Thompson, and Chester Sage. They decided to name the new town after a brave Muslim Algerian leader named Emir Abdelkader. He was famous for leading his people to resist the French army.
The city is well-known for its Elkader Keystone Bridge over the Turkey River. Many people say it is the biggest stone arch bridge west of the Mississippi River. This bridge, and many buildings in Elkader, are made from sandstone found nearby. The local grocery store, Wilke's, is also very old. It is the oldest grocery store west of the Mississippi that has been open all the time. Elkader also has the Elkader Opera House, which is a beautiful old building that has been fixed up. There is also the Turkey River Mall, which used to be a 29-room hotel and is now full of antique shops.
Geography of Elkader
Elkader is located in Iowa. The city covers a total area of about 3.54 square kilometers (1.37 square miles). All of this area is land.
Population and People in Elkader
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1860 | 440 | — |
| 1870 | 697 | +58.4% |
| 1880 | 851 | +22.1% |
| 1890 | 745 | −12.5% |
| 1900 | 1,321 | +77.3% |
| 1910 | 1,181 | −10.6% |
| 1920 | 1,223 | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 1,382 | +13.0% |
| 1940 | 1,556 | +12.6% |
| 1950 | 1,584 | +1.8% |
| 1960 | 1,526 | −3.7% |
| 1970 | 1,592 | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 1,688 | +6.0% |
| 1990 | 1,510 | −10.5% |
| 2000 | 1,465 | −3.0% |
| 2010 | 1,273 | −13.1% |
| 2020 | 1,209 | −5.0% |
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2020 Census Data
In 2020, the population of Elkader was 1,209 people. Most of the people living in Elkader, about 96.4%, were White. A small number of people were from other racial backgrounds. About 2.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
2010 Census Data
In 2010, there were 1,273 people living in Elkader. There were 577 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 23.6% of these households had children under 18 years old. The average age of people in Elkader was about 49.8 years old.
Education in Elkader
Students in Elkader attend schools within the Central Community School District.
Famous People from Elkader
- Timothy Davis – He helped found the town and was a member of Congress for Iowa.
- Jack Dittmer – A professional baseball player for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves and Detroit Tigers.
- Francis John Dunn – A Roman Catholic bishop.
- Asle Gronna – A U.S. senator from North Dakota.
- Donald Harstad – A novelist, which means he writes books.
- Leonard G. Wolf – A U.S. representative from Iowa.
- Heather Zichal – She used to be a special advisor on energy and climate change for President Barack Obama.
Sister City
Elkader has a special connection with one other city in the world. This is called a "sister city" relationship.
Mascara, Algeria – This is the city where Emir Abdelkader, whom Elkader is named after, was born.
See also
In Spanish: Elkader (Iowa) para niños
