Iowa Highway 1 ( Iowa 1 ) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Iowa that extends from Keosauqua to Anamosa . It travels nearly , mainly through rich farmland and small communities . Iowa 1 provides an important link to Iowa City and the University of Iowa as it passes through campus . Portions of the route today date back to the late 1830s , when Martin Van Buren was president , making Iowa 1 one of the oldest routes in the state , pre-dating the current primary highway system by nearly eighty years . The highway was seriously damaged by the Cedar River in the Iowa flood of 2008 , which closed the highway for seven weeks
Iowa flood of 2008
Iowa flood of 2008
Iowa Highway 1