23-752: The Old Allamakee County Courthouse , also known as the Allamakee County Historical Museum , is a historic building located in Waukon, Iowa , United States. It was built in 1861 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. It was the second building used for court functions and county administration. There
46-473: A divided-flight stairway with large wooden newel posts and slender spindles. Waukon, Iowa Waukon is a city in Makee Township , Allamakee County , Iowa , United States, and the county seat of Allamakee County. The population was 3,827 at the time of the 2020 census . Waukon is often said to be named for Waukon Decorah , a Ho Chunk (Winnebago) leader who was a U.S. ally during
69-469: A family was $ 41,068. Males had a median income of $ 27,532 versus $ 18,833 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,047. About 8.3% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over. Waukon Family Aquatic Area: The aquatic pool is the main attraction in Waukon's park. Also in the park is a small area with
92-502: A lake, as well as some playgrounds. The park also includes a campground and some softball/athletic fields. The Allamakee Community School District operates local public schools, which include two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. A Catholic-church-affiliated private elementary school also operates in Waukon. Waukon Standard Reference No. 17 Should read Jesse D. Dana. Jesse Dwight Dana of St. Louis (1877 - 1921) Waukon Junction, Iowa Waukon Junction
115-476: Is the highest point in northeastern Iowa. the Waukon Iron Company began developing an open-pit mine and ore-washing plant on this site in 1899, with a capacity of 300 tons per 10-hour shift. Production was seriously limited by the need to haul the ore 3 miles to the railroad, and the mine was, ultimately, a failure. A second and better capitalised attempt to mine this deposit was begun in 1907 by
138-608: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.82 square miles (7.30 km ), all land. As of the census of 2020 , the population was 3,827. The population density was 1,349.4 inhabitants per square mile (521.0/km ). There were 1,939 housing units at an average density of 683.7 per square mile (264.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% White , 0.7% Black or African American , 0.3% Native American , 0.1% Asian , 1.2% from other races , and 2.2% from two or more races. Ethnically,
161-409: The bell chamber , and a finial on top of its tin-covered dome. Other decorative elements of the building include a classical pediment with a returned cornice and paired brackets , simple brick pilasters on all four sides of the building, and stone window sills and lintels . Even though the interior was altered in the 1960s, it still retains tin ceilings , most of its original woodwork , and
184-504: The 1832 Black Hawk War , although the city is also said to be named for his son Chief John Waukon. Winnebagos lived in this area of Iowa in the 1840s, before being forced to relocate to Minnesota. The first white settler arrived in 1849, and the town was founded and the Waukon Post Office opened in 1853. A courthouse was completed in 1861, and the county seat was moved to Waukon in 1867 after 8 elections attempting to decide
207-490: The Missouri Iron Company, with a railroad connection built in 1910 and a new ore processing plant completed in 1913 with a capacity of 350 to 400 tons per day. The total investment was estimated at $ 225,000, and two patents were issued for the machinery in the ore processing plant. This mine became the principal mine of the new Mississippi Valley Iron Company of St. Louis, Missouri in 1916. That year,
230-405: The average family size was 2.89. Age spread: 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 30,325, and the median income for
253-401: The city. The population density was 1,404.3 inhabitants per square mile (542.2/km ). There were 1,909 housing units at an average density of 649.0 per square mile (250.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 98.74% White , 0.10% Native American , 0.22% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.15% from other races , and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of
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#1732779556021276-497: The courthouse. This time they beat Waukon by 22 votes in an election that was held in 1862. Court functions and records were moved to Lansing. Another election was held in 1864 with similar results. The county sheriff, who lived in Waukon, along with a posse removed the county records from Lansing. He was intercepted by horsemen from Lansing and forced to return the records. In 1867 the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Waukon
299-555: The location of the county seat. The town was incorporated in 1883. Ryan Griffith was the first mayor of Waukon, winning the 1883 election by unanimous decision. Waukon is only about 16 miles from Waukon Junction , on the Mississippi River , but the rail line between these two points was 33 miles long, climbing 600 feet through some of the roughest terrain in Iowa. The Waukon and Mississippi Railroad , which opened in 1877,
322-509: The mine produced 10,151 tons of concentrated ore, and in 1917, it produced 22,612 tons. In 1918 the mine produced over 7000 tons before it was shut down because of World War I . The mine never recovered from this shutdown, and the equipment was sold for scrap in 1937. Iron Mine Drive and Allamakee Street cross north of the sites of both old mines ( 43°17′53.62″N 91°27′35.85″W / 43.2982278°N 91.4599583°W / 43.2982278; -91.4599583 ). The headwaters of
345-473: The north branch of Paint Creek are in Waukon, and the town is just south of the headwaters of Village Creek . This is on the west edge of the deeply eroded Driftless Area of northeast Iowa. The town sits on a plain underlain by the Galena Limestone formation. There are many sinkholes in this plain south of Waukon. To the north, a tongue of Galena Limestone underlies Iron Hill. According to
368-561: The population was 2.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the census of 2010, there were 3,897 people, 1,781 households, and 1,008 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,381.9 inhabitants per square mile (533.6/km ). There were 1,946 housing units at an average density of 690.1 per square mile (266.4/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 98.4% White , 0.4% African American , 0.1% Native American , 0.1% Asian , 0.3% from other races , and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of
391-439: The population. There were 1,781 households, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.4% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
414-408: The population. There were 1,790 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and
437-500: The vote. A frame building in Waukon was used as a courthouse beginning in 1854, and a second building was constructed next to it in 1857. They served together as the courthouse until this building was completed. In 1859 Lansing offered to build an $ 8,000 courthouse and Waukon countered with its own offer and won by 420 votes. This building was constructed for the courthouse in Waukon, and it was completed for $ 13,635 in 1861. That same year both Columbus and Lansing joined together to fight for
460-434: Was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age in the city was 45.8 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.7% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 24% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 4,131 people, 1,790 households, and 1,068 families residing in
483-509: Was a long and bitter fight between the towns of Waukon and Lansing as to which one would be the county seat in Allamakee County . The Iowa legislature chose Jefferson Township as the county seat. An election in 1851 rejected the choice as well as others and Columbus became the county seat. Two years later the legislature approved a petition to move the county seat closer to the center of the county and Waukon received two-thirds of
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#1732779556021506-642: Was originally built as a narrow gauge line. The line was originally controlled by the Chicago and Northwestern but was quickly acquired by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway . The line was widened to standard gauge after purchase by the Milwaukee Road. Its only marginal traffic through its existence led to the road's abandonment in the late 1960s. There is a deposit of limonite (Iron Ore) about 3 miles northeast of Waukon called Iron Mine Hill, holding an estimated 10 million tons of ore. This
529-488: Was the county seat. The building constructed in 1861 served as the county courthouse until 1940 when the present courthouse was built. The old courthouse was converted into a history museum from 1964 to 1966. The Old Allamakee County Courthouse is a two-story, brick, vernacular Greek Revival structure. It is a temple form without a portico . On the roof above the main entrance is a two-stage cupola . It features cornice work and paired brackets on both stages, louvers at
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