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Monticello, Iowa

15 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1891 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Lovell Township. It lies in ZIP code area 52310. It stands on Kitty Creek. The Survey maps it on the Monticello quadrangle. 4,040 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 823 feet above sea level.

Monticello within Jones County

On record in Monticello

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 5 records

Population over time

12 figures

Monticello grew from 1,337 to 4,040 between 1870 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
18701,337
18801,877+540 (+40%)
18901,938+61 (+3%)
19002,104+166 (+9%)
19102,043-61 (-3%)
19202,257+214 (+10%)
19302,259+2 (+0%)
19402,546+287 (+13%)
19502,888+342 (+13%)
19603,190+302 (+10%)
20103,796
20204,040+244 (+6%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

9 surveys from 15 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

10 since 2008

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 10 fires within 5 miles of Monticello between 2008 and 2013, burning about 27 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
Debris and open burning6
Missing data/not specified/undetermined3
Equipment and vehicle use1

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
23 July 2012Debris and open burningunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
17 July 2012Debris and open burning20 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
29 April 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
17 April 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resources14221 RICHLAND RD., MONTICELLO, IOWA
17 March 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resources15688 ROCK RD., MONTICELLO, IOWA
16 March 2012Debris and open burning1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
13 March 2012Debris and open burning1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 November 2013Debris and open burning1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Jones County

Mines and quarries near this place

7 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 7 workings within 5 miles of Monticello: 4 past producers, 3 producers. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction. 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
Clement Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Monticello PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Behrends QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Lang QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Matternach QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
UnknownStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnknownStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every working recorded in Jones County

Storms near this place

60 of 81 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Monticello in 81 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 48 thunderstorm wind, 17 hail, 7 flash flood, 4 tornado. The reports record 1 injury. 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
July 1995Thunderstorm WindMonticello1 hurt, $240,000no account filed
July 2010FloodMonticello$15,000,000Along the Maquoketa River, about 50 homes and 20 businesses in Monticello were flooded due to record flooding. A printing company was flooded for the second time in 11 months, this time even worse than the last. Even with advance preparations, the company sustained losses estimated at $850,000. Similarly, a building company sustained $200,000 after 4 feet of water inundated their facilities. The local paper reported that the CEO of the company knew there was a possibility of flooding, but not 4 feet of water.||The county fairgrounds were also heavily impacted by the floods, putting a damper on the ongoing fair events that typically see more than 250,000 visitors. East of Monticello, the historic Corbett's Mill bridge washed away in the record flood and still had not been found several days after the river crested. ||Although the Lake Delhi dam failure was upstream of Monticello (and other flooded Jones County communities), the bulk of the flood damage can be attributed to the record flooding of the river itself rather than the dam failure because of the relatively slow progression of the breach and the timing of the flood crest.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindMonticello$1,500,000no account filed
July 2016Flash FloodMonticello$1,000,000The emergency manager reported water up to 1.5 feet in depth on the outdoor track at the fairgrounds.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindMonticello$1,000,000Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph destroyed the JumboTron and sound system at the Jones County Fair in Monticello, IA at 1000 pm CDT July 22. In addition, some vendor tents were blown down and an awning on the Jones County Mobile EM Unit was destroyed.
August 2009Flash FloodMonticello$500,000Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across parts of Jones County on August 27. Some areas particularly hard hit were Anamosa, Monticello, and Center Junction. Several roads were closed due to the flood waters. Highway 151 was closed between Anamosa and Monticello due to flooding of Kitty Creek. Buffalo Creek flooded out of its banks flooding low lying areas. Bear Creek flooded 140th Avenue and Madison Road near Center Junction. The flood waters were 1.5 feet deep.
April 2013Flash FloodMonticello$250,000Several rounds of heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of Jones County from the evening of April 17 through the early morning of April 18.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindMonticello$50,000Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph blew down a tree onto a house in Monticello, IA at 950 pm CDT July 22. Power lines and branches were also blown down across much of the town.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindMonticello$50,000Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph snapped some large trees off at the base in a mobile home park about 1 mile north of Monticello, IA around 155 pm CDT September 21. Some of the trees fell onto some cars.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindMonticello$50,0002 to 3 inch limbs down
July 2003HailMonticello$50,000no account filed
June 2009Thunderstorm WindMonticello$25,000Wind gusts estimated to be 75 mph snapped a power pole in half about 2 miles north of Monticello, IA around 800 am June 19. In addition, numerous area trees were damaged and several tree limbs were blown down.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindMonticello$25,000Numerous trees down with one on a mobile home that temporarily trapped a woman inside. The woman was not injured.
April 2008Thunderstorm WindMonticello$15,000Winds estimated to be 60 mph blew a power pole over slightly and downed some power lines. Time estimated.
July 2003HailMonticello$10,000no account filed
September 2010Thunderstorm WindMonticello$5,000Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph blew a power pole and large tree down in Monticello, IA around 155 pm CDT September 21.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindMonticello$5,000no account filed
July 1994Thunderstorm WindMonticello$5,000no account filed
April 2010Thunderstorm WindMonticello$2,000Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph caused a horse trailer to flip over on Highway 38 near Sam Springs or about 5 miles southeast of Hopkinton, IA around 1027 pm April 5.
July 1995Tornado (F0)Monticello$2,000no account filed
July 2006Thunderstorm WindMonticello$1,500large section of a tree down at the corner of Maple & Second streets.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindMonticello$1,000no account filed
May 2014HailMonticello$500Golf ball sized hail fell in Monticello, IA at 532 pm CDT May 20. The hail broke the windshield of a squad car.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Widespread tree damage in town that extended northward along Highway 38 to near Sand Springs in Delaware County.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindMonticello-A public report of larger than 3 inch diameter tree branches down by thunderstorm winds.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Several trees and large branches downed by the wind.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Several trees downed throughout town.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Corn field flattened by thunderstorm winds.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Widespread wind damage over the county, with trees blown down and a roof off a shed in Olin.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Broadcast Media reported that a large tree branch was snapped. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
August 2017Thunderstorm WindMonticello-The emergency manager reported a tree down in the center of town. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindMonticello-An AWOS measured a wind gust of 55 kts.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindMonticello-This measurement was at the Monticello AWOS site.
June 2017Tornado (EF2)Monticello-A narrow EF2 tornado with winds estimated at 120 mph touched down in a field about 4 miles north of Monticello and tracked east northeast from Jones County crossing into Delaware County. The tornado struck neighboring farmsteads at the junction of 148th Ave. and Jones-Delaware County Road. Two grain bins and seven outbuildings were destroyed. Two garages had the doors blown in and five wooden power poles were snapped, including three larger transmission lines. The most unusual damage was an 18 foot missile that was formed from four sections of a grain bin roof that were folded into a narrow cone shape and propelled into the garage attic over 100 yards away. This EF2 tornado began in Jones County, and moved into Delaware County.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindMonticello-A public report of several tree limbs over 3 inches in diameter down within town. Also, one large tree was also down north of town on Highway 38. This report was relayed by KCRG.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Local emergency management reported a large tree blown down in the city of Monticello.
May 2014HailMonticello-Quarter sized hail fell about 2 miles west of Monticello, IA around 633 pm CDT May 20.
May 2014HailMonticello-Ping pong ball sized hail fell about 1 mile north northwest of Monticello, IA around 635 pm CDT May 20.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Emergency manager reported two trees down in Monticello.
June 2013Flash FloodMonticello-A car was stranded on County Road B62 at Silver Creek due to flash flooding. The only rainfall report was 1.20 inches in Wyoming.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph blew down some tree limbs and partially blew down an entire tree in Monticello, IA at 950 pm CDT July 22.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph were observed at the fairgrounds in Monticello, IA at 950 pm CDT July 22.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Wind gusts estimated to be up to 60 mph were observed at the Jones County Fairgrounds in Monticello, IA between 1000 pm and 1015 pm CDT July 22.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph were observed in Monticello, IA at 154 pm CDT September 21.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph blew down several 2 inch diameter tree branches in Monticello, IA at 154 pm CDT September 21.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph blew a tree down in Monticello, IA around 405 am June 23.
June 2010Flash FloodMonticello-Water flooded streets in town.
June 2008Flash FloodMonticello-Heavy rains resulted in the flash flooding of Kitty Creek in Monticello, IA during the evening of June 8. Some roads were closed until the flood waters receded.
June 2008HailMonticello-Quarter-sized hail fell in Monticello, IA at 3:26 pm June 12.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph were observed in Monticello, IA at 455 pm August 4.
July 2008HailMonticello-Penny-sized hail fell in Monticello, IA at 630 pm July 10.
July 2008HailMonticello-Two inch diameter hail fell in Monticello, IA at 637 pm July 10.
July 2008HailMonticello-Two inch diameter hail fell just west of Monticello, IA at 642 pm July 10.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Wind gusts estimated to be 60 to 70 mph were observed 6 miles southeast of Monticello, IA at 110 pm July 10. This report was relayed by Jones County Emergency Management.
July 2008HailMonticello-Quarter-sized hail fell just north of Monticello, IA at 642 pm July 10.
July 2008Tornado (EF0)Monticello-A brief tornado was photographed near Monticello. No damage was reported.
January 2008HailMonticello-Law enforcement reported dime to nickel size hail near Monticello, which lasted for 4 minutes.
July 2006Heavy RainMonticello-water ponding on parking lots & low lying areas.
May 2004Tornado (F0)Monticello-Rated F0
April 2002Thunderstorm WindMonticello-Trees and power lines blown down along County Road D62.

Every storm recorded in Jones 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
East Monticello1.1 miles15
Junction Switch2.8 miles12
Langworthy3.8 miles15
Springhole4.9 miles15
Downers Grove (historical)5.0 miles14
Scotch Grove6.2 miles15
Dales Ford6.6 miles15
Castle Grove (historical)7.0 miles12

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 MonticelloAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q1928200The 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 459195. 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.