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Elkader Iowa Map

Explore Elkader, Iowa, with this interactive street and satellite map.

Interactive Map of Elkader, Iowa

CityElkader
StateIowa (IA)
CountyClayton County
CountryUnited States of America
TimezoneCentral Time (America/Chicago)
Latitude42.853874
Longitude-91.405416
Population1,209
Density341.5 /km²
IncorporatedYes
ZIP Code52043
Area Code712
County SeatElkader
School DistrictCentral Community School District

About Elkader, Iowa

Elkader is a locality in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. It has a population of approximately 1,209. The population density is 341.5 people per km². Elkader is located at 42.8539°N, 91.4054°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. Elkader is an incorporated locality. ZIP code: 52043.

Elkader claims its place within a deep limestone gorge where the Turkey River carves a deliberate, winding path through the rugged terrain of northeastern Iowa. It lies 44.9 miles west-northwest of Dubuque, IA (from Dubuque, IA: bearing 303°T), and is situated 19.1 miles southwest of Prairie du Chien. The limestone bluffs rise sharply from the riverbanks, casting long, cool shadows across the water as the light shifts toward evening. Beyond the immediate banks, the landscape transitions into the vast, undulating expanse of the driftless region, where the verdant canopy of Backbone State Forest lies sixteen miles distant. To the west, the horizon hints at the scale of the broader plains, while the proximity of French Hollow and the elevation at Lovers Leap Park provide vantage points to observe the geological complexity of the valley floor.

Elkader draws its identity from a fusion of pioneer ambition and the enduring influence of its nineteenth-century namesake, the Algerian leader Emir Abdelkader. The local economy persists as a quiet synthesis of agricultural stewardship and a modest, deliberate commerce, far removed from the frantic pace of larger metropolitan hubs. Residents navigate the seasons with a grounded sense of continuity, often moving along the Pony Hollow Trail or gathering in the shadow of the historic stone architecture that defines the central district. While the nearest recreational waters like Gassner Lake remain a short journey away, the pulse of the locality remains anchored to the Turkey River, which continues to shape the character of the streets and the quiet, literate civility of the people who reside here.

Nearby Outdoor Places

  • Carter House Museum (Museum) — 0.2 mi, 062° NE
  • Lovers Leap Park (Local Park) — 0.5 mi, 349° N
  • Pony Hollow Trail County Park (Local Park) — 0.8 mi, 145° SE
  • Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 1.2 mi, 149° SE · 2,440 acres
  • Motor Mill Access (Local Conservation Area) — 3.8 mi, 145° SE
  • Big Springs Wildlife Management Area (State Conservation Area) — 4.7 mi, 320° NW
  • Leonard Wildlife Management Area (State Conservation Area) — 5.6 mi, 186° S
  • Plagmans Barn Museum (Museum) — 11.4 mi, 133° SE
  • Wadena Veteran's Memorial (Monument) — 12.8 mi, 265° W
  • Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 13.1 mi, 065° NE · 274k acres
  • Effigy Mounds National Monument (National Monument) — 13.1 mi, 064° NE · 2,460 acres
  • Wilder Memorial Museum (Museum) — 13.5 mi, 210° SW
  • World's Largest Strawberry (Public Artwork) — 13.5 mi, 209° SW
  • Monona Historical Museum (Museum) — 13.7 mi, 004° N
  • Pikes Peak State Park (State Park) — 14.1 mi, 057° NE
  • Wyalusing State Park (State Park) — 14.9 mi, 064° NE
  • Pine Creek (Clayton) Wildlife Management Area (National Conservation Area) — 15.6 mi, 148° SE · 50 acres
  • Crows Nest (Viewpoint) — 15.8 mi, 050° NE
  • Abraham Lincoln Statue (Monument) — 16.2 mi, 310° NW
  • Clermont Museum (Museum) — 16.2 mi, 309° NW
  • Veteran’s Memorial (Monument) — 16.3 mi, 107° E
  • Volga River State Recreation Area (State Recreation Area) — 16.8 mi, 275° W
  • Backbone Fish Hatchery (ruins) (Historic Ruins) — 17.2 mi, 208° SW
  • St. Feriole Island Riverfront Playground (Attraction) — 18.6 mi, 042° NE
  • St. Feriole Island Play Area (Attraction) — 18.8 mi, 042° NE
  • Little Bear Mound (Historic Ruins) — 19.9 mi, 034° NE
  • Richardson-Jakway House (Attraction) — 24.6 mi, 222° SW
  • Manchester Fish Hatchery (Attraction) — 27.1 mi, 179° S
  • Inwood Woodcarving Exhibit (Gallery) — 29.3 mi, 151° SE
  • Riverwalk Parks Community Bandshell (Theatre) — 36.2 mi, 224° SW

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About This Elkader Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Elkader, Iowa. Coordinates: 42.853874, -91.405416. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.

Detailed location data for Elkader includes the ZIP code (52043), telephone area code (712), county seat of Clayton County (Elkader), and school district assignment (Central Community School District).

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.

Page generatedAugust 2026
Location dataSimpleMaps US Cities Database; coordinates matched to USGS GNIS definitive data
Wikipedia validationArticle content matched to USGS GNIS coordinates via Wikipedia geosearch API.