Decorah, Iowa Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Decorah is located at 250km northeast of Des Moines. Decorah was settled by Norwegian pioneers, but it takes its name from an Indian chief who aided settlers during the Black Hawk War of 1832. The town’s Norse heritage is celebrated at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum. Housed in restored structures from the 18th and 19th centuries, it’s a surprisingly large museum documenting the translation of Norwegian culture to the U.S.

Population: 8,172. Estimated population in July 2024: 8,084 (-1.1% change)
Males: 3,673 (44.9%), Females: 4,499 (55.1%)

Winneshiek County

Zip code: 52101

Demographics

Median resident age: 29.8 years
Median household income: $37,485
Median house value: $96,000

Population by Race

Races in Decorah:

  • White Non-Hispanic (95.3%)
  • Hispanic (1.3%)
  • Black (1.1%)
  • Two or more races (0.8%)

Ancestries: German (38.1%), Norwegian (34.6%), Irish (10.5%), English (9.1%), Swedish (4.2%), Czech (3.9%).

Elevation: 900 feet

Land area: 6.4 square miles

Map of Decorah, IA

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Decorah

  • High school or higher: 84.7%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.6%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 11.6%
  • Unemployed: 6.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 11.3 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Decorah city

  • Never married: 43.3%
  • Now married: 43.3%
  • Separated: 0.4%
  • Widowed: 8.1%
  • Divorced: 4.9%

4.3% Foreign born (1.9% Asia, 0.8% Europe, 0.7% Latin America, 0.7% Africa).

Population change in the 1990s: +27 (+0.3%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Decorah:

  • WINNESHIEK COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (901 MONTGOMERY STREET)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Decorah:

  • VETERANS MEMORIAL (about 22 miles; WAUKON, IA)
  • PALMER LUTHERAN HEALTH CENTER (about 22 miles; WEST UNION, IA)
  • REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES OF IOWA (about 23 miles; CRESCO, IA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Decorah:

  • LA CROSSE MUNI (about 54 miles; LA CROSSE, WI; Abbreviation: LSE)
  • ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL (about 64 miles; ROCHESTER, MN; Abbreviation: RST)
  • WATERLOO MUNI (about 67 miles; WATERLOO, IA; Abbreviation: ALO)

Other public-use airports nearest to Decorah:

  • DECORAH MUNI (about 5 miles; DECORAH, IA; Abbreviation: DEH)
  • DALE DELIGHT (about 21 miles; POSTVILLE, IA; Abbreviation: Y16)
  • GEORGE L SCOTT MUNI (about 22 miles; WEST UNION, IA; Abbreviation: 3Y2)

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Decorah:

  • LUTHER COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 2,566; Location: 700 COLLEGE DR; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.Luther.edu)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Decorah:

  • NORTHEAST IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE-CALMAR (about 11 miles; CALMAR, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,393)
  • UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY (about 33 miles; FAYETTE, IA; Full-time enrollment: 3,173)
  • WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 52 miles; WINONA, MN; Full-time enrollment: 6,568)
  • SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (about 52 miles; WINONA, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,969)
  • UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE (about 53 miles; LA CROSSE, WI; Full-time enrollment: 8,669)
  • WESTERN WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 60 miles; LA CROSSE, WI; Full-time enrollment: 2,973)
  • ROCHESTER COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 65 miles; ROCHESTER, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,368)

Schools

Public high school in Decorah:

  • DECORAH HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 725; Location: 100 EAST CLAIBORNE DRIVE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Decorah:

  • DECORAH MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 432; Location: 210 VERNON ST; Grades: 05 – 08)
  • JOHN CLINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 358; Location: 101 CLAIBORNE DR; Grades: PK – 02)
  • WEST SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 198; Location: 301 CENTER ST; Grades: 03 – 04)
  • NORTH WINNESHIEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 147; Location: 3495 NORTH WINN ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
  • NORTH WINNESHIEK MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 58; Location: 3495 NORTH WINN ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)

Private primary/middle school in Decorah:

  • SAINT BENEDICT CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 179; Location: 402 RURAL AVENUE; Grades: KG – 8)

Libraries

Library in Decorah:

  • DECORAH PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $381,381; Location: 202 WINNEBAGO ST; 57,996 books; 2,884 audio materials; 2,226 video materials; 230 serial subscriptions)