Turkey River (Iowa)
Encyclopedia
The Turkey River is a 153 miles (246.2 km) tributary of the upper
Mississippi River
. Its main branch rises in Howard County, Iowa
, near the city of Cresco
. The other counties it or its tributaries cover are Chickasaw
, Winneshiek
, Fayette
, Clayton
, Delaware
, and Dubuque
.
Flowing from northwest to southeast, it flows through or near the cities of Spillville
, Fort Atkinson
, Clermont
, Elgin
, Elkader
, Elkport
, Garber
, and Millville
, where it is joined by the Little Turkey River before entering the Mississippi south of Guttenberg
and across from Cassville, Wisconsin
.
The watershed covers 1083200 acres (4,383.6 km²).
Upper Mississippi River
The Upper Mississippi River is the portion of the Mississippi River upstream of Cairo, Illinois, United States. From the headwaters at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, the river flows approximately 2000 kilometers to Cairo, where it is joined by the Ohio River to form the Lower Mississippi...
Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Its main branch rises in Howard County, Iowa
Howard County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,566 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,367 housing units, of which 3,944 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, near the city of Cresco
Cresco, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,905 people, 1,652 households, and 1,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,184.1 people per square mile . There were 1,791 housing units at an average density of 543.1 per square mile...
. The other counties it or its tributaries cover are Chickasaw
Chickasaw County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,439 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,679 housing units, of which 5,204 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Winneshiek
Winneshiek County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 21,056 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,721 housing units, of which 7,997 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Fayette
Fayette County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,880 in the county, with a population density of . There were 9,558 housing units, of which 8,634 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Clayton
Clayton County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 18,129 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,999 housing units, of which 7,599 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Delaware
Delaware County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,764 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,028 housing units, of which 7,062 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, and Dubuque
Dubuque County, Iowa
Dubuque County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 93,653 in the 2010 census, an increase from 89,143 in the 2000 census. The county seat is the city of Dubuque. Dubuque County is coterminous with the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the seventh...
.
Flowing from northwest to southeast, it flows through or near the cities of Spillville
Spillville, Iowa
Spillville is a city in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 386 at the 2000 census. It is located in Calmar Township, about west of Calmar and about southwest of Decorah, the county seat.-History:...
, Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson, Iowa
Fort Atkinson is a city in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 389 at the 2000 census. It is home to the historic Fort Atkinson State Preserve and hosts a large annual fur-trapper rendezvous each September...
, Clermont
Clermont, Iowa
Clermont is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. The population was 716 at the 2000 census. Clermont is home to Montauk, the mansion of former Iowa governor William Larrabee, along with much historic architecture...
, Elgin
Elgin, Iowa
Elgin is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. The population was 676 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elgin is located at at the confluence of Otter Creek with the Turkey River....
, Elkader
Elkader, Iowa
Elkader is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,465 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clayton County.-History:The city is named after Algerian leader Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri...
, Elkport
Elkport, Iowa
Elkport was a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 88 at the 2000 census. The town was severely damaged by floods in May 2004. After the floods, all residents of the town chose federal buyout, selling their homes to the United States federal government for demolition...
, Garber
Garber, Iowa
Garber is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 103 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Garber is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and Millville
Millville, Iowa
Millville is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 23 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Millville is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, where it is joined by the Little Turkey River before entering the Mississippi south of Guttenberg
Guttenberg, Iowa
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,987 people, 837 households, and 534 families residing in the city. The population density was 962.3 people per square mile . There were 935 housing units at an average density of 452.8 per square mile...
and across from Cassville, Wisconsin
Cassville, Wisconsin
Cassville is a village in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,085 at the 2000 census. The village is located along the Mississippi River within the Town of Cassville.-History:...
.
The watershed covers 1083200 acres (4,383.6 km²).
Recreational and wildlife areas
- Cardinal Marsh Wildlife Management Area is a few miles southeast of Cresco.
- The mouth of the river is part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish RefugeUpper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish RefugeThe Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is a . 261 river mile long National Wildlife Refuge located in and along the Upper Mississippi River. It runs from Wabasha, Minnesota in the north to Rock Island, Illinois in the south....
.