BlockBefore

Marengo, Iowa

8 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Marengo Township. It lies in ZIP code area 52301. It stands on Big Bear Creek. The Survey maps it on the Marengo quadrangle. 2,435 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 738 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Marengo within Iowa County

On record in Marengo

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 1 record

Population over time

2 figures

Marengo fell from 2,528 to 2,435 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
20102,528
20202,435-93 (-4%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 8 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

20 since 2005

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 20 fires within 5 miles of Marengo between 2005 and 2020, burning about 1,425 acres in total. None started naturally. None 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
Missing data/not specified/undetermined14
Debris and open burning5
Smoking1

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
6 May 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined9.0 acresPort Louisa National Wildlife RefugeCAES WF
29 May 2010Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resources85 MM I-29, IOWA
9 April 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
8 April 2009Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined824 acresPort Louisa National Wildlife RefugeACE AUTO
28 April 2008Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
24 April 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acrePort Louisa National Wildlife RefugeCAES NW
20 April 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined86 acresPort Louisa National Wildlife RefugeACE AUTO 2

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Iowa County

Mines and quarries near this place

5 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 5 workings within 5 miles of Marengo: 3 past producers, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Flagstone. 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
Amana Sandstone QuarriesFlagstonePast Producer
Ghueren PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Marengo PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Marengo Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Marengo Sand Pit and PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every working recorded in Iowa County

Storms near this place

54 since 1999

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Marengo in 54 storm reports between 1999 and 2025: 17 thunderstorm wind, 15 flash flood, 15 hail, 4 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. 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
June 2007Flash FloodMarengo$750,000Eight to 12 inches of rain fell in the Marengo area, causing widespread major flash flooding throughout town. Water covered numerous roads, closing them or making them completely impassable. Some homes were surrounded by water up to 3 feet deep. The National Guard was activated to pump water from the town. Due to incredible local run-off, the Iowa River in Marengo rose from 11.4 feet to 17 feet in just 5 hours. (Flood stage is 14 feet.) The river eventually crested at 17.46 feet the morning of the 23rd. Some residents described the flooding of the town as worse than 1993, and in fact worse than had been seen for more than 40 years.
June 2009Flash FloodMarengo$250,000Heavy rains have resulted in flash flooding of several streets in Marengo, IA during the evening of June 21 and early morning hours of June 22. Flood waters were 8 to 12 inches deep.
June 2010Flash FloodMarengo$100,000Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding in Marengo, IA during the morning of June 23. Streets were full of flood water and sewers were bubbling over. In addition, major street flooding with water 12 to 14 inches deep was observed about 4 miles north of Marengo. A trained spotter also contributed to this report.
June 2009Flash FloodMarengo$50,000Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding of one lane of Highway 6 in Marengo, IA during the late afternoon and early evening of June 19.
June 2011LightningMarengo$15,000Lightning struck a tree which then fell onto a car in Marengo, IA at 130 am CDT June 21. This report was relayed by KCRG-TV.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindMarengo$15,000Trees & limbs down; roof partially off a business
May 2017Thunderstorm WindMarengo$10,000The county emergency manager reported power poles and trees were snapped from Ladora to Marengo. Some of these trees fell on houses and other buildings.
June 2007Flash FloodMarengo$10,000A hog farm north of Marengo suffered a severe flash flood. The flood waters washed away and destroyed a hog building with about 100 hogs inside it. Over the next few days, all but 7 of the hogs were recovered alive. Residents described wading into chest-high water in an attempt to save the animals before they were swept away.
June 2007Flash FloodMarengo$10,000A hog farm north of Marengo suffered a severe flash flood. The flood waters washed away and destroyed a hog building with about 100 hogs inside it. Over the next few days, all but 7 of the hogs were recovered alive. Residents described wading into chest-high water in an attempt to save the animals before they were swept away.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindMarengo$8,000Semi blown over with power out.
April 2006HailMarengo$5,000no account filed
March 2025Thunderstorm WindMarengo-Measured by wind equipement.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindMarengo-Estimated 60 mph winds from thunderstorm.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindMarengo-Estimated winds of 60 mph and higher.
May 2018HailMarengo-A trained spotter reported hail estimated to be size of between nickels and up to quarters in size. This was a delayed report.
September 2018FloodMarengo-Episodes of heavy rainfall of about 5 to 15 inches in a 10 day period in much of northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin caused the Iowa River to rise above major flood stage at Marengo. The extended duration between the forecast and actual lower end major river flooding occurrence allowed preparations to preclude major damage downstream. Marengo rose above major flood stage of 18.5 feet at 345 PM CST on 5 September. Then crested around 19.14 feet at 630 feet at 630 AM CST on 6 September and then fell below 18.5 feet at approximately 715 AM CST on 7 September.
September 2018Flash FloodMarengo-A stream gage on Big Bear Creek (LADI4) south of Ladora rose above flood stage at 430 AM and continues to rise rapidly.
October 2018FloodMarengo-The Iowa River at Margeno rose above the major flood stage of 18.5 feet during the early morning hours of the 10th and fell back below the major flood stage during the evening of the 11th. The river crested at 18.8 feet around 230 PM on the 10th.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindMarengo-A trained spotter reported a large tree was down. This report was relayed from Des Moines Weather Forecast Office.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindMarengo-Measurement was relayed from a trained spotter.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindMarengo-Wind gusts were estimated to be 60 to 65 mph on the gust front of the storm, and this downed multiple trees in town. One tree fell onto power lines causing the pole to snap. Time estimated from radar data.
August 2016Flash FloodMarengo-A trained spotter reported that water was 16 inches deep on roads in town. There was water that was 18 inches deep blocking a road 1.5 miles north of town.
June 2015Flash FloodMarengo-Spotters observed flash flooding in Marengo, with water over 12 inches deep flowing over the road in two locations where creeks intersect the road. A spotter, located 4 miles north of Marengo, reported 4.3 inches of rain through 1140 pm.
November 2015Thunderstorm WindMarengo-A NWS storm survey team reported a roof was ripped off a metal building and a grain leg from a grain bin was ripped off.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindMarengo-A trained spotter reported 60 mph brought limbs down.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindMarengo-A trained spotter estimated winds of 60 to 70 mph.
April 2014Thunderstorm WindMarengo-A trained spotter estimated winds gusts to be 60 to 70 mph with small branches coming down.
May 2013Flash FloodMarengo-Flooding was reported over Highway 6 through Marengo and just to the east.
June 2013HailMarengo-A trained spotter reported pea to penny sized hail.
June 2013FloodMarengo-Heavy rain that fell late in May caused the Iowa River at Marengo to be above major flood stage of 18.5 feet to start the month. The river did not fall below major flood stage at Marengo until the early morning hours on the 4th.
May 2013FloodMarengo-Heavy rains across the region during the last week of May led to a rapid rise on the Iowa River near Marengo. The river rose to and above major flood stage of 18.5 feet during midday on the 27th and then fell below major flood stage to 18.23 feet in the early morning hours on the 28th. Later that evening the river rose back above major flood stage and stayed that way through the end of the month.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindMarengo-Wind gusts estimated to be 90 mph were observed at the Iowa County Sheriff Office in Marengo, IA at 516 pm CDT June 29.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindMarengo-Emergency Manager reported multiple trees down in town.
April 2011HailMarengo-Quarter sized hail fell 1 mile south of Marengo, IA at 617 pm CDT April 3.
June 2009HailMarengo-Quarter-sized hail fell in Marengo, IA around 800 pm June 21.
April 2008Heavy RainMarengo-Rainfall of 2.50 inches flooded farm fields.
April 2008Flash FloodMarengo-Heavy rain flooded farm fields south of Marengo, and streams were running bankfull. A spotter measured rainfall of 2.50 inches.
March 2008HailMarengo-A trained spotter reported nickel size hail 2 miles north of Marengo.
March 2007Thunderstorm WindMarengo-Spotter reported estimated 50 to 60 mph gusts.
March 2007HailMarengo-A spotter reported hail the size of nickels.
June 2007Flash FloodMarengo-Street flooding was reported in Marengo.
June 2006HailMarengo-pea to penny size hail with heavy rain.
August 2004Heavy RainMarengo-3 to 4 inches of rain from Marengo to Amana
October 2004HailMarengo-Cherry sized hail reported by Co-op
May 2001HailMarengo-Quarter sized hail reported by law enforcement.
June 1999Flash FloodMarengo-Slow moving thunderstorms brought torrential rains of 4 to 5 inches. Numerous roads were covered in standing water over a foot deep. Several cars were washed off roads.
June 1999Flash FloodMarengo-Several roads were covered in standing water.
June 1999Flash FloodMarengo-Slow moving thunderstorms dumped over 2 inches of rain. Several streets were covered in standing water of around a foot. Two cars were washed into a ditch by the flood waters.
May 2023HailMarengo-no account filed
May 2023HailMarengo-no account filed
May 2023HailMarengo-no account filed
June 2018HailMarengo-no account filed
May 2017Thunderstorm WindMarengo-no account filed
April 2011HailMarengo-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Iowa 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
South Amana5.7 miles13
West Amana5.7 miles13
Upper South Amana5.9 miles13
Conroy6.1 miles12
Ladora6.7 miles8
High Amana7.0 miles13
Dayton7.1 miles8
Koszta7.4 miles8

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 MarengoAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q1904351The 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 458801. 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.