| Official Name: | Vandalia, Iowa |
| Pushpin Map: | Iowa |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Iowa |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Jasper |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 906 |
| Coordinates: | 41.5394°N -93.3061°W |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 462542 |
Vandalia is an unincorporated community in Jasper County, in the U.S. state of Iowa.
The community is located at 41.5394°N -93.3061°W, five miles north of Runnels, Iowa, and 22 miles southwest of Newton, Iowa, the Jasper County seat.
In 1850, John Q. Deakin built a flour mill and carding factory where Vandalia is now located.[1]
Vandalia was platted in either 1851[1] or 1853 in Section 20 of Des Moines Township, Jasper County, Iowa. During the 1860s, the village prospered.[2]
The first building erected after the founding was a store, followed by a Baptist church, a schoolhouse in 1856, another mill, two hotels, three more general stores, a plow factory and two wagon shops. By 1865, Vandalia had nearly 400 residents. The Des Moines Valley Railroad met with community leaders to discuss the possibility of a rail line connecting Vandalia, but this did not occur. Businesses left Vandalia in favor of railroad towns.[1]
In the early 1900s, Vandalia was home to J.L. Cavett's general store.[3]
The population of Vandalia was 301 in 1902,[4] and 310 in 1925.[5]
Vandalia's population was 20 in 1940.[6]