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Oelwein Iowa Map

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

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of Oelwein, Iowa

How to Use This Oelwein, Iowa Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Oelwein, Iowa. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of Iowa or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Oelwein.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

City	Oelwein
State	Iowa (IA)
County	Fayette County
Country	United States of America
Timezone	Central Time (America/Chicago)

Latitude	42.673317
Longitude	-91.913504
Population	5,920
Density	474.8 /km²
Incorporated	Yes
ZIP Code	50662
Area Code	319
County Seat	West Union
School District	Oelwein Community School District

🌦 Goto Oelwein Weather Page: Oelwein, Iowa — Weather Warnings, Forecast, Radar, Satellite & Current Conditions

About Oelwein, Iowa

Oelwein is a locality in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. It has a population of approximately 5,920. The population density is 474.8 people per km². Oelwein is located at 42.6733°N, 91.9135°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. Oelwein is an incorporated locality. ZIP code: 50662.

Oelwein emerges from the expansive, fertile plains of Iowa as a place defined by the quiet labor of the earth and the steady turn of the seasons. It lies 25.2 miles east-northeast of Waterloo, IA (from Waterloo, IA: bearing 60°T), and is situated 14.2 miles north of Independence. The landscape surrounding Oelwein is defined by vast, tilled fields of corn and soybeans that stretch toward the horizon, interrupted only by the occasional shelterbelt of trees. A short distance away, the waters of Otter Creek trace a slow path through the terrain, while the quiet surface of Delwein Lake offers a reflective pause in the topography. When the sun hangs low, the light catches the dust rising from the fields, casting a long, amber glow over the flat, productive soil. Further afield, the distant ridges of Bear Hill rise against the sky, serving as a silent anchor for the regional vista.

Oelwein grew into its current form through the grit and ambition of the railway era, which once funneled the energy of the Midwest through its busy junctions. The local economy has evolved from these industrial roots, leaning into a resilient mix of manufacturing and agricultural support that keeps the pulse of the region steady. Men and women here engage in the practical work of processing grain and maintaining the machinery that makes modern farming possible. While the heavy steam engines have long since departed, the town retains the pragmatic, unshowy character of a place built on heavy iron and hard work. This history remains visible in the sturdy, utilitarian architecture that defines the central corridors where business is still conducted with a firm handshake.

Cultural life in Oelwein is marked by a deep, literate civility that honors the traditions of the early settlers who broke this prairie soil. Residents gather for local events at Orville Christophel Park, a place that serves as a common ground for the neighborhood to observe the changing weather and the passing of the year. The town is known for its modest, grounded approach to community life, where the focus remains on personal connection rather than spectacle. Among those who have walked these streets, the legendary baseball player Fred Merkle stands out as a notable figure who carried the influence of his upbringing into the national consciousness. Daily life here maintains a deliberate, measured pace, reflecting a quiet pride in the simple act of keeping a home in the heart of the American interior.

Nearby Outdoor Places

Platt Park (Local Park) — 0.5 mi, 140° SE
Oelwein Area Historical Society Museum (Museum) — 0.5 mi, 159° S
Red Gate Park (Local Park) — 1.0 mi, 271° W
Oelwein Baseball And Softball Complex (Local Recreation) — 1.2 mi, 171° S
Otter Creek Wildlife Area (Local Conservation Area) — 3.4 mi, 180° S
Nibeck Area (Local Conservation Area) — 3.4 mi, 172° S
Aldo Leopold Wildlife Management Area (State Conservation Area) — 10.9 mi, 280° W
Richardson-Jakway House (Attraction) — 11.0 mi, 122° SE
Otterville Wildlife Management Area (State Conservation Area) — 11.1 mi, 195° S
Volga River State Recreation Area (State Recreation Area) — 13.5 mi, 029° NE
Riverwalk Parks Community Bandshell (Theatre) — 13.8 mi, 176° S
Readlyn Historical Society (Museum) — 16.0 mi, 277° W
Wadena Veteran's Memorial (Monument) — 17.3 mi, 049° NE
Backbone State Park (State Park) — 17.6 mi, 099° E
Backbone Fish Hatchery (ruins) (Historic Ruins) — 18.1 mi, 099° E
Cedar Rock (State Park) — 19.0 mi, 159° S
Wilder Memorial Museum (Museum) — 19.2 mi, 088° E
World's Largest Strawberry (Public Artwork) — 19.3 mi, 088° E
Red Barn Model Railroad Museum (Museum) — 20.1 mi, 105° E
Fayette County Historical Museum;Fayette County Historical Library (Museum) — 20.6 mi, 015° N
McBride Auditorium (Theatre) — 23.8 mi, 246° SW
POW Memorial (Monument) — 24.9 mi, 240° SW
USS Frank E. Evans D7540 (Monument) — 24.9 mi, 241° SW
Iowa's Largest Frying Pan (Attraction) — 25.2 mi, 191° S
Nopuko Air Coaster (Attraction) — 25.7 mi, 231° SW
Skyborne (Attraction) — 25.7 mi, 231° SW
Palace Theater (Cinema) — 28.5 mi, 277° W
Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 28.7 mi, 066° NE · 2,440 acres
McElroy Communication Arts Center (Arts Centre) — 29.1 mi, 278° W
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife And Fish Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 41.8 mi, 065° NE · 274k acres

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