Urbana, Iowa
14 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1888 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Polk Township. It lies in ZIP code area 52345. The Survey maps it on the Center Point quadrangle. 1,554 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 938 feet above sea level.
Population over time
2 figuresUrbana grew from 1,458 to 1,554 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 | 1,458 | |
| 2020 | 1,554 | +96 (+7%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
10 surveys from 14 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.
- 1888 USGS Shellsburg quadrangle1:62500
- 1889 USGS Shellsburg quadrangle1:62500
- 1899 USGS Shellsburg quadrangle1:62500
- 1903 USGS Winthrop quadrangle1:125000, 2 printings
- 1959 USGS Dubuque quadrangle1:250000
- 1961 USGS Dubuque quadrangle1:250000
- 1962 USGS Dubuque quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1968 USGS Center Point quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1976 USGS Dubuque quadrangle1:250000
- 1984 USGS Anamosa quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
26 since 2006Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 26 fires within 5 miles of Urbana between 2006 and 2018, burning about 146 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 | 17 |
| Debris and open burning | 8 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May 2013 | Equipment and vehicle use | 2.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 9 April 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 8.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 9 April 2007 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 9 April 2007 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 6 April 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 2915 55TH ST. URBANA, IA 52345, IA |
| 5 April 2015 | Debris and open burning | 20 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 5 April 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 2815 BING MILLER LANE URBANA, IA 52345, IA |
| 30 April 2015 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | 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 Urbana: 2 producers, 2 past producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweeting Quarry | Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Pork Chop Hill Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
45 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Urbana in 45 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 21 hail, 19 thunderstorm wind, 2 heavy rain, 1 funnel cloud. 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2003 | Hail | Urbana | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | $500,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be 80 mph ripped the roof off of the Urbana Elementary School in Urbana, IA around 510 am CDT July 11. Several other businesses were also damaged in the Becca Industrial Park, including Buresh Arch Millwork, Borlaug Systems, and PalTech Enterprises. |
| April 2003 | Hail | Urbana | $400,000 | no account filed |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | $250,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be 75 mph blew down several large trees and highway signs in Urbana, IA around 750 am June 19. Shingles were also peeled off of houses and the signs at a gas station and a bank were blown out. |
| April 2003 | Hail | Urbana | $100,000 | no account filed |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | $50,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph blew a camping trailer into a house in Urbana, IA around 730 am June 19. A semi trailer was also blown over in town. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | $50,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph damaged several Iowa DOT buildings near the intersection of Interstate 380 and Highway 150 just northwest of Urbana, IA at 2:02 am June 6. The roof was blown off of a salt shed, a pole building was partially destroyed, a wood shed was destroyed, a steel building was seriously damaged, and a brick garage was damaged. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | $50,000 | no account filed |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | $20,000 | Winds estimated to be 70 mph blew down some trees on top of a few houses and vehicles. One house had a hole in its roof from a fallen tree. In addition, a six foot wooden fence was blown down. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | $5,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew down some interstate signs near the Sunset Street exit on Interstate 380 near Urbana, IA around 514 am CDT July 11. In addition, several 4 inch diameter trees were snapped off. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | $5,000 | Winds estimated to be 60 mph blew down numerous trees, blew shingles off roofs, and blew newer fences down. Visibility was reduced to zero miles due to very heavy rain. | |
| April 1994 | Hail | Urbana | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 2025 | Hail | Urbana | - | A trained spotter reported dime to nickel size hail occurring right now. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | The Emergency Manager reported half of a maple tree down in the city. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | A couple tree branches blown down in Urbana. The time was based on radar data. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Urbana | - | Benton County EMA relayed a report of one inch hail from the Urbana Fire Department. |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | The Emergency Manager for Benton County relayed a report of trees down at Wildcat Bluff State Park. This was likely caused by thunderstorm outflow winds. |
| June 2021 | Hail | Urbana | - | Extensive crop damage reported with wind driven large hail. This destroyed young June corn, flattening and pulverizing the crops near Urbana, Iowa. |
| June 2017 | Hail | Urbana | - | The report was relayed from law enforcement. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Urbana | - | A trained spotter reported water flowing over Richland Avenue and nearby driveways. |
| May 2014 | Hail | Urbana | - | Quarter sized hail fell in Urbana, IA around 436 pm CDT May 20. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | The emergency manager reported 2 trees down in Benton City Park in Urbana. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | The Emergency Manager reported winds of 60 to 65 mph winds with damage to small trees and limbs were down. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | A trained spotter estimated wind speeds of 50 to 60 mph. |
| May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | The Emergency Manager reported a large tree blown over near the intersection of 51st Street and 32nd Avenue, roof blow off of a barn, and 1 grain bin was blown out. Time of the event was estimated from radar. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | Wind gusts were estimated to be 65 mph in Urbana, IA around 458 pm June 23. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph uprooted some trees and blew down some branches in Urbana, IA around 738 am June 19. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Urbana | - | Quarter-sized hail fell in Urbana, IA at 6:46 pm June 12. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Urbana | - | Quarter-sized hail fell in Urbana, IA at 6:45 pm June 12. This report was from an off-duty meteorologist. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | Winds estimated to be 65 mph blew down some trees and damaged some signs. |
| July 2005 | Heavy Rain | Urbana | - | 2.95 inches of rain in just over 30 minutes with street flooding. |
| May 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Urbana | - | Also observed by spotters in Buchanan County south of Independence. |
| May 2003 | Hail | Urbana | - | Duration 3-4 minutes |
| November 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbana | - | Several large tree limbs were blown down. |
| April 2026 | Hail | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| April 2023 | Hail | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| August 2022 | Hail | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| June 2017 | Hail | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| June 2015 | Hail | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| June 2015 | Hail | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| May 2014 | Hail | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| June 2011 | Hail | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| August 2011 | Heavy Rain | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Funnel Cloud | Urbana | - | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Hail | Urbana | - | 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.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manatheka (historical) | 0.3 miles | 14 | |
| Cheney | 3.5 miles | 10 | |
| Spencers Grove | 4.2 miles | 11 | |
| Benton City (historical) | 5.5 miles | 13 | |
| Vinton | 8.8 miles | 9 | |
| Shellsburg | 9.0 miles | 16 | |
| Eden | 9.4 miles | 13 | |
| Mount Auburn | 11.8 miles | 10 |
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 Urbana | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q774504 | 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 462503. 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.









