BlockFrom the record
4 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Winnebago County, Iowa
15 topographic sheets cover 11 settlements here, and 4 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 78 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 4 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings.
- 1 of the 4 listings was added during the 1970s.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 11 populated places in this county; 11 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
4Every 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City Public Library | building | 84001609 | ||
| Round Barn, Norway Township | building | 1987 | 87000507 | |
 | Charles J. Thompson House | building | 1978 | 78001271 |
 | Winnebago County Courthouse | building | 1981 | 81000275 |
Wildfire, 2006 to 2020
23 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 23 of them, burning about 145 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 | 15 |
| Debris and open burning | 7 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 October 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 50 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 1 October 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 30 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 30 October 2008 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 13 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 13 April 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 4 April 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 22 March 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 29 September 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | SOUTH OF 1409 470TH ST., IA |
| 29 September 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 5.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 60TH AND 360TH ST. BUFFALO CENTER, IA |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
Storms, 1961 to 2025
60 of 317 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 317 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 6 injuries and about $13,710,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 117 |
| Hail | 105 |
| Heavy Rain | 38 |
| Tornado | 24 |
| Funnel Cloud | 13 |
| Flash Flood | 12 |
| Lightning | 5 |
| Flood | 3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1984 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 5 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| June 1984 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 1984 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| September 1980 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Hail | Forest City | $1,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Tornado (EF1) | Thompson | $250,000 | Rain wrapped tornado. Tornado hit hog confinement building and destroyed it. A barn was also damaged. |
| August 1990 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 1987 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 1982 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1967 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thompson | $200,000 | Law enforcement reported a farmstead with 4 grain bins destroyed. Roof missing off shed and half of the structure destroyed. |
| September 2000 | Lightning | Lake Mills | $150,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lake Mills | $150,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flash Flood | Scarville | $150,000 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Leland | $100,000 | Several power lines and trees down throughout town. Leland without electricity. |
| June 2002 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $100,000 | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lake Mills | $100,000 | no account filed |
| August 1999 | Tornado (F2) | Scarville | $100,000 | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Forest City | $75,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flash Flood | Forest City | $75,000 | no account filed |
| December 2021 | Tornado (EF1) | Vinje | $50,000 | Tornado touched down on the east edge of the Harmon Lake State Game Management Area and raced northward. A couple of farmsteads were impacted producing EF1 damage. This tornado crossed into Faribault County in Minnesota before dissipating. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Forest City | $50,000 | Emergency Manager reported trees downed and uprooted along with a camper destroyed by a fallen tree. Time radar estimated. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Forest City | $50,000 | High winds cause tree damage and damage to houses. |
| April 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Scarville | $50,000 | As the evening progressed, the low mentioned above progressed northeast. The dry slot raced northeast into the central United States resulting in another round of thunderstorm development. Intense thunderstorms developed over eastern portions of Kansas and Nebraska, then moved north-northeast into southwest and central Iowa. The storms produced high winds and hail up to an inch in diameter. Winds estimated in excess of 65 mph blew through Council Bluffs. Power lines were downed in the city, causing minor fires. Winds caused damage as they moved into southwest Iowa. Winds gusted to 60 to 75 mph with the stronger storms. High winds overturned a tractor-semitrailer in Interstate 80 south of Adair. Outbuildings were blown down over Union, Cass, Taylor, and Page Counties. A grain bin was blown over east of Dallas Center. Damage was reported in Madison County in the town of Winterset. At least one garage roof was removed by the winds and a utility pole was blown over. During the late evening, the dry punch overtook the storms and they weakened rapidly. High winds from the decaying storms caused damage in north-central Iowa east of Scarville. Two grain bins, a barn, and several trees were downed on a farmstead there. In Cerro Gordo County, lightning struck a barn near Meservey. The barn was set on fire and was totally lost. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lake Mills | $50,000 | no account filed |
| September 2004 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $50,000 | no account filed |
| August 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Scarville | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Forest City | $50,000 | no account filed |
| April 1994 | Hail | Scarville | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Buffalo Center | $40,000 | Multiple trees were downed, a shed destroyed, garage damaged, and a tree was against a home. |
| April 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Scarville | $40,000 | no account filed |
| April 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Scarville | $40,000 | no account filed |
| August 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Buffalo Center | $40,000 | no account filed |
| July 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Scarville | $35,000 | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lake Mills | $30,000 | Trained spotter reported tree damage in town, including a very large tree uprooted. A few trees were reported on vehicles too. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Buffalo Center | $30,000 | High winds snapped the top off of a power pole. |
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Scarville | $30,000 | Streets were closed due to flooding at the intersection of south 10th and North Mills at the 100 block. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thompson | $30,000 | no account filed |
| August 1997 | Lightning | Forest City | $30,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Hail | Forest City | $30,000 | no account filed |
| August 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rake | $30,000 | no account filed |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Forest City | $25,000 | County dispatch reported multiple broken windows, power lines down, and trees downed in town. Time estimated from radar and this is a delayed report. |
| August 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lake Mills | $25,000 | KIMT TV reported damages to cars, a house, and to trees by high winds from a thunderstorm. |
| July 2013 | Flash Flood | Scarville | $25,000 | A sink hole developed near the intersection of 480th and 160th due to heavy rain. |
| June 2013 | Flash Flood | Neils | $25,000 | Flash flooding was reported with a portion of 380th St. washed out. |
| July 2013 | Flood | Leland | $25,000 | A sink hole developed near 190th and 420th due to heavy rain. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thompson | $25,000 | Numerous trees down from Thompson to Lake Mills to Scarville. |
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Forest City | $25,000 | no account filed |
| October 2006 | Hail | Scarville | $25,000 | no account filed |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Leland | $25,000 | no account filed |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thompson | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Forest City | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Forest City | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1982 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1962 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| August 1961 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2018 | Hail | Leland | $20,000 | Trained spotter reported up to 2.5 inch diameter hail. |
| June 2018 | Hail | Leland | $20,000 | Public reported up to 2 inch diameter hail. |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rake | $20,000 | County dispatch reported trees and power lines down. This is a delayed report and times is estimated from radar. |
Mines and quarries
25 recordedThe Survey's mineral resources record lists 25 workings inside this county. 3 still produce and 22 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Hanna Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Laharv Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Leland Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Otis Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Township Park | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Ulveness Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| 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 | Unknown | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Every populated place in the county
11Named 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.
-
Amund
Eden township · 50478 · Buffalo Center NE quadrangle
7 sheets, 1954 to 1985
No longer a settlement
-
Forest City
Forest township · 50436 · On Buffalo Creek · Forest City quadrangle
7 sheets, 1954 to 1985
-
Ratna
Mount Valley township · 50436 · Pilot Knob quadrangle
8 sheets, 1954 to 1985
No longer a settlement
The vanished settlements of Winnebago 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.