Clayton County, Iowa

 

Founding: 1837
Parent county: Dubuque

Namesake: John Clayton, Delaware politician
Seat: Prairie LaPorte (1837–1843); Garnavillo (1843–1856, 1859–1868); Guttenberg (1856–1859); Elkader (1868–)

Land area: 779 square miles

Population (2020): 17,043

Population (historic): 3,873 (1850); 27,771 (1870); 26,733 (1890); 25,576 (1910); 24,559 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1880; 1890s; 1970s

Subdivisions: 17 cities; 22 townships

National Register listings: 57

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 3,588 (39.4%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 61.2%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 7.5%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 7.2%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.9%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,762
Average outbuilding value (1930): $3,425
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.9 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 3,101
Average farm size (1920): 105.6 acres
Sources of settlement: Germany, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Norway, Ireland, and England
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Elkader

Namesake: Emir Abdelkader, Algerian military leader

Founding: 1846 (platting); 1848 (post office); 1891 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 1,209

Population (historic): 440 (1860); 851 (1880); 1,321 (1900); 1,382 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1880; 1890s; 1910–1940; 1960–1980
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 283 (42.3%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Frederick Smith Farm (c. 1875). 19954 270th Road. Boardman. Gothic Revival.
2. *Henry Meyer House (c. 1865). 503 Oak Avenue. Boardman. Italianate.
3. Louis Meyer Farm (c. 1895). 28864 215th Road. Clayton. Italianate.
4. John Dehn Farm (c. 1860/1890). 31584 Clayton Road. Clayton. Greek Revival.
5. Farm (c. 1905). 21366 US Highway 52. Farmersburg. Queen Anne.
6. *Valley Mill (1853). 30881 250th Road. Garnavillo.
7. Xavier Schaefers Farm (c. 1860). 22726 King Road. Garnavillo. Greek Revival.
8. Gerhard Bierbaum Farm (c. 1865). 27182 US Highway 52. Garnavillo.
9. *St. Peter's Lutheran Church (1858). 27338 US Highway 52. Garnavillo.
10. William Meyer Farm (c. 1905). 14673 Gold Mine Road. Giard. Classical Revival.
11. *Hartwick Farm (1886/1903). 25777 US Highway 18. Giard. Italianate/Queen Anne. Razed.
12. John Backhaus Farm (c. 1905). 12874 Coral Road. Grand Meadow. Queen Anne.
13. Myron Knight Farm (c. 1885). 38014 Dogwood Road. Lodomillo. Italianate.
14. August Kregel Farm (c. 1895). 20413 135th Road. Monona. Italianate.
15. Charles Kaiser Farm (c. 1900). 21765 Pleasant Ridge Road. Monona. Eastlake.
16. Herman Kaiser House (c. 1895). 19491 US Highway 18. Monona. Italianate/Eastlake.
17. *Motor Mill (1867–1869). 28518 Galaxy Road. Read.
18. William Eno Farm (c. 1860). 16775 Dove Road. Wagner. Greek Revival.