Iowa Highway 220
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 220 is a short state highway through the Amana Colonies
in east-central Iowa
. Along with U.S. Route 6
(US 6) and US 151
, it is part of the circuitous Amana Colonies Trail scenic byway. Iowa 220 begins at US 6 in South Amana
and ends at US 151 in Amana.
It heads north into South Amana where it goes through an S-curve
before crossing an Iowa Interstate Railroad
line. North of South Amana, Iowa 220 crosses the Iowa River
and Mill Race
, which powered mills in the Amana Colonies
.
At West Amana, Iowa 220 turns east onto an east–west alignment. It moves through High Amana and turns to the south-southeast towards Middle Amana
, where it passes the Amana Corporation
manufacturing facility. From Middle Amana, it turns to the northeast and then to the east as it enters Amana, ending at a four-way stop with US 151
.
from West Amana to Amana. By 1947, Iowa 220 ran from South Amana to Amana along the current extent of the route. However, the route continued east for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) where it ended at East Amana and south for 1 miles (1.6 km) to Upper South Amana. At its longest, the route was 9.5 miles (15.3 km) long. The western end of the route was pulled back to its current western end in 1976. Four years later, its eastern end was truncated back to the intersection with Iowa 149 in Amana. In 1985, Iowa 149 was replaced by US 151 between Cedar Rapids
and Interstate 80.
Amana Colonies
The Amana Colonies are a group of settlements of radical German Pietists in Iowa, USA, comprising seven villages. Calling themselves the Ebenezer Society or the Community of True Inspiration , they first settled in New York state near Buffalo in what is now the Town of West Seneca...
in east-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...
. Along with U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 in Iowa
U.S. Route 6 is an east–west U.S. highway which runs across the U.S. state of Iowa. It is signed in places as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Like all state highways in Iowa, it is maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The route begins at the Missouri River...
(US 6) and US 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 part of the circuitous Amana Colonies Trail scenic byway. Iowa 220 begins at US 6 in South Amana
South Amana, Iowa
South Amana is an unincorporated community in northern Iowa County, Iowa, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 6 east of the city of Marengo, the county seat of Iowa County. Its elevation is 778 feet . Although South Amana is unincorporated, it has a post office with the ZIP code of...
and ends at US 151 in Amana.
Route description
Iowa Highway 220 begins at an intersection with US 6 in South AmanaSouth Amana, Iowa
South Amana is an unincorporated community in northern Iowa County, Iowa, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 6 east of the city of Marengo, the county seat of Iowa County. Its elevation is 778 feet . Although South Amana is unincorporated, it has a post office with the ZIP code of...
It heads north into South Amana where it goes through an S-curve
Reverse curve
In civil engineering, a reverse curve is a section of the horizontal alignment of a highway or railroad route in which a curve to the left or right is followed immediately by a curve in the opposite direction....
before crossing an Iowa Interstate Railroad
Iowa Interstate Railroad
The Iowa Interstate Railroad is a Class II railroad operating in the central United States. The railroad is owned by Railroad Development Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-History:...
line. North of South Amana, Iowa 220 crosses the Iowa River
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
and Mill Race
Mill race
A mill race, raceway or mill lade is the current or channel of a stream, especially one for conducting water to or from a water wheel or other device for utilizing its energy...
, which powered mills in the Amana Colonies
Amana Colonies
The Amana Colonies are a group of settlements of radical German Pietists in Iowa, USA, comprising seven villages. Calling themselves the Ebenezer Society or the Community of True Inspiration , they first settled in New York state near Buffalo in what is now the Town of West Seneca...
.
At West Amana, Iowa 220 turns east onto an east–west alignment. It moves through High Amana and turns to the south-southeast towards Middle Amana
Middle Amana, Iowa
Middle Amana, Iowa is a location in Iowa County, Iowa. It is listed as the closest city to Amana Colonies, in its National Historic Landmark summary description....
, where it passes the Amana Corporation
Amana Corporation
The Amana Corporation is an American brand of household appliances. It was founded in 1934 by George Foerstner as The Electrical Equipment Co. in Middle Amana, Iowa to manufacture commercial walk-in coolers. The business was later owned by the Amana Society and became known as Amana Refrigeration,...
manufacturing facility. From Middle Amana, it turns to the northeast and then to the east as it enters Amana, ending at a four-way stop with US 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...
.
History
Iowa 220 was created in the early 1930s as a spur routeSpur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
from West Amana to Amana. By 1947, Iowa 220 ran from South Amana to Amana along the current extent of the route. However, the route continued east for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) where it ended at East Amana and south for 1 miles (1.6 km) to Upper South Amana. At its longest, the route was 9.5 miles (15.3 km) long. The western end of the route was pulled back to its current western end in 1976. Four years later, its eastern end was truncated back to the intersection with Iowa 149 in Amana. In 1985, Iowa 149 was replaced by US 151 between Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
and Interstate 80.