Adel, Iowa
14 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1949 and the latest in 1993. It stands in Adel Township. It lies in ZIP code area 50003. It stands on Mill Slough. The Survey maps it on the Adel quadrangle. 6,153 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 892 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Adel
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 4 records
Adel Bridgelisted 2002
Adel Public Square Historic Districtlisted 2009
Dallas County Courthouselisted 1973
Dallas County Courthouse (Boundary Increase)listed 1979
Population over time
2 figuresAdel grew from 3,682 to 6,153 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3,682 | |
| 2020 | 6,153 | +2,471 (+67%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
8 surveys from 14 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1949 USGS Adel quadrangle1:62500, 3 printings
- 1951 USGS Adel quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
- 1954 USGS Omaha quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1957 USGS Omaha quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Omaha quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1982 USGS Adel quadrangle1:24000
- 1984 USGS Guthrie Center quadrangle1:100000
- 1993 USGS Guthrie Center quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
2 since 2006Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 2 fires within 5 miles of Adel between 2006 and 2009, burning about 6 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 March 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 4.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 19 March 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.5 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 13 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 13 workings within 5 miles of Adel: 9 past producers, 4 producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Pit No. 6 | Clay | Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Adel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Adel Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Dallas County Pits | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Messerschmidt Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Nissley Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 102 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Adel in 102 storm reports between 1998 and 2025: 37 thunderstorm wind, 26 hail, 16 flood, 14 heavy rain. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2010 | Lightning | Adel | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| August 2015 | Flood | Adel | $250,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested at 16.35 feet on 1 September 2015 at 8:30 AM CDT. Another entry for this event is in the September 2015 report. |
| May 2013 | Flood | Adel | $200,000 | Highway 169 will be closing due to flooding north of Adel. |
| May 2019 | Flood | Adel | $100,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested twice at 16.2 feet on 27 May 2019 at 13:45 UTC and at 15.22 feet on 30 May 2019 at 13:45 UTC. |
| June 2018 | Flood | Adel | $100,000 | The Raccoon River at Perry crested at 18.04 feet on 23 June 2018 at 14:15 UTC. |
| September 2018 | Flood | Adel | $100,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested at 15.50 feet on 8 September at 1645 UTC. |
| August 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $100,000 | Emergency manager reported numerous trees and power lines down throughout Dallas County. Cities affected include Adel, Dallas Center, Redfield, and Dexter. Tree limb also reported on the EM's roof. Time estimated from when storm hit Adel. |
| June 2015 | Flood | Adel | $100,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested at 15.10 feet at 12:30 PM CST on 13 June. |
| June 2015 | Flood | Adel | $100,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested at 19.40 feet at 4:00 PM CST on 26 June. |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $75,000 | Two 9 inch tree limbs down. Virtually every street has some tree damage. |
| October 2018 | Flood | Adel | $50,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested at 17.86 ft on 12 October 2018 at 05:45 UTC. |
| September 2015 | Flood | Adel | $50,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested a second time this month at 15.68 feet on 07 September 2015 at 4:30 PM CDT. |
| December 2015 | Flood | Adel | $50,000 | The North Raccoon River crested at 20.78 feet on 17 December 2015 at 21:20 UTC. |
| August 2010 | Flash Flood | Adel | $50,000 | Manhole covers blown off and cars stalled in several intersections. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $50,000 | Large tree limbs blown onto nearby roads. Some trees were uprooted. |
| June 2008 | Flood | Adel | $50,000 | The Raccoon River was flooding over Highway 169. |
| May 2016 | Flood | Adel | $25,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested at midnight CDT on 4 May 2016 at 16.74 feet. |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $25,000 | Damage to a garage. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $25,000 | Numerous 6 to 8 inch diameter tree limbs were down in Adel. Winds were estimated to be 60 to 65 MPH. Power was out in Redfield. |
| March 2007 | Flash Flood | Adel | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Adel | $25,000 | no account filed |
| February 2016 | Flood | Adel | $20,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested at 16.01 feet on 23 February 2016 at 0845 UTC. |
| June 2015 | Flash Flood | Adel | $20,000 | County Sheriff reported flash flooding in the area. |
| June 2000 | Hail | Adel | $20,000 | no account filed |
| April 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $20,000 | no account filed |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $15,000 | Trees reported down onto Highway 169 and 15th Street in Adel. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $15,000 | no account filed |
| May 2017 | Flood | Adel | $10,000 | The North Raccoon River at Perry crested at 15.61 feet on 24 May 2017 at 00:45 UTC. |
| November 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $10,000 | A report of trees down near Adel. |
| June 2008 | Flash Flood | Adel | $10,000 | Panther Creek was bank full with roads in the area flooding. |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $5,000 | Fire department reported minor damage to trees and power transformers. |
| August 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $5,000 | A large tree was downed on a power line. |
| August 2012 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | Dallas County Emergency Management reported quarter to half dollar size hail falling in the Adel area along with 40 to 50 MPH winds. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $5,000 | Six inch tree limbs down in the town of Adel. |
| May 2013 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2007 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2003 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2002 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| September 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 1998 | Hail | Adel | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2013 | Tornado (EF0) | Adel | $4,000 | Weak tornado with a very broad circulation. Track was intermittent. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $3,000 | Tree branches up to 10 inches in diameter were reported down. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $3,000 | Tree damage was reported. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $2,000 | Eight to 10 inch tree blown down with additional smaller limbs down. |
| May 2004 | Tornado (F1) | Adel | $2,000 | Tornado tracked through open fields for the most part. It also lifted from time to time. |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Adel | $2,000 | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adel | $2,000 | no account filed |
| April 1999 | Hail | Adel | $2,000 | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ortonville | 3.1 miles | 11 | |
| Black Corners | 5.1 miles | 14 | |
| Dallas Center | 5.7 miles | 10 | |
| Kennedy | 5.7 miles | 14 | |
| De Soto | 5.7 miles | 14 | |
| Van Meter | 6.6 miles | 11 | |
| Quarry | 6.8 miles | 14 | |
| Panther | 6.9 miles | 14 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Adel | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q165718 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 454097. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.







