BlockFrom the record
3 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Grundy County, Iowa
23 topographic sheets cover 17 settlements here, and 3 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 157 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 3 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 3 buildings.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 17 populated places in this county; 17 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
3Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
| Photograph | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grundy Center High School | building | 2020 | 100005565 | |
 | Grundy County Courthouse | building | 1981 | 81000239 |
| Chris Neessen House | building | 1984 | 84001253 |
Wildfire, 2006 to 2019
29 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 29 of them, burning about 391 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 18 |
| Debris and open burning | 10 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 120 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | GRANT 28, IA |
| 7 October 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 40 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 24337 160TH ST. DIKE, IA, IA |
| 29 March 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 40 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 28 March 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 30 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | F AVE & 150TH ST., NW CORNER, IA |
| 15 April 2019 | Debris and open burning | 20 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 11 April 2014 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 20 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 28 March 2015 | Debris and open burning | 20 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 24 October 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 20 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 10550 P AVE PARKERBURG, IA, IA |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
Storms, 1952 to 2025
60 of 350 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 350 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 3 injuries and about $12,785,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 120 |
| Hail | 91 |
| Heavy Rain | 50 |
| Tornado | 41 |
| Flash Flood | 20 |
| Flood | 14 |
| Funnel Cloud | 13 |
| Lightning | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1952 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 killed, 2 hurt, $200,000 | no account filed |
| July 2000 | Flash Flood | Countywide | 1 hurt, $200,000 | no account filed |
| June 1990 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 1989 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Flash Flood | Wellsburg | $500,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dike | $500,000 | no account filed |
| May 2013 | Flash Flood | Holland | $450,000 | Many county roads closed due to flooding. |
| May 2008 | Tornado (EF2) | Fern | $300,000 | This was the initial tornado touchdown point. The tornado continued on into Butler County. |
| May 2013 | Flood | Morrison | $250,000 | Still reporting major flooding throughout the county with many county roads and some city streets closed due to flooding. Highway 14 south of Grundy Center is closed as is the Highway 20 exit at Wellsburg. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wellsburg | $250,000 | Grain bins and metal outbuildings were destroyed by high wind. |
| August 2009 | Hail | Wellsburg | $250,000 | no account filed |
| March 1991 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| November 1975 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1960 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 2014 | Tornado (EF1) | Reinbeck | $200,000 | Tornado touched down with a debris ball noted. Damage to homes occurred many to the southwest of Reinbeck. Numerous crops flattened. |
| June 2013 | Flash Flood | Wellsburg | $200,000 | Numerous paved and gravel roads covered, including D17 and T19. Barricades placed across roads. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wellsburg | $200,000 | Multiple barns destroyed and some tree damage. Crops flattened as well. |
| May 2001 | Tornado (F2) | Conrad | $150,000 | Most in open country. One barn hit and destroyed. |
| April 2008 | Flood | Wellsburg | $150,000 | no account filed |
| March 2019 | Flood | Wellsburg | $100,000 | Public reported water coming onto westbound lane of County Highway D17 from South Beaver Creek. Report came via social media. The Iowa DOT also reported flooding along Iowa Highway 175 with the highway being reduced to one lane near Reinbeck. |
| July 2018 | Flood | Fredsville | $100,000 | Water was reported over many roads in the county. |
| August 2015 | Flash Flood | Wellsburg | $100,000 | Law Enforcement reported water over the eastbound on ramp to Highway 20 from T-19 north of Wellsburg. There are also reports of several county roads closed due to flooding. |
| August 2015 | Flood | Wellsburg | $100,000 | Local Law Enforcement reported many county roads were closed due to water over the road or the road having been washed out. A bridge was washed out at the 2900 block of East 110th between U and T Avenues. |
| December 2015 | Flood | Wellsburg | $100,000 | Many county roads were closed across portions of the county from flooding with rises on local streams and creeks. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Beaman Thurman Arpt | $100,000 | Grundy County Law Enforcement reports numerous creeks have risen out of their banks with several roads under water through the county. |
| August 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Holland | $100,000 | At 9:45 p.m on 8/31 in Grundy County, Iowa just south of County HWY D25 on J Ave our farm lost 3/4 of it's machine shed roof on the SE side. Part of the roof landed straight east short of 300 ft to 400 ft down driveway and the other part west in front of the shed but on the NE side. More steel was to the NE about 300 ft to 400 ft and just missed our house. The steel bent over the cable dish. There was insulation splattered all over the garage and house to the NE of where roof went off and both garage doors were damaged. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dike | $100,000 | Damage was done to a mobile home park. A shed was destroyed. Mobile home was moved off its foundation with siding blown off homes. |
| June 2007 | Flash Flood | Grundy Center | $100,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Lightning | Grundy Center | $100,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Flash Flood | South Portion | $75,000 | no account filed |
| July 1999 | Tornado (F2) | Stout | $75,000 | no account filed |
| July 1999 | Flash Flood | Stout | $75,000 | no account filed |
| March 2023 | Tornado (EF1) | Wellsburg | $50,000 | Two tornadoes developed in parallel to the north of Wellsburg. This northern track tornado damaged several trees and outbuildings along its path. |
| March 2023 | Tornado (EF1) | Wellsburg | $50,000 | Two tornadoes developed in parallel to the north of Wellsburg. This southern track tornado damaged a grain bin along with surrounding trees and outbuilding, then later damaged powerline poles. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Reinbeck | $50,000 | Highway 175 north of Reinbeck closed by county officials by water over the road. |
| May 2013 | Flash Flood | Ivester | $50,000 | Highway 14 closed due to water over the road about 3 miles south of Highway 175. Officials had to rescue one person stranded in a vehicle. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Holland | $50,000 | Shingle debris flying in the wind along with golf ball size hail. |
| May 2001 | Tornado (F1) | Conrad | $50,000 | Tornado was only on the ground briefly, but it did hit a house causing structural damage to it. |
| March 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Grundy Center | $50,000 | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wellsburg | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flood | Grundy Center | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flood | Grundy Center | $50,000 | no account filed |
| April 1994 | Hail | Conrad | $50,000 | no account filed |
| April 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Conrad | $50,000 | no account filed |
| April 1994 | Hail | Grundy Center | $50,000 | no account filed |
| April 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Conrad | $50,000 | no account filed |
| August 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Conrad | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wellsburg | $40,000 | Large tree branches from the top half of trees snapped off and a barn was destroyed. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Conrad | $40,000 | no account filed |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Reinbeck | $40,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Tornado (F2) | Beaman | $35,000 | Tornado dropped down north of Beaman and progressed southeast. Crossed into Tama County from Grundy County. Most of the track was through open country. |
| June 2014 | Tornado (EF1) | Morrison | $30,000 | Brief tornado passed through the northern edge of Morrison. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Grundy Center | $30,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Conrad | $30,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flood | Grundy Center | $30,000 | no account filed |
| March 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wellsburg | $25,000 | Law enforcement reported a barn moved off of its foundation and heavily damaged. This is a delayed report and time estimated by radar. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dike | $25,000 | Four to six 30 foot high trees, 12 inches in diameter, were downed. Dime size hail also fell. |
| May 2013 | Flash Flood | Wellsburg | $25,000 | Exit ramps closed at the 187 mile marker on Highway 20 due to water over the road at County Road T19. |
| August 2010 | Flash Flood | Fern | $25,000 | Water from an unknown creek overflowed onto 120th Street between H Ave and I Ave in northern Grundy County. |
| June 2009 | Tornado (EF1) | Dike | $25,000 | A tornado touched down west of Dike and ended north of Dike. A hog containment building sustained significant damage west of Dike. |
Mines and quarries
12 recordedThe Survey's mineral resources record lists 12 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 11 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 9 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 3 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conrad Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Reiken Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Tack Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Bowers Sand Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Grundy Center Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Holland Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| John Harms | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Lamken Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Every populated place in the county
17Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
-
Buck Grove
Pleasant Valley township · 50604 · On Middle Fork South Beaver Creek · Parkersburg quadrangle
9 sheets, 1954 to 1984
-
Dairyville
Fairfield township · 50624 · Dike quadrangle
9 sheets, 1954 to 1984
No longer a settlement
-
Dike
Grant township · 50624 · On South Fork Blackhawk Creek · Dike quadrangle
9 sheets, 1954 to 1984
-
Grundy Center
Palermo township · 50638 · On Minnehaha Creek · Grundy Center quadrangle
9 sheets, 1954 to 1984
-
Reinbeck
Black Hawk township · 50669 · On Mosquito Creek · Reinbeck quadrangle
9 sheets, 1954 to 1984
The vanished settlements of Grundy County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
Provenance
- Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
- Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
- Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
- Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
- Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
- Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.