Dorchester, Iowa
Encyclopedia
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 (225 m). Although Dorchester is unincorporated, it has a post office
, with the ZIP code
of 52140, which opened on 21 May 1857. Dorchester is located in the Waterloo Township
.
Dorchester's location in the flood plain of the Upper Iowa River
makes it vulnerable to flooding; the community was damaged by high waters in August 2007. It was worse hit on 8 June 2008 and succeeding days: over seven inches (over 18 cm) of rain fell on the 8th, and resulting record high floods
of 22½ feet (20½ m) almost completely destroyed a trailer park that was a significant part of the tiny community. A LP gas tank from Dorchester was discovered just eight hours later in Lansing
, on the opposite side of the county.
in Waukon, even though Dorchester is closer to Spring Grove, Minnesota
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in northwestern 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:...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies along local roads just off Iowa Highway 76
Iowa Highway 76
Iowa Highway 76 is a state highway located in northeastern Iowa, most of which is in Allamakee County. The long highway connects McGregor to Eitzen, Minnesota via Waukon. It begins in McGregor at an intersection with U.S. Route 18; the first of the route are signed as U.S. Route 18 Business...
, north of the city of 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:...
, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Allamakee County. Its elevation is 738 feet (225 m). Although Dorchester is unincorporated, it has a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, with the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 52140, which opened on 21 May 1857. Dorchester is located in the Waterloo Township
Waterloo Township, Allamakee County, Iowa
Waterloo Township is one of eighteen townships in Allamakee County, Iowa, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 322.-Geography:Waterloo Township covers an area of and contains no incorporated settlements. It contains the unincorporated community of Dorchester...
.
Dorchester's location in the flood plain of 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...
makes it vulnerable to flooding; the community was damaged by high waters in August 2007. It was worse hit on 8 June 2008 and succeeding days: over seven inches (over 18 cm) of rain fell on the 8th, and resulting record high floods
June 2008 Midwest floods
The June 2008 Midwestern United States floods were flooding events which affected portions of the Midwest United States. After months of heavy precipitation, a number of rivers overflowed their banks for several weeks at a time and broke through levees at numerous locations. Flooding continued...
of 22½ feet (20½ m) almost completely destroyed a trailer park that was a significant part of the tiny community. A LP gas tank from Dorchester was discovered just eight hours later in Lansing
Lansing, Iowa
Lansing is a city in Lansing Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,012 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lansing's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 43.361525, -91.223378...
, on the opposite side of the county.
Education
All students in the area are enrolled in the Allamakee Community School DistrictAllamakee Community School District
The Allamakee Community School District is a school district based in the city of Waukon in Allamakee County, United States. The district operates East and West Elementary Schools, Waterville Elementary School, and Waukon Junior and Senior High Schools...
in Waukon, even though Dorchester is closer to Spring Grove, Minnesota
Spring Grove, Minnesota
Spring Grove is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land...
.