Decorah, Iowa

About Decorah

Set in the northeastern part of Iowa, Decorah is a close-knit town with an estimated population of 7,454.

Officially, Decorah is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 7.24 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,030 residents per square mile.

📰 Decorah News Today

• Luther College's Nordic center gets new director with deep Decorah roots KIMT · Aug 18
• Donald "Lew" Eells Obituary Aug 13, 2026 Helms Funeral Home · Aug 13
• A Democrat in Name Only The Atlantic · Aug 15
• Donald Llewellyn Eells “Lew” Obituary (1943 - 2026) - Decorah, IA - The Gazette Cleveland.com · Aug 17
• Between Des Moines And Decorah Is Iowa's Scenic Midwest City With A Charming Downtown, Wildlife, And Outdoor Fun islands.com · Aug 16

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Decorah Unique

• The only place in America named Decorah — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• Positioned in northeastern Iowa, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of Iowa — one of 1,026 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• The sweet spot: real amenities without big-city congestion.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 7,454.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 11 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Decorah

• Don Jose — mexican
• La Rana Bistro
• Pizza Hut — pizza
• Sabin Family Table
• Great Dragon Chinese Restaurant — chinese
• Marty's (café)
• Oneota Market (café)
• Scooter's Coffee — coffee shop (café)
• Sunnyside Cafe — breakfast (café)
• Whippy Dip — ice cream

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Porter House Museum · Museum
• Versterheim Norwegian-American Museum Library · Museum
• Kristin Wigley-Fleming Gallery · Art gallery
• Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Decorah

• Siewers Spring State Park reviews ★
• Barnhart - Van Peenen Park · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Bendthal Commons reviews ★
• Bolson Bridge Wildlife Management Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Canoe Creek Wildlife Management Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Carl Selland Park reviews ★
• Chattahoochie County Park · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Coon River Wildlife Management Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Decorah Ice Cave State Preserve · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Dunnings Spring Park reviews ★
• Falcon Springs Wildlife Management Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Freeport Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Decorah

• Carrie Lee Elementary
• Decorah High School
• Decorah Middle School
• John Cline Elementary School
• West Side Elementary School

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• Winnmed ★★★★ (4/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER · Critical Access Hospitals

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Decorah

🏘️ Nearby Communities