Iowa Highway 76
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 76 is a state highway located in northeastern Iowa
, most of which is in Allamakee County
. The 49 miles (78.9 km) long highway connects McGregor
to Eitzen, Minnesota
via Waukon
. It begins in McGregor at an intersection with U.S. Route 18; the first 4+1/4 mi of the route are signed as U.S. Route 18 Business (US 18 Bus.). It crosses into Minnesota near Eitzen and continues as Trunk Highway 76
.
. The route descends into the Mississippi River
valley along the northern border of Pikes Peak State Park
and then turns into McGregor. Through McGregor, US 18 Bus. heads to the northeast towards the Mississippi River. Along the river, the highway is parallel to the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad
(DM&E Railroad). For one mile (1.6 km), US 18 Bus. travels a narrow strip of land between the river and the bluffs where it passes the Isle of Capri casino.
At Marquette
, US 18 Bus. ends at the foot of the Marquette–Joliet Bridge, which carries US 18 to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
. At US 18, Iowa 76 appears for the first time and continues to the north. Between Marquette and the mouth of the Yellow River
, Iowa 76 runs parallel to the DM&E Railroad along the western bank of the Mississippi River. It turns inland near Effigy Mounds National Monument
, turning to the northwest towards Waukon
. It passes near the Yellow River State Forest
and through the unincorporated community of Rossville.
South of Waukon, Iowa 76 intersects Iowa 9. Eastbound Iowa 9 and northbound Iowa 76 head north together
for two miles (3.2 km). At Main Street
, the two highways split; Iowa 9 continues north while Iowa 76 heads west for a few blocks before turning north itself. From the western edge of Waukon, it travels north into the rolling hills of the Driftless Area, an area of the Midwestern United States
which was untouched by glaciation in the last Ice Age
. The highway descends into the Upper Iowa River
valley where it crosses the Upper Iowa and its tributaries, Bear Creek
and Waterloo Creek
. Iowa 76 follows Waterloo Creek for 2+1/2 mi until they near the unincorporated community of Dorchester
. From Dorchester, the highway curves to the east and north, traveling 6 miles (9.7 km) to the Minnesota
state line south of Eitzen
.
to Minnesota
. Iowa 13's northernmost 55 miles (88.5 km) were truncated at a point 8 miles (12.9 km) west of McGregor
at its intersection with U.S. Route 52. Iowa 13 overlapped US 52 and US 18 for 11 miles (17.7 km); the remaining 44 miles (70.8 km) became Iowa 76.
In 1989, Iowa 76 was extended 4+1/4 mi to the south when a new bypass around McGregor was opened. US 18 was moved onto the bypass and the old road became Iowa 76, but was marked as U.S. Route 18 Business. The only proof of Iowa 76 along US 18 Bus. are small Iowa 76 route markers above the mile markers.
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...
, most of which is in Allamakee County
Allamakee County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,330 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,617 housing units, of which 5,845 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. The 49 miles (78.9 km) long highway connects McGregor
McGregor, Iowa
McGregor is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 871 at the 2000 census. McGregor is located on the Mississippi River across from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Pike's Peak State Park is located just south of the city...
to Eitzen, Minnesota
Eitzen, Minnesota
Eitzen is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 243 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
via Waukon
Waukon, Iowa
Waukon is a city in Makee Township,Allamakee County, Iowa, United States, and the county seat of Allamakee County. The population was 4,131 at the 2000 census. It is home to the annual .-History:...
. It begins in McGregor at an intersection with U.S. Route 18; the first 4+1/4 mi of the route are signed as U.S. Route 18 Business (US 18 Bus.). It crosses into Minnesota near Eitzen and continues as Trunk Highway 76
Minnesota State Highway 76
Minnesota State Highway 76 is a highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from Iowa Highway 76 at the Iowa state line , and continues north to its northern terminus at its interchange with Interstate Highway 90 in Pleasant Hill Township near Winona.Highway 76 is in length.-Route...
.
Route description
Iowa Highway 76 begins as U.S. Route 18 Business at U.S. Route 18 west of McGregorMcGregor, Iowa
McGregor is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 871 at the 2000 census. McGregor is located on the Mississippi River across from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Pike's Peak State Park is located just south of the city...
. The route descends into the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
valley along the northern border of Pikes Peak State Park
Pikes Peak State Park
Pikes Peak State Park is a state park of Iowa, USA, featuring a bluff overlooking the Upper Mississippi River opposite the confluence of the Wisconsin River. The park is operated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. It is nearly a thousand acres in extent. The nearest city is McGregor,...
and then turns into McGregor. Through McGregor, US 18 Bus. heads to the northeast towards the Mississippi River. Along the river, the highway is parallel to the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad
Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad
The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad is a Class II railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway operating across South Dakota and southern Minnesota in the northern plains of the United States...
(DM&E Railroad). For one mile (1.6 km), US 18 Bus. travels a narrow strip of land between the river and the bluffs where it passes the Isle of Capri casino.
At Marquette
Marquette, Iowa
Marquette is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 421 at the 2000 census. The city, which is located on the Mississippi River, is named after Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette, who along with Louis Joliet discovered the Mississippi River just southeast of the city on...
, US 18 Bus. ends at the foot of the Marquette–Joliet Bridge, which carries US 18 to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census. Its Zip Code is 53821....
. At US 18, Iowa 76 appears for the first time and continues to the north. Between Marquette and the mouth of the Yellow River
Yellow River (Iowa)
The Yellow River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in northeastern Iowa. It originates in southwestern Winneshiek County and flows through southern Allamakee County, receiving tributaries from northern Clayton County, before joining the Mississippi near Marquette and Effigy Mounds National...
, Iowa 76 runs parallel to the DM&E Railroad along the western bank of the Mississippi River. It turns inland near Effigy Mounds National Monument
Effigy Mounds National Monument
Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves three prehistoric sites in Allamakee County and Clayton County, Iowa in the midwestern United States.-Mounds:...
, turning to the northwest towards Waukon
Waukon, Iowa
Waukon is a city in Makee Township,Allamakee County, Iowa, United States, and the county seat of Allamakee County. The population was 4,131 at the 2000 census. It is home to the annual .-History:...
. It passes near the Yellow River State Forest
Yellow River State Forest
Yellow River State Forest is partly forested land owned by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. It is located in the southeastern corner of Allamakee County, the most northeasterly of Iowa's counties...
and through the unincorporated community of Rossville.
South of Waukon, Iowa 76 intersects Iowa 9. Eastbound Iowa 9 and northbound Iowa 76 head north together
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...
for two miles (3.2 km). At Main Street
Main Street
Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world...
, the two highways split; Iowa 9 continues north while Iowa 76 heads west for a few blocks before turning north itself. From the western edge of Waukon, it travels north into the rolling hills of the Driftless Area, an area of the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
which was untouched by glaciation in the last Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. The highway descends into the Upper Iowa River
Upper Iowa River
The Upper Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwest of the United States.Its headwaters are in southeastern Minnesota, in Mower County near the border with Iowa. It then flows through the Iowa counties of Howard, Winneshiek, and Allamakee, and finally into the Upper...
valley where it crosses the Upper Iowa and its tributaries, Bear Creek
Bear Creek (Upper Iowa River)
Bear Creek is an tributary of the Upper Iowa River, joining Waterloo Creek for a short distance before entering the Upper Iowa in Waterloo Township just east of where Iowa Highway 76 crosses the river...
and Waterloo Creek
Waterloo Creek (Upper Iowa River)
Waterloo Creek is a tributary of the Upper Iowa River, with a watershed covering . It rises as Bee Creek in Houston County, Minnesota, southwest of the city of Spring Grove, flowing generally in a southeasterly direction, crossing into Waterloo Township in Allamakee County, Iowa, where it becomes...
. Iowa 76 follows Waterloo Creek for 2+1/2 mi until they near the unincorporated community of Dorchester
Dorchester, Iowa
Dorchester is an unincorporated community in northwestern Allamakee County, Iowa, United States. It lies along local roads just off Iowa Highway 76, north of the city of Waukon, the county seat of Allamakee County. Its elevation is 738 feet . Although Dorchester is unincorporated, it has a...
. From Dorchester, the highway curves to the east and north, traveling 6 miles (9.7 km) to the Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
state line south of Eitzen
Eitzen, Minnesota
Eitzen is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 243 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
.
History
Iowa Highway 76 was created in 1969 from a segment of Iowa Highway 13 from MarquetteMarquette, Iowa
Marquette is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 421 at the 2000 census. The city, which is located on the Mississippi River, is named after Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette, who along with Louis Joliet discovered the Mississippi River just southeast of the city on...
to Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Iowa 13's northernmost 55 miles (88.5 km) were truncated at a point 8 miles (12.9 km) west of McGregor
McGregor, Iowa
McGregor is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 871 at the 2000 census. McGregor is located on the Mississippi River across from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Pike's Peak State Park is located just south of the city...
at its intersection with U.S. Route 52. Iowa 13 overlapped US 52 and US 18 for 11 miles (17.7 km); the remaining 44 miles (70.8 km) became Iowa 76.
In 1989, Iowa 76 was extended 4+1/4 mi to the south when a new bypass around McGregor was opened. US 18 was moved onto the bypass and the old road became Iowa 76, but was marked as U.S. Route 18 Business. The only proof of Iowa 76 along US 18 Bus. are small Iowa 76 route markers above the mile markers.