Oelwein, Iowa
12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1901 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Jefferson Township. It lies in ZIP code area 50662. The Survey maps it on the Oelwein quadrangle. 5,920 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,047 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Oelwein
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 4 records
Alfred Hanson Houselisted 1984
Hotel Mealeylisted 1983- Otter Creek Bridgelisted 1998
- Stoe Creek Bridgelisted 1998
Population over time
2 figuresOelwein fell from 6,415 to 5,920 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.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 6,415 | |
| 2020 | 5,920 | -495 (-8%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
7 surveys from 12 printed sheetsMatched 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.
- 1901 USGS Oelwein quadrangle1:125000, 4 printings
- 1959 USGS Dubuque quadrangle1:250000
- 1961 USGS Dubuque quadrangle1:250000
- 1962 USGS Dubuque quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1976 USGS Dubuque quadrangle1:250000
- 1981 USGS Oelwein quadrangle1:24000
- 1984 USGS Oelwein quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
19 since 2007Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 19 fires within 5 miles of Oelwein between 2007 and 2017, burning about 305 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/undetermined | 11 |
| Debris and open burning | 4 |
| Smoking | 3 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 September 2007 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 6 June 2017 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 May 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 25 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 6570 M AVE, IA |
| 19 May 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 9 April 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 6 April 2015 | Debris and open burning | 50 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 April 2015 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 22 April 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
4 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 4 workings within 5 miles of Oelwein: 2 past producers, 2 producers. 2 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 | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Hazleton Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Mishler Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Oelwein Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer |
Storms near this place
59 since 1996Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Oelwein in 59 storm reports between 1996 and 2025: 26 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 6 flood, 6 heavy rain. 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | 1 hurt, $50,000 | An estimated 60 mph wind gust in Oelwein snapped or uprooted numerous trees. One person sustained injuries when they became trapped under the branches of a fallen tree. A building partially collapsed briefly trapping one person. |
| June 2013 | Flash Flood | Oelwein | $704,000 | Several roads were closed northwest of Oelwein as locally heavy rain produced some flash flooding. Almost two inches of rain fell in about an hour. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $100,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Oelwein. The hardest hit area was on the northern side of town. Corn was also flattened in fields just northwest of town. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $55,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $40,000 | no account filed |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $30,000 | Multiple trees were blown down across Oelwein. At least one home sustained roof damage from a fallen tree. The locally heavy rain also caused some minor street flooding. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $30,000 | no account filed |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $25,000 | A farm shed was blown down, a grain bin was twisted and torn, windows were broken and machines were damaged on a farm east of Oelwein. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $20,000 | Several trees were blown down in Oelwein. Some large tree branches landed on houses but only caused minor structural damage. |
| September 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $20,000 | The roof was blown off of a grain elevator. Numerous trees were also blown down, some of which blocked city streets. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $15,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $12,000 | no account filed |
| March 2007 | Tornado (EF0) | Oelwein | $10,000 | A tornado touched down briefly on a farm near Oelwein, destroying a 100 year old barn. A garage, machine shed, windmill and a few trees were damaged. No injuries were reported, although upstairs windows in the farm house were blown out. |
| July 2009 | Flash Flood | Oelwein | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 2009 | Hail | Oelwein | $7,000 | This report was relayed from KWWL television station. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $7,000 | The cooperative weather observer reported several power lines down on the south side of Oelwein and a marquee sign at Oelwein vet clinic blown down. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $5,000 | Numerous power lines and tree branches were blown down in Oelwein, especially on the northeast side of town. |
| July 2010 | Flood | Oelwein | $5,000 | Flood waters from heavy rain caused State Highways 150 and 281 to be closed on the south side of the city of Oelwein. Several other reports of city streets flooded as well as water in basements were also received. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2000 | Hail | Oelwein | $5,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Oelwein | $3,500 | no account filed |
| July 2009 | Hail | Oelwein | $2,500 | no account filed |
| July 2010 | Lightning | Oelwein | $2,000 | Lightning struck a house chimney blowing bricks into the street. No fire occurred from the lightning strike. |
| May 2000 | Hail | Oelwein | $2,000 | no account filed |
| September 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $1,000 | Tree limbs were blown down across a road in Oelwein. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $1,000 | A one foot diameter tree was knocked down. There was flooding on First Avenue as well. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | $1,000 | no account filed |
| June 2025 | Hail | Oelwein | - | A trained spotter reported dime to quarter sized hail. The hail was covering the ground and accompanied with strong winds. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | - | A trained spotter reported several tree branches down across southern portions of Oelwein. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | - | A trained spotter reported a few large tree limbs down in Oelwein. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | - | Emergency management estimated a 70 mph wind gust 2 miles south of Oelwein. |
| July 2023 | Hail | Oelwein | - | Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail near Oelwein. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | - | Trained spotter reported 1 tree down and 1 large branch down in Oelwein. |
| August 2022 | Hail | Oelwein | - | Quarter sized hail was reported in Oelwein. |
| September 2020 | Hail | Oelwein | - | Quarter sized hail fell in Oelwein. |
| June 2020 | Heavy Rain | Oelwein | - | Just east of the Oelwein area, 5.25 inches of rain was observed. |
| May 2018 | Hail | Oelwein | - | Up to quarter sized hail fell in Oelwein. |
| March 2017 | Hail | Oelwein | - | Quarter sized hail fell just west of Oelwein. |
| March 2017 | Hail | Oelwein | - | Golf ball sized hail fell in Oelwein. |
| September 2016 | Heavy Rain | Oelwein | - | The COOP observer in Oelwein measured 4.47 inches of rain. |
| December 2015 | Heavy Rain | Oelwein | - | A storm spotter reported 3.89 inches of rain fell. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | - | A wind gust of 60 mph was estimated in Oelwein. |
| June 2014 | Flood | Oelwein | - | In Oelwein, 2.5 inches of rain fell in 35 minutes causing some street flooding to occur. |
| August 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | - | The automated weather observing equipment at the Oelwein airport measured a wind gust of 61 mph. |
| April 2013 | Heavy Rain | Oelwein | - | Almost 2.25 inches of rain fell just west of Oelwein. |
| July 2012 | Heavy Rain | Oelwein | - | In about 45 minutes, two inches of rain fell in Oelwein which produced some minor ponding of water on some city streets. |
| April 2010 | Hail | Oelwein | - | This storm also produced quarter sized hail on the southwest side of Oelwein. |
| April 2010 | Flood | Oelwein | - | A trained spotter in Oelwein reported a small local creek was out of its banks where it flows through the Oelwein city park. In other parts of the city, a lot of running water occurred with full drainage ditches and standing water was reported in yards, especially on the south side of the city. |
| July 2010 | Heavy Rain | Oelwein | - | The COOP observer 1 mile east of Oelwein measured 10.15 inches of rain in the 24 hour period ending at 6 a.m. CST July 23rd. |
| July 2010 | Flood | Oelwein | - | Nearly ten inches of rain (9.93 inches) in Oelwein caused Dry Run Creek to go out of its banks. |
| July 2010 | Flood | Oelwein | - | Water from heavy rain was about a foot deep at the intersection of 10th Ave SE and Frederick in the city of Oelwein. A total of 6.23 inches of rain fell in the previous 24 hours. |
| July 2010 | Flood | Oelwein | - | Amateur radio operators reported 5 to 6 inches of water over State Highways 3 and 150 in the city of Oelwein. Also, about 9 miles east of Oelwein, water covered State Highway 3 at the intersection with County Road W45. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | - | Fire department personnel reported wind damage to a house on the northeast side of Oelwein. |
| May 2004 | Hail | Oelwein | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oelwein | - | no account filed |
| May 2000 | Hail | Oelwein | - | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Hail | Oelwein | - | no account filed |
| June 1996 | Tornado (F0) | Oelwein | - | no account filed |
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.
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 Oelwein | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1903323 | The 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 459805. 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.






