Iowa Highway 31
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 31 is a diagonal state highway which runs from Iowa Highway 141
(Iowa 141) in Smithland
to U.S. Route 59 (US 59) east of Quimby
. For most of its length, the highway runs parallel to the Little Sioux River
. Since its designation, the route has changed very little. The route was paved by the mid-1960s.
with Iowa Highway 141
, Main Street in Smithland
. The route heads north along Hickory Street and out of town parallel to the western bank of the Little Sioux River
. It heads to the north-northeast for 20 miles (32.2 km) through the Woodbury County
communities of Oto
and Anthon
, and crosses the Little Sioux southwest of Correctionville
.
At Correctionville, Iowa 31 intersects U.S. Route 20 and then curves around following the eastern bank of the Little Sioux. The route continues north-northeast, clipping the northwestern corner of Ida County
, before entering Cherokee County
south of Washta
. At Quimby
, the route turns east and travels 4 miles (6.4 km) to its northern end at U.S. Route 59.
to Quimby
on a road which runs parallel to the Little Sioux River
. In 1926, the route continued along the Little Sioux, ending at Primary Road No. 21, now U.S. Route 59. By 1947, US 59 was straightened, and Iowa 31 followed the former alignment of US 59 to end at the straighter road. By 1952, Iowa 31 had moved onto its current alignment, where it remains to this day. By 1966, the highway was paved in its entirety.
Iowa Highway 141
Iowa Highway 141 is a major east–west highway in the western and central portions of the state. It is the most direct link between Sioux City and Des Moines. It also serves as a freeway link between Des Moines and the outlying communities of Perry, Granger, and Grimes. Iowa 141's western...
(Iowa 141) in Smithland
Smithland, Iowa
Smithland is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 221 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smithland is located at ....
to U.S. Route 59 (US 59) east of Quimby
Quimby, Iowa
Quimby is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 368 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Quimby is located at...
. For most of its length, the highway runs parallel to the Little Sioux River
Little Sioux River
The Little Sioux is a river in the United States. It rises in southwest Minnesota near the Iowa border, and continues to flow southwest for across northwest Iowa into the Missouri River at Little Sioux. The Little Sioux River was known as Eaneah-waudepon or "Stone River" to the Sioux Indians...
. Since its designation, the route has changed very little. The route was paved by the mid-1960s.
Route description
Iowa Highway 31 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 141
Iowa Highway 141
Iowa Highway 141 is a major east–west highway in the western and central portions of the state. It is the most direct link between Sioux City and Des Moines. It also serves as a freeway link between Des Moines and the outlying communities of Perry, Granger, and Grimes. Iowa 141's western...
, Main Street in Smithland
Smithland, Iowa
Smithland is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 221 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smithland is located at ....
. The route heads north along Hickory Street and out of town parallel to the western bank of the Little Sioux River
Little Sioux River
The Little Sioux is a river in the United States. It rises in southwest Minnesota near the Iowa border, and continues to flow southwest for across northwest Iowa into the Missouri River at Little Sioux. The Little Sioux River was known as Eaneah-waudepon or "Stone River" to the Sioux Indians...
. It heads to the north-northeast for 20 miles (32.2 km) through the Woodbury County
Woodbury County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 102,172 in the county, with a population density of . There were 41,454 housing units, of which 39,052 were occupied.-2000 census:...
communities of Oto
Oto, Iowa
Oto is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 145 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Oto is located at...
and Anthon
Anthon, Iowa
Anthon is a city in Woodbury County in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 649 at the 2000 census....
, and crosses the Little Sioux southwest of Correctionville
Correctionville, Iowa
Correctionville is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 851 at the 2000 census. The town name comes from the original survey of the town. The site lies on a surveyor's correction line,...
.
At Correctionville, Iowa 31 intersects U.S. Route 20 and then curves around following the eastern bank of the Little Sioux. The route continues north-northeast, clipping the northwestern corner of Ida County
Ida County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,089 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,426 housing units, of which 3,052 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, before entering Cherokee County
Cherokee County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,072 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,777 housing units, of which 5,207 were occupied.-2000 census:...
south of Washta
Washta, Iowa
Washta is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 282 at the 2000 census. It holds the distinction of being "The Coldest Spot in Iowa," having recorded a temperature of 47 degrees below zero without wind chill on January 12, 1912....
. At Quimby
Quimby, Iowa
Quimby is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 368 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Quimby is located at...
, the route turns east and travels 4 miles (6.4 km) to its northern end at U.S. Route 59.
History
From its designation, Iowa 31 has run from SmithlandSmithland, Iowa
Smithland is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 221 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smithland is located at ....
to Quimby
Quimby, Iowa
Quimby is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 368 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Quimby is located at...
on a road which runs parallel to the Little Sioux River
Little Sioux River
The Little Sioux is a river in the United States. It rises in southwest Minnesota near the Iowa border, and continues to flow southwest for across northwest Iowa into the Missouri River at Little Sioux. The Little Sioux River was known as Eaneah-waudepon or "Stone River" to the Sioux Indians...
. In 1926, the route continued along the Little Sioux, ending at Primary Road No. 21, now U.S. Route 59. By 1947, US 59 was straightened, and Iowa 31 followed the former alignment of US 59 to end at the straighter road. By 1952, Iowa 31 had moved onto its current alignment, where it remains to this day. By 1966, the highway was paved in its entirety.
Major intersections
See also
- Iowa 31 terminus photos at Iowa Highway Ends