Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 94% of U.S. towns. What drives it
9 places in town are on the National Register. Below: 2 old photos and papers from 1800 on and old-book passages.
Elkader dates its founding to 1846 (Wikidata). Its post office opened in 1848.
More historic than 94% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Elkader is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its age lowest.
Iowa towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Iowa town has 9.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Elkader’s 85.1 sits above most of its state (82% of Iowa towns have fewer) while its 11 historic buildings outnumber those of 76% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Elkader’s history is told.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
From Wikipedia’s history of Elkader.
The city is named after a Muslim Algerian leader, the Emir Abdelkader. 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 conquest of Algeria.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Elkader, cut from the printed page as they were published.
In 1897, the railroad commission visited Elkader to investigate the petition for better service and better accommodation. The commission decided in favor of Elkader and ordered a second train which was put on in September, 1897. During these years the feeling of Elkader toward the railroad was decidedly unfriendly and it is a fact that the Milwaukee did nothing which was not forced upon it.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Mr. Davis, however, was not a mere politician. He identified himself with all the substantial interests of the country, and a full sketch of his life would contain a history of Northern Iowa. The settlement and development of Elkader originated with him. He was on a political tour through Clayton in 1815, and had come to Turkey River, to the present town site of Elkader, where he found Elisha Boardman, who showed him the magnificent water-power and the beautiful town site. Impressed with its beauty and im¬
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
At the same term the following resolution was adopted : “ Resolved , That $2,000 be appropriated for the erection of a suitable building for the treasurer and recorder and other county officers in the town of Elkader, provided a site for said building and the sum of $1,000 or more are appropriated by the citizens of Elkader for erection of same ; also, provided the citizens of Elkader donate to the county eight suitable lots for the erection of county buildings.”
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
premises now owned by C. Weig. The post office was discontinued about six months after it was established. The post office was established in 1848, at Yankee Settlement, the post office at Forestville in 1 85 1, and the post office at Elkader in 1848. MILLS The early settlers were greatly interested in having saw and grist mills in their neighborhood. It was saving of much travel to Elkader, Hartwick or other distant points to mill. The first mill in this town-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
In the archiveSt. Joseph, Elkader OldRockChurch
Born hereAsle Gronna is born hereBuiltTimothy Davis House is builtBuiltElkader Keystone Bridge is built
In the archiveElkader Iowa Sept 13 1921
Born hereJack Dittmer is born here2 decades in the archive, from the 1800s to the 1920s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.
Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Elkader’s page.
Retake this view · +15Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Elkader’s post office has been open since 1848.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
In 1846, according to Wikidata. Elkader’s post office opened in 1848.
Elkader is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
9 listings: 8 buildings, among them the Timothy Davis House (listed 1976, the first), and 1 structure. 11 historic buildings in all.
40% of Elkader’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.8 points), against a typical 22% for an Iowa town; the median home was built in 1953.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (6), the National Register of Historic Places (9), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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