Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
“The Wapsipinicon Mill is a historic industrial building located in Independence, Iowa, United States. The first mill built on this site was completed in 1854.”
Wikipedia article Wapsipinicon Mill, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 20 National Register listings published here for Buchanan County · listed in 1975 · category: Building.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 24 fires within 5 miles of Wapsipinicon Mill 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 burning | 13 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 5 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 4 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 August 2020 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 31 August 2020 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 8 May 2020 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 29 April 2018 | Debris and open burning | 30 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 28 April 2015 | Debris and open burning | 65 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 25 April 2018 | Debris and open burning | 10 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 23 April 2018 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 23 April 2018 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 13 workings within 5 miles of Wapsipinicon Mill: 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 | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Miller Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Sells Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Greenley Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Hertzberg Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Miller Sand Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Quality P M Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Independence, the town this property stands in, 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2001 | Tornado (F1) | Independence | 3 hurt, $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Flash Flood | Independence | $2,000,000 | A 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 2016 | Flash Flood | Independence | $500,000 | A 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 2003 | Flash Flood | Independence | $250,000 | Cars abandoned on street |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $60,000 | no account filed |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $50,000 | Wind 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 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $50,000 | Wind 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 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $50,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph destroyed a barn about 5 miles northeast of Independence, IA at 822 pm July 19. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $50,000 | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $30,000 | Trees down |
| May 2003 | Heavy Rain | Independence | $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $20,000 | Wind 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 2001 | Tornado (F0) | Independence | $20,000 | no account filed |
| July 2009 | Hail | Independence | $10,000 | Hail 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 2010 | Flash Flood | Independence | $5,000 | Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding near Winthrop, IA during the afternoon of June 15. Flood waters flowed over State Highway 939. |
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Independence | $5,000 | Heavy 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 2004 | Lightning | Independence | $4,000 | Transformer struck at 414 7th Avenue NW |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $2,000 | A large limb from an oak tree damaged the roof of a house when the limb was blown down by severe thunderstorm wind. |
| April 2006 | Hail | Independence | $2,000 | penny to quarter size hail; sheriff office reported pea size hail in the city at the same time. |
| April 2006 | Hail | Independence | $2,000 | Spotter also reported straight line winds of unknown strength. |
| April 2006 | Lightning | Independence | $2,000 | Lightning strike at sheriff office |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $1,000 | Wind 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 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $500 | Tree branches down, reported by storm spotter. |
| April 2026 | Hail | Independence | - | The time was estimated from radar data. |
| April 2026 | Hail | Independence | - | Report was received from Mping. |
| August 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Personal weather station. |
| July 2025 | Flash Flood | Independence | - | A public report of flash flooding in Vinton. |
| July 2025 | Flash Flood | Independence | - | A trained spotter reported that water was halfway up on tires on cars. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | 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 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A public report of a large tree down along with many 1 to 3 inch tree branches down. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Mesonet station EW8796 Independence measured a 67 knot gust. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A trained spotter report that a trees was leaning 15-20 degrees from vertical. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A trained spotter reported that trees were blown down. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | The Emergency Manager reported that trees are down in town. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | 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 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A public report that large trees were uprooted. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | 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 2025 | Flash Flood | Independence | - | A public report of flash flooding in Independence. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | 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 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A large tree down, time estimated from radar data. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A trained spotter estimated 40 to 50 MPH winds with 6 to 8 inch diameter branches down. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Reported on a home weather station. |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | The Emergency Manager reported trees and powerlines down across the county.The winds lasted for several minutes. . |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A trained spotter reported a 52 knots wind gust. |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A member of the public reported 6 to 8 inch tree limbs down. |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A trained spotter estimated thunderstorm wind gusts of 60 to 70 MPH. |
| August 2021 | Flash Flood | Independence | - | 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 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A large 8-10 inch diameter branch blown down. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Measured wind gust. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A large tree was blown down, along with a utility pole. |
| July 2020 | Hail | Independence | - | The hail lasted for 2 minutes. |
| July 2020 | Hail | Independence | - | The hail lasted for 2 minutes. |
| September 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A measured wind gust from a storm spotter. |
| September 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A strong wind gust was reported by broadcast media. |
| July 2020 | Hail | Independence | - | Numerous golf ball hailstones. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A spotter estimated high winds. |
| June 2020 | Flood | Independence | - | A trained spotter reported that a nearby creek is out of its banks. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Numerous large tree branches down, and few large trees snapped off 2 to 3 feet above ground. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Tree limbs and utility lines blown down. |
| September 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A spotter reported several medium size branches down. |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Eliphalet W. and Catherine E. Jaquish Purdy House | 0.1 miles | 1996 |
 | Munson Building | 0.2 miles | 1976 |
 | Weins Commercial Building | 0.2 miles | 1997 |
 | Fisher-Plane Commercial Building | 0.2 miles | 1997 |
 | Maas Commercial Building | 0.3 miles | 1998 |
 | Malek Theatre | 0.3 miles | 2009 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 75000678 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Buchanan County | All 20 listed properties in this county. |
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