Waterloo, Illinois
19 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1910 and the latest in 1991. It stands in Precinct 31. It lies in ZIP code area 62298. The Survey maps it on the Waterloo quadrangle. 11,013 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 719 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Waterloo
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 3 records
Fountain Creek Bridgelisted 1978
Peterstown Houselisted 1977
Waterloo Historic Districtlisted 1978
Population over time
2 figuresWaterloo grew from 9,811 to 11,013 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 | 9,811 | |
| 2020 | 11,013 | +1,202 (+12%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
11 surveys from 19 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.
- 1910 USGS Waterloo quadrangle1:62500
- 1913 USGS Waterloo quadrangle1:62500, 3 printings
- 1949 USGS Saint Louis quadrangle1:250000
- 1949 USGS St. Louis quadrangle1:250000
- 1954 USGS Waterloo quadrangle1:24000, 4 printings
- 1955 USGS Waterloo quadrangle1:62500
- 1962 USGS St. Louis quadrangle1:250000
- 1963 USGS St. Louis quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1966 USGS St. Louis quadrangle1:250000
- 1985 USGS Festus quadrangle1:100000
- 1991 USGS Waterloo quadrangle1:24000
Fires near this place
7 since 2008Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 7 fires within 5 miles of Waterloo between 2008 and 2016, burning about 141 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 burning | 2 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 2 |
| Smoking | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 August 2016 | Smoking | 15 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 15-000018 |
| 26 June 2009 | Equipment and vehicle use | 25 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | WITTNAVER |
| 26 June 2009 | Equipment and vehicle use | 25 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | WITTNAUER |
| 18 March 2008 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | COATS |
| 15 March 2014 | Debris and open burning | 40 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | LYNDON1 |
| 30 December 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 4.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | VAL 4 |
| 30 December 2008 | Debris and open burning | 30 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | N/A |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
5 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 5 workings within 5 miles of Waterloo: 2 past producers, 2 occurrences, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Stone. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County Pit | Stone | Past Producer | ||
| Waterloo Pit | Stone | Past Producer | ||
| Limestone Prospect | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Occurrence | ||
| Limestone Prospect | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Occurrence | ||
| Quality Stone Quarry & Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 64 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Waterloo in 64 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 32 thunderstorm wind, 24 hail, 6 tornado, 2 flash flood. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2011 | Tornado (EF2) | Waterloo | 1 hurt | A tornado touched down on the north side of Waterloo, Illinois near the intersection of Leah Drive and James Street. Several homes and businesses sustained varying degrees of damage; from displaced roofing materials to businesses with structural damage. Two large air conditioners were tossed 30 yards from the roof of a business. Several large trees were snapped near the base of the trunk. Four power poles were snapped south of the intersection of North Market Street and Kolmer Avenue. One large garage was also destroyed behind a church with debris tossed southeastward 30 to 40 yards. The tornado skipped eastward and crossed Floraville Road on the north side of Ridge Club Golf Course then traveled down the first fairway. A number of cedar and pine trees were snapped. The tornado then crossed Ridge Road where several homes sustained minor roof damage, with 30 to 40 percent of the shingles removed. The tornado then traveled across the northern part of Konarcik Park. Numerous old growth pine trees were snapped at the base of the trunk. Trees three feet in diameter were common in this area. The tornado caused damage to the siding of one home near the intersection of Konarcik and Kopp Roads before lifting. There was one minor injury at Canterbury Manor Nursing Center due to flying glass when a window broke. The maximum intensity was low end EF2, with a maximum estimated wind speed of 115 mph. The maximum width of the tornado was 80 to 90 yards with a total path length of 3.5 miles. |
| April 1998 | Tornado (F0) | Waterloo | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | $6,400 | Large trees and power lines were blown down. A roof and barn were also damaged southeast of Waterloo. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds took the roof off the Waterloo High School Baseball stadium equipment shed and one dugout. Storm spotters reported large tree limbs down. Power lines were also down and a couple of roads were blocked by the trees limbs. County highway department personnel had to remove trees from Tout Hollow Road, LL Road, Beck Road, and Bluff Road. |
| March 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | $1,000 | no account filed |
| May 1995 | Tornado (F1) | Waterloo | $885 | A tornado briefly touched down on the western side of town and lifted the roof off a business. In one area where several homes were damaged, a recreational vehicle was picked up and set down in the middle of a destroyed house. Trees and large branches were also downed and large hail was also reported by local law enforcement. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | $400 | Power poles and lines were knocked down. |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds caused damage to trees and sheds. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds snapped multiple trees and toppled several at their base. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Broadcast media reported estimated 65 mph thunderstorm wind gusts in Waterloo. They also reported visibility near zero statute miles coinciding with the wind gust. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | A trained spotter reported tree branches down in Waterloo. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down multiple utility poles along Hamacher Street. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several large tree limbs and power lines around town. |
| August 2020 | Flash Flood | Waterloo | - | Up to 4 inches of rain fell in a short amount of time causing flash flooding. Several roads were flooded including Maeystown Road and Illinois Routes 156 and 159. |
| July 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several power lines along South Market Street. |
| May 2019 | Tornado (EF0) | Waterloo | - | A weak tornado caused minor structural damage and tree damage in the northern section of Waterloo, IL. The tornado was estimated to only be on the ground for a minute. The tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 0.34 miles and a max path width of 50 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported. |
| November 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous tree limbs around town. |
| April 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees around town. |
| April 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down three large trees. Also, a shed sustained moderate damage from the thunderstorm winds. |
| December 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees on the east side of town. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several large trees across Waterloo. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree onto power lines in Waterloo near the intersection of 6th Street and Main Street. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees on the 400 block of West Mill Street in Waterloo. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several large tree limbs. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several large tree limbs. |
| October 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several large trees and caused some minor damage at the high school, including a softball field dugout and fencing in the area. Several homes just southeast of the high school sustained minor roof and siding damage. Further east along Illinois Route 156, a large cedar tree was blown over blocking the highway for a time. |
| December 2008 | Flash Flood | Waterloo | - | Several inches of rain fell in a short amount of time on frozen ground causing flash flooding. Numerous roads in Waterloo were flooded with between 4 and 5 inches of water on several of those roads. |
| August 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several power lines and tree limbs. Also, a large tree was blown down onto the roof of a nearby house. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Several large trees and power lines were blown down. |
| November 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | Amateur radio spotters reported an 18 inch diameter tree down. |
| July 2004 | Hail | Waterloo | - | Amateur radio spotters reported nickel size hail. |
| May 2004 | Hail | Waterloo | - | Amateur radio spotters reported 3/4 inch hail just northeast of Waterloo. |
| July 2004 | Hail | Waterloo | - | Storm spotters reported 3/4 inch hail. |
| June 2003 | Tornado (F0) | Waterloo | - | An aerial survey conducted by members of the BAMEX (Bow Echo and Mesoscale Convective Vortex Experiment) revealed a small tornado track northeast of Waterloo. The damage occurred in a rural area and was limited to downed trees. The tornado crossed into St. Clair County west of Paderborn. |
| April 2000 | Hail | Waterloo | - | Law enforcement personnel reported 1 inch hail near Waterloo. |
| May 1995 | Hail | Waterloo | - | Reported by the county sheriff's department. |
| May 2021 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| February 2017 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| May 2016 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| April 2014 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| April 2011 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| December 2010 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| April 2008 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| April 2007 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| April 2007 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| June 2006 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| November 2005 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| February 2000 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| February 1999 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| April 1999 | Hail | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| April 1998 | Tornado (F0) | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| November 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterloo | - | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemens | 3.7 miles | 19 | |
| Wartburg | 4.0 miles | 19 | |
| New Hanover Station | 4.4 miles | 20 | |
| Foster Pond (historical) | 4.4 miles | 19 | |
| Burksville | 4.7 miles | 19 | |
| Burksville Station | 5.0 miles | 18 | |
| New Hanover | 5.4 miles | 20 | |
| Fountain Gap | 6.6 miles | 28 |
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 Waterloo | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q535870 | 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 420634. 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.










