Where is Denison, Iowa, USA?

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: April 28, 2026 | 14:51 ET

Where is Denison Located? - Denison is a city located in the Crawford County of Iowa, United States. Denison lies between 29.8580 Degrees North latitudes and 90.0804 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Derry, New Hampshire

Where is Derry, New Hampshire

Denison Map, Iowa, USA

Where is Denison?: The Google Map showing the location of Denison in the U.S. state of Iowa.

Where is Denison Located?

Denison is a city located in the Crawford County of Iowa, United States. Denison lies between 29.8580 Degrees North latitudes and 90.0804 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Denison city is 8373 people and the city has a total area of 6.53 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

Most Viewed US Maps

USA MapUSA Region MapUSA Road Map
USA County MapWhere is USA in World Map?US ZIP Code Map
USA Time Zones MapUS State and Capitals MapUSA Physical Map

Denison, Iowa Quick Facts

PropertyDetails
CityDenison
CountyCrawford County
StateIowa
State CapitalDes Moines
US RegionMidwestern United States
Latitude42.0172°N
Longitude95.3558°W
Elevation1,273 ft (388 m)
Land Area5.63 sq mi
Water Area0.05 sq mi
Total Area5.68 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)8,373
Population DensityAbout 1,487 per sq mi
ZIP Codes51442
Area Code712
Time Zone StandardCentral Standard Time (CST), UTC -6
Time Zone DaylightCentral Daylight Time (CDT), UTC -5
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code19-19695
Congressional DistrictIowa's 4th Congressional District

Nearby Cities to Denison, Iowa

  • Vail, Iowa - East - 9 mi
  • Dow City, Iowa - South - 13 mi
  • Schleswig, Iowa - North - 14 mi
  • Charter Oak, Iowa - East - 15 mi
  • Arion, Iowa - South - 17 mi
  • Manilla, Iowa - East - 22 mi
  • Dunlap, Iowa - South - 23 mi
  • Carroll, Iowa - East - 38 mi
  • Harlan, Iowa - Southwest - 41 mi
  • Storm Lake, Iowa - North - 43 mi

Denison, Iowa Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January29110.8
April61373.1
July85644.1
October64412.2
Annual603833.2
Climate AttributeDetails
Climate Classification (Köppen)Hot-Summer Humid Continental (Dfa)
Annual RainfallAbout 33 inches
Annual Sunshine DaysApproximately 211 days
Hurricane/Tornado RiskNo hurricane risk; moderate tornado risk
SnowfallAbout 31 inches annually

Driving Distances from Denison, Iowa

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
VailIowa910 min
Dow CityIowa1315 min
SchleswigIowa1415 min
Charter OakIowa1518 min
ArionIowa1720 min
ManillaIowa2225 min
DunlapIowa2328 min
CarrollIowa3840 min
HarlanIowa4145 min
Storm LakeIowa4350 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Denison, Iowa

TransportationDetails
Airport NameDenison Municipal Airport
IATA CodeDNS
PortNo commercial port
Major HighwaysUS Route 30, Iowa Highway 39, Iowa Highway 141 (nearby), Iowa Highway 59 (nearby)
Train/Amtrak ServiceNo passenger rail service; freight rail operated by Union Pacific Railroad
Local Bus/Transit ServiceRegion XII Transit provides local and regional public transportation
  • US Route 30 - Major east-west highway connecting Denison with Carroll, Ames, Omaha, and eastern Iowa.
  • Iowa Highway 39 - Links Denison with communities north of the city and regional agricultural areas.
  • Iowa Highway 141 - Nearby route providing access to western and central Iowa, including Perry and Sloan.
  • Iowa Highway 59 - Important north-south corridor serving communities across western Iowa.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Denison, Iowa

Landmark NameType
Donna Reed Heritage MuseumMuseum
Yellow Smoke ParkCounty Park
Crawford County CourthouseHistoric Building
Washington ParkCity Park
Broadway Historic DistrictHistoric District
Crawford County Historical MuseumHistory Museum
Denison Aquatic Fun CenterWater Park
Dow House Historic SiteHistoric House
Schleswig MuseumLocal Museum
Black Hawk Lake State ParkState Park

Colleges and Universities in Denison, Iowa

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Iowa Western Community College - Denison CenterPublicCommunity CollegeCareer and workforce education
Buena Vista UniversityPrivateUniversityLiberal arts and business programs
Western Iowa Tech Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeTechnical and transfer programs
University of South Dakota - Sioux CityPublicUniversityGraduate and professional programs
Denison Community School DistrictPublicK-12 DistrictPublic education system

Waterbodies in Denison, Iowa

Boyer River, East Boyer River, Yellow Smoke Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Willow Creek, Paradise Creek, Soldier River, Nishnabotna River

Golf Courses in Denison, Iowa

Denison Golf Club, Dow City Country Club, Harlan Golf & Country Club, Carroll Municipal Golf Course, Ida Grove Golf & Country Club

Denison, Iowa - Key Historical Facts

  • Denison was founded in 1856 and became the county seat of Crawford County shortly afterward, helping establish it as a regional center for government and commerce.
  • The arrival of the Chicago & North Western Railway in the late 19th century accelerated economic growth by improving transportation and agricultural trade.
  • The city is the birthplace of Academy Award-winning actress Donna Reed, whose legacy is celebrated through the Donna Reed Heritage Museum.
  • Agriculture, livestock production, and food processing have remained important contributors to the local economy for more than a century.
  • Historic buildings in downtown Denison reflect the city's development during the railroad era and continue to serve local businesses and community events.
  • Today, Denison is recognized for its welcoming small-town atmosphere, cultural heritage, recreational parks, and strong agricultural traditions.

References

Iowa Related Maps and Info

Iowa MapIowa County MapIowa Cities Map
Iowa ZipcodesWhere is IowaAirports in Iowa
Iowa Area CodesIowa Blank MapIowa River Map
Iowa Physical MapIowa Road MapWhere is Where is Des Moines