Iowa Highway 37
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 37 is an east–west road in the west-central part of the state. Iowa 37 begins just east of Turin
at Iowa Highway 175
. It ends 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Earling
at U.S. Route 59. A small portion of the highway near Turin is designated as part of the Loess Hills Scenic Byway.
with Iowa Highway 175
(Iowa 175) east of Turin
and adjacent to Iowa 175's crossing of the Maple River
. The first 1+1/2 mi of the route are included in the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. The highway travels east and then southeast through the Loess Hills
, a region of dunes east of the Missouri River
created by wind-deposited silt
from the Missouri River valley. At Soldier
, Iowa 37 exits the Loess Hills and meets Iowa 183
. From Soldier, the highway travels 13 miles (20.9 km) to the southeast to Dunlap
. In Dunlap, Iowa 37 overlaps U.S. Route 30 (US 30) for 1/4 mi. Eastbound Iowa 37 overlaps westbound US 30; this phenomenon is known as a wrong-way concurrency. Between Dunlap and Earling
, Iowa 37 travels in a stair-step path to the south and east for 13 miles. At Earling, the highway intersects the northern end of Iowa 191
. Its last section is 4 miles (6.4 km) long, connecting Earling to US 59.
. The westernmost 7+3/4 mi of the route were overlapped by
Iowa 175
. In 1966, Iowa 37 was truncated to its current western end near the Maple River
. In 1971, a new section of US 59 was opened one mile (1.6 km) to the west of the former alignment. As a result, Iowa 37 was extended north one mile and east 6 miles (9.7 km) to Irwin
, absorbing Iowa 268 The section from US 59 to Irwin was short-lived. In 1980, the section east of US 59 was turned over to Shelby County
.
Turin, Iowa
Turin is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States. The population was 75 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Turin is located at...
at Iowa Highway 175
Iowa Highway 175
Iowa Highway 175 is a main east–west route in the northern portion of the state. The highway has a length of . Iowa Highway 175 enters the state by a Missouri River crossing between Decatur, Nebraska and Onawa. The highway continues westward as Nebraska Highway 51. Iowa 175's eastern...
. It ends 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Earling
Earling, Iowa
Earling is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 437 at the 2010 census.-History:The town was platted in 1882 by the Milwaukee Land Company and was first known as Marthan. However there was already a town called Marathon in Iowa, so the name of the town was soon changed...
at U.S. Route 59. A small portion of the highway near Turin is designated as part of the Loess Hills Scenic Byway.
Route description
Iowa Highway 37 begins at an intersectionIntersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with Iowa Highway 175
Iowa Highway 175
Iowa Highway 175 is a main east–west route in the northern portion of the state. The highway has a length of . Iowa Highway 175 enters the state by a Missouri River crossing between Decatur, Nebraska and Onawa. The highway continues westward as Nebraska Highway 51. Iowa 175's eastern...
(Iowa 175) east of Turin
Turin, Iowa
Turin is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States. The population was 75 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Turin is located at...
and adjacent to Iowa 175's crossing of the Maple River
Maple River (Iowa)
The Maple River is a river in the United States. It flows through western Iowa and is long. The Maple River rises in Buena Vista County, and flows generally southwest through Ida Grove, Battle Creek, Danbury, and Mapleton finally joining with the Little Sioux River near Turin. Much of the river...
. The first 1+1/2 mi of the route are included in the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. The highway travels east and then southeast through the Loess Hills
Loess Hills
The Loess Hills are a formation of wind-deposited loess soil in the westernmost part of Iowa and Missouri along the Missouri River.-Geology:The Loess Hills are generally located between 1 and east of the Missouri River channel...
, a region of dunes east of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
created by wind-deposited silt
Loess
Loess is an aeolian sediment formed by the accumulation of wind-blown silt, typically in the 20–50 micrometre size range, twenty percent or less clay and the balance equal parts sand and silt that are loosely cemented by calcium carbonate...
from the Missouri River valley. At Soldier
Soldier, Iowa
Soldier is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States, along the Soldier River. The population was 207 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Soldier is located at ....
, Iowa 37 exits the Loess Hills and meets Iowa 183
Iowa Highway 183
Iowa Highway 183 is a state highway in western Iowa. It runs north to south for . It begins at an intersection with Iowa Highway 127 east of Mondamin and ends at an intersection with Iowa Highway 141 in Ute. The highway as currently constituted is the same as it was when it was commissioned in...
. From Soldier, the highway travels 13 miles (20.9 km) to the southeast to Dunlap
Dunlap, Iowa
Dunlap is a city in Harrison County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 1,139 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dunlap is located at ....
. In Dunlap, Iowa 37 overlaps U.S. Route 30 (US 30) for 1/4 mi. Eastbound Iowa 37 overlaps westbound US 30; this phenomenon is known as a wrong-way concurrency. Between Dunlap and Earling
Earling, Iowa
Earling is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 437 at the 2010 census.-History:The town was platted in 1882 by the Milwaukee Land Company and was first known as Marthan. However there was already a town called Marathon in Iowa, so the name of the town was soon changed...
, Iowa 37 travels in a stair-step path to the south and east for 13 miles. At Earling, the highway intersects the northern end of Iowa 191
Iowa Highway 191
Iowa Highway 191 is a highway in western Iowa. It runs for in a north–south direction. For its entire length, Iowa 191 closely parallels Mosquito Creek and a line of the BNSF Railway. Iowa 191 begins at Interstate 680 north of Neola and ends at Iowa Highway 37 in Earling. Previously, it...
. Its last section is 4 miles (6.4 km) long, connecting Earling to US 59.
History
Originally, Iowa Highway 37 began at U.S. Route 75 in Onawa to U.S. Route 59 east of EarlingEarling, Iowa
Earling is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 437 at the 2010 census.-History:The town was platted in 1882 by the Milwaukee Land Company and was first known as Marthan. However there was already a town called Marathon in Iowa, so the name of the town was soon changed...
. The westernmost 7+3/4 mi of the route were overlapped by
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
Iowa 175
Iowa Highway 175
Iowa Highway 175 is a main east–west route in the northern portion of the state. The highway has a length of . Iowa Highway 175 enters the state by a Missouri River crossing between Decatur, Nebraska and Onawa. The highway continues westward as Nebraska Highway 51. Iowa 175's eastern...
. In 1966, Iowa 37 was truncated to its current western end near the Maple River
Maple River (Iowa)
The Maple River is a river in the United States. It flows through western Iowa and is long. The Maple River rises in Buena Vista County, and flows generally southwest through Ida Grove, Battle Creek, Danbury, and Mapleton finally joining with the Little Sioux River near Turin. Much of the river...
. In 1971, a new section of US 59 was opened one mile (1.6 km) to the west of the former alignment. As a result, Iowa 37 was extended north one mile and east 6 miles (9.7 km) to Irwin
Irwin, Iowa
Irwin is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States, along the West Nishnabotna River. The population was 372 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Irwin is located at ....
, absorbing Iowa 268 The section from US 59 to Irwin was short-lived. In 1980, the section east of US 59 was turned over to Shelby County
Shelby County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,167 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,542 housing units, of which 5,085 were occupied.-2000 census:...
.
Major intersections
See also
- Termini photos of Iowa 37 at Iowa Highway Ends.