Allerton is a city in Wayne County, Iowa. The population was 430 at the time of the 2020 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Allerton reservoir and Bob White State Park are located approximately three miles west of Allerton.
Transportation
Allerton was served by Iowa Highway 40 until it was turned over to Wayne County and made a county road. There is a network of paved farm to market roads starting in Allerton and connecting with the surrounding towns.
Allerton was a division point on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad until the bankruptcy of the line in 1980. The old Golden State Route that ran east from Allerton through Seymour, Fairfield and Chicago was then abandoned. There had been some talk of relaying the track from Allerton to Seymour on the old Rock Island right of way to provide a connection between the Canadian Pacific (old Milwaukee Road) and the Union Pacific. This idea has since been dropped due to the objections of the adjacent landowners. The remaining line is now known as Union Pacific's Spine Line. It was purchased by the Chicago & Northwestern after the bankruptcy as a direct line between Kansas City and Minneapolis. It has seen a marked increase in traffic since the Chicago & Northwestern merger with Union Pacific. The last passenger train on the old Rock Island system through Allerton was the Plainsman from Kansas City to Des Moines and Minneapolis. It was discontinued in 1970.
History
Allerton was platted by the Rock Island Railroad when it came through the area in 1870. It became a legal town in 1874 and had a peak population of 1,600 in 1913. Allerton and Corydon were rivals for the Wayne County seat. On several occasions, during the early establishment of the two towns, county records were moved back and forth, sometimes illegally, before Corydon was declared the county seat.
The southeastern side of the town was heavily damaged by an EF2 tornado on March 5, 2022.