Iowa State Highway 3
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 3 is a state highway
that runs from east to west across the state of Iowa
. Highway 3 is the longest state highway in Iowa, at 327.81 miles (527.6 km) long. Iowa 3 begins at the South Dakota
state line where it continues as South Dakota Highway 50
and ends at an interchange with U.S. Route 61
/ U.S. Route 151
. It is designated the American Veterans Memorial Highway for its entirety. It is located approximately halfway between Interstate 80
and Interstate 90
.
where it continues west into South Dakota
as South Dakota Highway 50
. 1.5 miles (2.4 km) into Iowa, Iowa 3 intersects and overlaps Iowa Highway 12 for 5 miles (8 km). At Akron
, Iowa 3 turns east towards Le Mars
. At Le Mars, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 75 and, for 1 miles (1.6 km), is overlapped by U.S. Route 75 Business. Iowa 3 continues east towards Remsen
and Marcus
meeting Iowa Highway 140
and Iowa Highway 143
in each respective town. At Cherokee
, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 59 and skirts the northeastern edge of town. East of Cherokee, Iowa 3 formerly intersected the unsigned Iowa Highway 977, which served as a shortcut to southbound US 59 for westbound Iowa 3 traffic. North of Aurelia
, Iowa 3 meets Iowa Highway 7. Northeast of Truesdale
, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 71. 25 miles (40.2 km) east of Truesdale, Iowa 3 intersects Iowa Highway 4 in Pocahontas
. Between Pocahontas and Gilmore City
, Iowa 3 meets Iowa Highway 15. Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 169 in Humboldt
.
East of Humboldt, Iowa Highway 3 is overlapped for 3 miles (4.8 km) by Iowa Highway 17 near Goldfield
. Iowa 3 overlaps U.S. Route 69 for 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Clarion
. Near Latimer
and Coulter
, Iowa 3 meets Interstate 35 at a diamond interchange
. 10 miles (16.1 km) east of the I-35 interchange, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 65 in Hampton
. At Allison
, Iowa 3 is briefly overlapped by Iowa Highway 14. Iowa 3 meets Iowa Highway 188
south of Clarksville
. West of Waverly
, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 218
/ Iowa Highway 27, the Avenue of the Saints
, at an interchange. For 1 miles (1.6 km), Iowa 3 is overlapped by U.S. Route 218 Business before US 218 Bus. turns south as the unsigned Iowa Highway 116. 7 miles (11.3 km) to the east, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 63. At Oelwein
, Iowa 3 overlaps Iowa Highway 150
for 3 miles (4.8 km) before continuing east towards Iowa Highway 187
. From Strawberry Point
to near Edgewood
, Iowa 3 overlaps Iowa Highway 13.
East of Edgewood, Iowa Higwhay 3 enters the Driftless Area, where the terrain changes markedly from gently rolling farmland to steep bluffs. Iowa 3 meets Iowa Highway 38 on the edge of the Driftless Area. At Luxemburg
, Iowa 3 meets U.S. Route 52, with which Iowa 3 continues for the rest of its length, and Iowa Highway 136. The next 22 miles (35.4 km), from Luxemburg to Sageville
, are particularly curvy because the routes enter completely into the Driftless Area. At Sageville, US 52 / Iowa 3 meet Iowa Highway 32, Dubuque's
Northwest Arterial. US 52 / Iowa 3 enter Dubuque along Central Avenue, which becomes a one-way street paired with White Street near downtown. US 52 and Iowa 3 turn onto another pair of one-way streets, East 9th Street and East 11th Street for a few blocks before meeting U.S. Route 61 / U.S. Route 151
. US 52 continues south with US 61 / US 151, while Iowa 3 ends at this interchange.
and ending at the western border of Iowa near Nebraska City, Nebraska
. The current Iowa Highway 3 route was designated in 1945.
Originally extending from Iowa Highway 12 in Akron
to Dubuque, Iowa 3 was co-signed with Iowa Highway 5 from Akron to near Aurelia
. In 1949, Iowa 3 was extended along Iowa 12 from Akron to its current western end at the Big Sioux River
.
Prior to the building of a four lane U.S. Route 61
/ U.S. Route 151
, the eastern terminus of Iowa Highway 3 was at the intersection of Bluff Street and U.S. Route 20
, Dodge Street.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
that runs from east to west across the state of 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...
. Highway 3 is the longest state highway in Iowa, at 327.81 miles (527.6 km) long. Iowa 3 begins at the South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
state line where it continues as South Dakota Highway 50
South Dakota Highway 50
South Dakota Highway 50 is a state route serving south central and southeast South Dakota. The current alignment begins at the junction of South Dakota Highway 34 at "Lee's Corner" east of Fort Thompson, and ends at the Iowa border near Richland, where it continues as Iowa Highway 3...
and ends at an interchange with U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
/ U.S. Route 151
U.S. Route 151
U.S. Route 151 is a U.S. Highway that runs through the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The southern terminus for U.S. 151 is at a junction with Interstate 80 in Iowa County, Iowa, and its northern terminus is at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The route, from south to north follows a northeasterly path through...
. It is designated the American Veterans Memorial Highway for its entirety. It is located approximately halfway between Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
and Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
.
Route description
Iowa Highway 3 begins at the Big Sioux RiverBig Sioux River
The Big Sioux River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long, in eastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa in the United States. The United States Board on Geographic Names settled on "Big Sioux River" as the stream's name in 1961....
where it continues west into South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
as South Dakota Highway 50
South Dakota Highway 50
South Dakota Highway 50 is a state route serving south central and southeast South Dakota. The current alignment begins at the junction of South Dakota Highway 34 at "Lee's Corner" east of Fort Thompson, and ends at the Iowa border near Richland, where it continues as Iowa Highway 3...
. 1.5 miles (2.4 km) into Iowa, Iowa 3 intersects and overlaps Iowa Highway 12 for 5 miles (8 km). At Akron
Akron, Iowa
Akron is a city in Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,489 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Akron is located at , along the Big Sioux River....
, Iowa 3 turns east towards Le Mars
Le Mars, Iowa
Le Mars is a city in and the county seat of Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,237 at the 2000 census. Le Mars is the home of Wells' Dairy, the world's largest producer of ice cream novelties in one location and is the self-proclaimed "Ice Cream Capital of the World". Wells...
. At Le Mars, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 75 and, for 1 miles (1.6 km), is overlapped by U.S. Route 75 Business. Iowa 3 continues east towards Remsen
Remsen, Iowa
Remsen is a city in Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,762 at the 2000 census.-History:Remsen was named for Dr. William Remsen Smith, a pioneer Sioux City physician who became an extensive landowner in the area. Dr. Smith had a good friend who suggested the name Smithville,...
and Marcus
Marcus, Iowa
Marcus is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,139 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Marcus is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
meeting Iowa Highway 140
Iowa Highway 140
Iowa Highway 140 is a highway in northwestern Iowa. It is a north–south highway with a length of . Iowa Highway 140 begins at U.S. Route 20 at Moville and ends at Iowa Highway 3 near Remsen.-Route description:...
and Iowa Highway 143
Iowa Highway 143
Iowa Highway 143 is a state highway which runs north-south in northwestern Iowa. The highway has a length of .-Route description:Iowa Highway 143 begins at an intersection with Iowa Highway 3 just over one mile south of Marcus in Cherokee County. On the northern edge of Marcus, Iowa 143 crosses a...
in each respective town. At Cherokee
Cherokee, Iowa
Cherokee is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,932 at the 2010 Census, up from 5,369 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cherokee County. Cherokee is also the home of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute, under the Iowa Department of Human Services...
, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 59 and skirts the northeastern edge of town. East of Cherokee, Iowa 3 formerly intersected the unsigned Iowa Highway 977, which served as a shortcut to southbound US 59 for westbound Iowa 3 traffic. North of Aurelia
Aurelia, Iowa
Aurelia is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,062 at the 2000 census.-History:Aurelia was founded in 1873 as a stop along the Illinois Central Railroad branch connecting Sioux City, Iowa to Chicago, Illinois. This was the only railroad connecting the two...
, Iowa 3 meets Iowa Highway 7. Northeast of Truesdale
Truesdale, Iowa
Truesdale is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 91 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Truesdale is located at ....
, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 71. 25 miles (40.2 km) east of Truesdale, Iowa 3 intersects Iowa Highway 4 in Pocahontas
Pocahontas, Iowa
Pocahontas is a city in and the county seat of Pocahontas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,789 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 1,970 population in the 2000 census.-History:...
. Between Pocahontas and Gilmore City
Gilmore City, Iowa
Gilmore City is a city in Humboldt and Pocahontas Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 556 at the 2000 census. The town was originally known as Blooming Prairie but the name was changed to Gilmore City in the early 1880s. It was named for C. N. Gilmore who was the superintendent...
, Iowa 3 meets Iowa Highway 15. Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 169 in Humboldt
Humboldt, Iowa
Humboldt is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,690 at the 2010 census, gaining 238 people since the 2000 census.- History :...
.
East of Humboldt, Iowa Highway 3 is overlapped for 3 miles (4.8 km) by Iowa Highway 17 near Goldfield
Goldfield, Iowa
Goldfield is a city in Wright County, Iowa, United States. The population was 680 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Goldfield's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 42.734708, -93.920163...
. Iowa 3 overlaps U.S. Route 69 for 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Clarion
Clarion, Iowa
Clarion is a city in and the county seat of Wright County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,968 at the 2000 census.Clarion is the birthplace of the four-leaf clover emblem used by the 4-H Clubs of America, conceived of in 1907 by the local school superintendent, O.H...
. Near Latimer
Latimer, Iowa
Latimer is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 535 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Latimer is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and Coulter
Coulter, Iowa
Coulter is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 262 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coulter is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Iowa 3 meets Interstate 35 at 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...
. 10 miles (16.1 km) east of the I-35 interchange, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 65 in Hampton
Hampton, Iowa
Hampton is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,461 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County...
. At Allison
Allison, Iowa
Allison is a city in and the county seat of Butler County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,006 at the 2000 census. Allison is home to the Butler County Fair. The city was named for U.S. Senator William Boyd Allison in 1881.-Geography:...
, Iowa 3 is briefly overlapped by Iowa Highway 14. Iowa 3 meets Iowa Highway 188
Iowa Highway 188
Iowa Highway 188 is a state highway in north-central Iowa. 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 and ends at U.S. Route 63 near Tripoli.-Route description:Iowa Highway 188...
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 ....
. West of Waverly
Waverly, Iowa
Waverly is a city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,874 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bremer County and is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Iowa 3 intersects 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...
/ Iowa Highway 27, the Avenue of the Saints
Avenue of the Saints
The Avenue of the Saints is a highway in the Midwestern United States that connects St. Paul, Minnesota, and St. Louis, Missouri.-Missouri:Within Missouri, the Avenue of the Saints is Interstate 64, U.S...
, at an interchange. For 1 miles (1.6 km), Iowa 3 is overlapped by U.S. Route 218 Business before US 218 Bus. turns south as the unsigned Iowa Highway 116. 7 miles (11.3 km) to the east, Iowa 3 intersects U.S. Route 63. At Oelwein
Oelwein, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,692 people, 2,808 households, and 1,819 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,395.8 people per square mile . There were 3,040 housing units at an average density of 634.1 per square mile...
, Iowa 3 overlaps Iowa Highway 150
Iowa Highway 150
Iowa Highway 150 is a highway in eastern and northeastern Iowa. It is a north–south highway with a length of . The southern terminus of Iowa Highway 150 is at an intersection with U.S. Route 218 in Vinton. Its northern terminus is in Calmar at an intersection with U.S. Route 52 and Iowa...
for 3 miles (4.8 km) before continuing east towards Iowa Highway 187
Iowa Highway 187
Iowa Highway 187 is a highway in eastern Iowa. Its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 20 southwest of Masonville. Its northern terminus is at Iowa Highway 150 south of Fayette.-Route description:...
. From Strawberry Point
Strawberry Point, Iowa
Strawberry Point is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. Strawberry Point is home to the world's largest strawberry . Backbone State Park, Iowa's oldest state park, is located a few miles from the town.-Geography:Strawberry Point's longitude...
to near Edgewood
Edgewood, Iowa
Edgewood is a city in Clayton and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 923 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Edgewood is located at ....
, Iowa 3 overlaps Iowa Highway 13.
East of Edgewood, Iowa Higwhay 3 enters the Driftless Area, where the terrain changes markedly from gently rolling farmland to steep bluffs. Iowa 3 meets Iowa Highway 38 on the edge of the Driftless Area. At Luxemburg
Luxemburg, Iowa
Luxemburg is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the 'Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 246 at the 2000 census...
, Iowa 3 meets U.S. Route 52, with which Iowa 3 continues for the rest of its length, and Iowa Highway 136. The next 22 miles (35.4 km), from Luxemburg to Sageville
Sageville, Iowa
Sageville is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. The population was 203 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sageville is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, are particularly curvy because the routes enter completely into the Driftless Area. At Sageville, US 52 / Iowa 3 meet Iowa Highway 32, Dubuque's
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
Northwest Arterial. US 52 / Iowa 3 enter Dubuque along Central Avenue, which becomes a one-way street paired with White Street near downtown. US 52 and Iowa 3 turn onto another pair of one-way streets, East 9th Street and East 11th Street for a few blocks before meeting U.S. Route 61 / U.S. Route 151
U.S. Route 151
U.S. Route 151 is a U.S. Highway that runs through the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The southern terminus for U.S. 151 is at a junction with Interstate 80 in Iowa County, Iowa, and its northern terminus is at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The route, from south to north follows a northeasterly path through...
. US 52 continues south with US 61 / US 151, while Iowa 3 ends at this interchange.
History
This is the second state highway to be designated Iowa Highway 3. The first Iowa Highway 3 existed from 1920 to 1941, and was an east–west route across the southern part of Iowa, beginning at Fort MadisonFort Madison, Iowa
Fort Madison, situated on the Mississippi River, is a city in and one of the county seats of Lee County, Iowa, United States. The other county seat is Keokuk. The population was 10,715 at the 2000 census...
and ending at the western border of Iowa near Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska City is a city in Otoe County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,228 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Otoe County...
. The current Iowa Highway 3 route was designated in 1945.
Originally extending from Iowa Highway 12 in Akron
Akron, Iowa
Akron is a city in Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,489 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Akron is located at , along the Big Sioux River....
to Dubuque, Iowa 3 was co-signed with Iowa Highway 5 from Akron to near Aurelia
Aurelia, Iowa
Aurelia is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,062 at the 2000 census.-History:Aurelia was founded in 1873 as a stop along the Illinois Central Railroad branch connecting Sioux City, Iowa to Chicago, Illinois. This was the only railroad connecting the two...
. In 1949, Iowa 3 was extended along Iowa 12 from Akron to its current western end at the Big Sioux River
Big Sioux River
The Big Sioux River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long, in eastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa in the United States. The United States Board on Geographic Names settled on "Big Sioux River" as the stream's name in 1961....
.
Prior to the building of a four lane U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
/ U.S. Route 151
U.S. Route 151
U.S. Route 151 is a U.S. Highway that runs through the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The southern terminus for U.S. 151 is at a junction with Interstate 80 in Iowa County, Iowa, and its northern terminus is at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The route, from south to north follows a northeasterly path through...
, the eastern terminus of Iowa Highway 3 was at the intersection of Bluff Street and U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
, Dodge Street.