NORTH End: 4-way stop, IA 9, near Larchwood, Lyon County

Facing north on 182

Facing north on 182

Facing west on 9

Or, as an alternate bottom line, "Sioux Falls, S.D. 19->"

Facing south, but heading east, on 9

This is 9's first intersection of a state highway after entering Iowa.

Facing south, but heading east, on 9

Facing south, but heading east, on 9

Photo by Neil Bratney

At this point, 9 heads due east and doesn't waver until west of Spirit Lake.

EAST End: 4-way stop, US 18 and A42, Inwood, Lyon County

Facing south on 182

Photo by Neil Bratney

Although its address is Inwood, West Lyon High School is six miles north of this intersection, at the intersection of 182 and County Road A26 - nearly a direct diagonal from the northwest corner of the state, about 10 miles away. West Lyon has had the blessing of a good football team, but the curse of being the farthest northwest district in the state. It went to the playoffs nine straight years in 1988-96. It then won back-to-back championships in Class 2A, beating Dike-New Hartford in a 41-40 squeaker in 1998 and then beating Starmont 44-7 a year later.

Why is all this included here? It's interesting because it's so far away from everything in Iowa! The Dakota Dome in Vermillion is about an hour away (68 miles); the UNI-Dome is about 260 miles away. Downtown Sioux Falls is 24 miles away from the high school, downtown Sioux City about 68. When going to Cedar Falls takes half a day - unlike Dike's 20 minutes - there's something to admire in the dedication of both the players and the fans.

Facing south on 182 (2002)

Photo by Neil Bratney

Four years later, the sign had been replaced and a "Jct A42" added, as seen below.

Facing south on 182

Facing south on 182

Facing south on 182

Between Inwood and Canton, 18 enters South Dakota three miles east of where it would do the same if the route were a mile to the south; the Big Sioux turns due east just south of 18.

Facing south on 182

Facing east on 18

This is 18's first intersection of a state highway after entering Iowa.

Facing east on 18

Facing east on 18

Facing north, but heading west, on 18

Facing north, but heading west, on 18

Facing north, but heading west, on 18

Compare how a digital camera (Jct A42) and a disposable camera (this one) react in late-afternoon conditions facing north.

Facing north on 182 north of town

Pictures by Neil Bratney: Sixth-eighth, 6/18/02

Pictures by me: First-fifth and ninth-twentieth, 6/25/06

Page created 5/6/04; last updated 9/25/06

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