Iowa Highway 188
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 188 is a state highway in north-central Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

. The route is signed both north-south and east-west because of a 90-degree corner near the route's midpoint. The route begins at Iowa Highway 3 south of Clarksville
Clarksville, Iowa
Clarksville is a city in Butler County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 1,441 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Clarksville is located at 42°46'58" North, 92°40'11" West ....

 and ends at U.S. Route 63 near Tripoli
Tripoli, Iowa
Tripoli is a city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1310 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Tripoli is located at ....

.

Route description

Iowa Highway 188 begins at a T intersection with Iowa Highway 3 2+1/2 mi south of Clarksville
Clarksville, Iowa
Clarksville is a city in Butler County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 1,441 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Clarksville is located at 42°46'58" North, 92°40'11" West ....

. From Iowa 3, Iowa 188 heads north where it crosses the Shell Rock River
Shell Rock River
The Shell Rock River is a tributary of the Cedar River in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in the United States. Via the Cedar and Iowa rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. The United States Board on Geographic Names settled on "Shell Rock River" as the stream's name...

 and forms the eastern boundary of Heery Woods State Park. It passes through Clarksville and continues north for 4 miles (6.4 km). At four-way intersection with Butler County Road T64 and a gravel road, Iowa 188 turns to the east and becomes an east–west road for the remainder of its journey.

Iowa 188 heads east for 6 miles (9.7 km) where it crosses into Bremer County one mile (1.6 km) west of Plainfield
Plainfield, Iowa
Plainfield is a city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. The population was 436 at the 2010 census a decrease of 2, or 0.5%, from 438 at the 2000 census...

. One half-mile (0.8 km) into Bremer County, is a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...

 with U.S. Route 218
U.S. Route 218
U.S. Route 218 is an original United States Highway, created in 1926. Although technically a spur of U.S. Route 18, US 218 neither begins nor ends at US 18, but overlaps US 18 for near Charles City, Iowa. US 218 begins at U.S. Route 136 in downtown Keokuk and ends away at...

 and Iowa Highway 27, the Avenue of the Saints highway. In Plainfield, Iowa 188 crosses over the Cedar River. It continues due east for 10 miles (16.1 km), ending at U.S. Route 63 north of Tripoli
Tripoli, Iowa
Tripoli is a city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1310 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Tripoli is located at ....

.

History

Iowa 188 was designated in 1945 as a 10 miles (16.1 km) route which connected US 218
U.S. Route 218
U.S. Route 218 is an original United States Highway, created in 1926. Although technically a spur of U.S. Route 18, US 218 neither begins nor ends at US 18, but overlaps US 18 for near Charles City, Iowa. US 218 begins at U.S. Route 136 in downtown Keokuk and ends away at...

 at Plainfield
Plainfield, Iowa
Plainfield is a city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. The population was 436 at the 2010 census a decrease of 2, or 0.5%, from 438 at the 2000 census...

 to US 63. It first appeared on the state highway map in 1946. Four years later, the highway absorbed Iowa 53, which connected Clarksville
Clarksville, Iowa
Clarksville is a city in Butler County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 1,441 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Clarksville is located at 42°46'58" North, 92°40'11" West ....

 to Iowa 10. Until 1963, the highway appeared very much like it does today. That year the section of highway between Clarksville and Plainfield was turned over to Butler County officials and the section south of Clarksville became Iowa 122. Just three years later, the Iowa State Highway Commission changed course and reabsorbed Iowa 122. Since then the routing has not changed.

Major intersections

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