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Independence, Iowa

11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1903 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Washington Township. It lies in ZIP code area 50644. It stands on Malone Creek. The Survey maps it on the Independence quadrangle. 6,064 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 935 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Independence within Buchanan County

On record in Independence

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 12 of 14 shown

Every listing in Buchanan County

Population over time

2 figures

Independence grew from 5,966 to 6,064 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20105,966
20206,064+98 (+2%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 11 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

23 since 2006

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 23 fires within 5 miles of Independence between 2006 and 2020, burning about 197 acres in total. None started naturally. 1 was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning12
Equipment and vehicle use5
Missing data/not specified/undetermined4
Recreation and ceremony1
Arson/incendiarism1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
31 August 2020Debris and open burningunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
8 May 2020Debris and open burningunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
29 April 2018Debris and open burning30 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
28 April 2015Debris and open burning65 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
25 April 2018Debris and open burning10 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
23 April 2018Debris and open burning1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
23 April 2018Debris and open burning1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
22 April 2017Debris and open burning1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Buchanan County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 13 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 13 workings within 5 miles of Independence: 9 past producers, 4 producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Brooks QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Miller QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Sells QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Greenley PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hertzberg PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Miller Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Quality P M PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Buchanan County

Storms near this place

60 of 157 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Independence in 157 storm reports between 1996 and 2026: 86 thunderstorm wind, 42 hail, 14 flash flood, 6 flood. The reports record 3 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 2001Tornado (F1)Independence3 hurt, $1,000,000no account filed
July 2016Flash FloodIndependence$2,000,000A trained spotter reported flash flooding in Independence. The gravel road at the high school complex was washed out and the parking lot was under several inches of water.
July 2016Flash FloodIndependence$500,000A trained spotter reported small streams are out of their banks with localized flash flooding in some parts of the town. Received over 2.5 inches of rain in 40 minutes.
May 2003Flash FloodIndependence$250,000Cars abandoned on street
July 2003Thunderstorm WindIndependence$60,000no account filed
July 2009Thunderstorm WindIndependence$50,000Wind gusts estimated to be 75 mph blew a 50 foot tall grain bin over and snapped off some 5 to 8 inch diameter tree limbs about 3 miles north northeast of Independence, IA around 730 pm July 24.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindIndependence$50,000Wind gusts estimated to be 60 to 80 mph blew down several 2 to 3 foot diameter trees in Independence, IA around 745 pm July 24. One tree fell onto a house on Terrace Drive.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindIndependence$50,000Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph destroyed a barn about 5 miles northeast of Independence, IA at 822 pm July 19.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindIndependence$50,000no account filed
July 2003Thunderstorm WindIndependence$30,000Trees down
May 2003Heavy RainIndependence$25,000no account filed
July 2008Thunderstorm WindIndependence$20,000Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph damaged a storage shed, ripped the roof off a grain bin, damaged some crops, blew a 3 foot diameter tree down, and blew 5 to 6 inch diameter tree limbs down about 4 miles northeast of Independence, IA at 820 pm July 19.
June 2001Tornado (F0)Independence$20,000no account filed
July 2009HailIndependence$10,000Hail at least quarter-sized fell about 3 miles north northeast of Independence, IA around 730 pm July 24. One residence sustained hail damage to the siding.
June 2010Flash FloodIndependence$5,000Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding near Winthrop, IA during the afternoon of June 15. Flood waters flowed over State Highway 939.
August 2007Flash FloodIndependence$5,000Heavy rains fell across Buchanan County during the evening of August 19th causing some flash flooding. Flood waters covering Highway 150 in Independence, IA were about 1 foot deep. Water also flooded a few basements on the northeast side of Independence. Delayed report.
June 2004LightningIndependence$4,000Transformer struck at 414 7th Avenue NW
June 2010Thunderstorm WindIndependence$2,000A large limb from an oak tree damaged the roof of a house when the limb was blown down by severe thunderstorm wind.
April 2006HailIndependence$2,000penny to quarter size hail; sheriff office reported pea size hail in the city at the same time.
April 2006HailIndependence$2,000Spotter also reported straight line winds of unknown strength.
April 2006LightningIndependence$2,000Lightning strike at sheriff office
July 2008Thunderstorm WindIndependence$1,000Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph damaged some fences, light poles, and signs near the Wal-Mart on the north side of Independence, IA around 4:00 am July 7. Portions of some nearby corn fields were also blown down.
April 2000Thunderstorm WindIndependence$500Tree branches down, reported by storm spotter.
April 2026HailIndependence-The time was estimated from radar data.
April 2026HailIndependence-Report was received from Mping.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-Personal weather station.
July 2025Flash FloodIndependence-A public report of flash flooding in Vinton.
July 2025Flash FloodIndependence-A trained spotter reported that water was halfway up on tires on cars.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A Law Enforcement Officer reported a a few trees down in town from early AM storms. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A public report of a large tree down along with many 1 to 3 inch tree branches down.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-Mesonet station EW8796 Independence measured a 67 knot gust.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A trained spotter report that a trees was leaning 15-20 degrees from vertical.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A trained spotter reported that trees were blown down.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-The Emergency Manager reported that trees are down in town.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A trained spotter reported some significant tree branch damage, 1 to 3 inches in diameter. Also there are reports of field corn blown down.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A public report that large trees were uprooted.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A public report of the top of a 12 inch diameter pine tree was snapped at this location. A walnut tree 1 mi NNE of here also lost a large 10 inch branch. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
July 2025Flash FloodIndependence-A public report of flash flooding in Independence.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindIndependence-Widespread tree damage reported to northwest side of Independence, Iowa. Trees uprooted and blown over, roof damage to sheds, and leaning power poles. Time estimated from radar data.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A large tree down, time estimated from radar data.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A trained spotter estimated 40 to 50 MPH winds with 6 to 8 inch diameter branches down.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindIndependence-Reported on a home weather station.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindIndependence-The Emergency Manager reported trees and powerlines down across the county.The winds lasted for several minutes. .
July 2022Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A trained spotter reported a 52 knots wind gust.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A member of the public reported 6 to 8 inch tree limbs down.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A trained spotter estimated thunderstorm wind gusts of 60 to 70 MPH.
August 2021Flash FloodIndependence-Debris from water flood over many roads, including Highway 150. Ditches remain full through the morning, with lots of standing water at the fairgrounds into the late morning.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A large 8-10 inch diameter branch blown down.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindIndependence-Measured wind gust.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A large tree was blown down, along with a utility pole.
July 2020HailIndependence-The hail lasted for 2 minutes.
July 2020HailIndependence-The hail lasted for 2 minutes.
September 2020Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A measured wind gust from a storm spotter.
September 2020Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A strong wind gust was reported by broadcast media.
July 2020HailIndependence-Numerous golf ball hailstones.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A spotter estimated high winds.
June 2020FloodIndependence-A trained spotter reported that a nearby creek is out of its banks.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindIndependence-Numerous large tree branches down, and few large trees snapped off 2 to 3 feet above ground.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindIndependence-Tree limbs and utility lines blown down.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindIndependence-A spotter reported several medium size branches down.

Every storm recorded in Buchanan County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Gatesville3.5 miles11
Doris4.1 miles11
Otterville4.1 miles12
Vista6.4 miles11
Wise7.1 miles9
Rowley7.2 miles11
Bryantsburg7.4 miles12
Winthrop8.2 miles11

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on IndependenceAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q598110The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 457782. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.