Iowa Highway 39 is a north–south state highway in western 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...

. It begins at an intersection

Intersection (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 U.S. Route 59

U.S. Route 59

U.S. Route 59 is a north–south United States highway . A latecomer to the U.S. numbered route system, U.S. 59 is now a border-to-border route, Part of NAFTA Corridor Highway System. It parallels U.S. Route 75 for nearly its entire route, never much more than away, until it veers southwest...

 and 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...

 on the western edge of Denison

Denison, Iowa

Denison is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 7,339 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Crawford County.-Geography:Denison is located at ....

. The route ends at its intersection with Iowa Highway 175

Iowa Highway 175

Iowa Highway 175 is a main east–west route in the northern portion of the state. The highway has a length of . Iowa Highway 175 enters the state by a Missouri River crossing between Decatur, Nebraska and Onawa. The highway continues westward as Nebraska Highway 51. Iowa 175's eastern...

 on the eastern side of Odebolt

Odebolt, Iowa

Odebolt is a city in Sac County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,153 at the 2000 census.-History:While the etymology of Odebolt's unusual name is unquestioned — being named after the Odebolt Creek — the etymology of the creek's name is disputed. It has been ascribed to a story of a...

.

Route description

Iowa 39 begins on the west side of Denison, Iowa

Denison, Iowa

Denison is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 7,339 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Crawford County.-Geography:Denison is located at ....

 at an intersection with U.S. Route 59 and 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...

. Heading north-northwest, it runs parallel to the Boyer River

Boyer River

The Boyer River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long, in western Iowa in the United States. Most reaches of the river's course have been straightened and channelized....

 between Denison and Deloit

Deloit, Iowa

Deloit is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 288 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Deloit is located at ....

. At Deloit, the route straightens northward and travels 7 miles (11.3 km) to Kiron

Kiron, Iowa

Kiron is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States. The population was 273 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kiron is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....

. North of Kiron, it turns east for 4 miles (6.4 km) before turning back to the north for 7 miles (11.3 km). The route ends at Iowa Highway 175

Iowa Highway 175

Iowa Highway 175 is a main east–west route in the northern portion of the state. The highway has a length of . Iowa Highway 175 enters the state by a Missouri River crossing between Decatur, Nebraska and Onawa. The highway continues westward as Nebraska Highway 51. Iowa 175's eastern...

 in Odebolt

Odebolt, Iowa

Odebolt is a city in Sac County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,153 at the 2000 census.-History:While the etymology of Odebolt's unusual name is unquestioned — being named after the Odebolt Creek — the etymology of the creek's name is disputed. It has been ascribed to a story of a...

.

History

Prior to 1969, the route that is now designated as Iowa 39 was designated as Iowa Highway 4. This version of Iowa 4 once connected
Hamburg

Hamburg, Iowa

Hamburg is a city in Fremont County, Iowa, United States, along the Nishnabotna River. The population was 1,240 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...

 and Spirit Lake

Spirit Lake, Iowa

Spirit Lake is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,261 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dickinson County.The town is located along the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region....

 along the current routings of U.S. Route 275

U.S. Route 275

U.S. Route 275 is a north–south United States highway. It is a branch of US 75, originally terminating at that route in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The highway's northern terminus is in O'Neill, Nebraska, at an intersection with U.S. Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 281. Its southern terminus is near...

, U.S. Route 59, and U.S. Route 71. In 1969, when many routes were renumbered, Iowa 4 was redesignated as Iowa Highway 39.

Major intersections