Clear Lake is a spring-fed lake that was formed by glacial action some 14,000 years ago; it has a surface area of about 3,600 acres and is more than six miles long and two an a half miles wide.  The elevation is 1247 feet above sea level and it is nearly 100 feet above the surrounding countryside, which gives it the appearance of a saucer setting above the area around it.

The earliest known-recorded mention of the body of water known as Clear Lake was in a land survey of northern Iowa, done in 1832.  This map, with the survey, is signed by land surveyor, Nathan Boone, son of the famous explorer, Daniel Boone, shows streams and rivers of the area, with the lake.  Many Indian artifacts have been found in wooded areas around the lake, testifying to the habitation of various Indian tribes in the area.  Clear Lake was a favorite summer camping ground of both the Sioux and Winnebago tribes who were camping and hunting in the area in 1846 when Iowa became a state.

Welcome to an introduction to Clear Lake, Iowa’s colorful history!