Explore Elkader, Iowa, with this interactive street and satellite map.
| City | Elkader |
| State | Iowa (IA) |
| County | Clayton County |
| Country | United States of America |
| Timezone | Central Time (America/Chicago) |
| Latitude | 42.853874 |
| Longitude | -91.405416 |
| Population | 1,209 |
| Density | 341.5 /km² |
| Incorporated | Yes |
| ZIP Code | 52043 |
| Area Code | 712 |
| County Seat | Elkader |
| School District | Central Community School District |
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.
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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 generated | August 2026 |
| Location data | SimpleMaps US Cities Database; coordinates matched to USGS GNIS definitive data |
| Wikipedia validation | Article content matched to USGS GNIS coordinates via Wikipedia geosearch API. |