Onawa

History

Onawa was named for a character mentioned in the poem The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Onawa was platted in 1857, and the railway arrived to the city in 1867. The city is known for having the widest main street in the continental United States. Onawa was the site of a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp for captured German soldiers between 1944 and 1946. Historical documents indicate there were never more than 50 POWs in camp. A larger camp existed near the central Iowa town of Algona, and housed as many as 5,400 German POWs.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Onawa is located in the Loess Hills region of western Iowa, a unique geological and environmental area. Nearby are such natural areas as Lewis & Clark State Park, Preparation Canyon State Park, and the Loess Hills State Forest.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• West Monona Elementary
  Elementary · Onawa · 325 students · 14.8:1 ratio
• West Monona High School
  High · Onawa · 204 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• West Monona Middle Sch
  Middle · Onawa · 105 students · 11.7:1 ratio
• Whiting Elementary School
  Elementary · Whiting · 91 students · 10.1:1 ratio
• Whiting Senior High School
  High · Whiting · 79 students · 7.2:1 ratio