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Elkader

Elkader, Iowa
City
Downtown Elkader.jpg
Motto: Keystone of NE Iowa
Location of Elkader, Iowa
Location of Elkader, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°51′21″N 91°24′11″W / 42.85583°N 91.40306°W / 42.85583; -91.40306Coordinates: 42°51′21″N 91°24′11″W / 42.85583°N 91.40306°W / 42.85583; -91.40306
Country  United States
State  Iowa
County Clayton
Area
 • Total 1.39 sq mi (3.60 km2)
 • Land 1.39 sq mi (3.60 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 732 ft (223 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,273
 • Estimate (2016) 1,213
 • Density 916/sq mi (353.6/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 52043
Area code(s) 563
FIPS code 19-24690
GNIS feature ID 0456303

Elkader is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,273 at the 2010 census, down from 1,465 in 2000. It is the county seat of Clayton County.

The city is named after Algerian leader Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri. When the community was platted in 1846, the founders, Timothy Davis, John Thompson, and Chester Sage decided to name it for the young Algerian who was leading his people in resisting the French colonial takeover of Algeria.

The town is known for its bridge over the Turkey River, said to be the largest 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. Elkader also features a renovated Victorian-era opera house, and the Turkey River Mall, a 29-room hotel converted into antique stores.

The town featured in a WAMU World View documentary; "Couscous and cultural diplomacy". It is a documentary which focuses on an openly gay couple, who settled in Elkader, and opened an Algerian-American restaurant. One of the couples is Algerian. The documentary describes how the couple have largely been accepted as part of the community yet wrestle with cultural adaptation, American identity, and small town politics, as well as many of the personal issues they experienced post 9/11.

The city was one of many in Iowa affected by the Iowa Flood of 2008, with flood waters from the Turkey River reaching historic levels.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.39 square miles (3.60 km2), all land. The lowest ever temperature of Iowa, −47 °F (−44 °C) was recorded here on February 3, 1996.


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