Centerville, Iowa
11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1939 and the latest in 1981. It stands in Centerville City. It lies in ZIP code area 52544. It stands on Manson Branch. The Survey maps it on the Centerville East quadrangle. 5,412 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,007 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Centerville
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 11 records
Appanoose County Courthouselisted 1981
Appanoose County Sheriff's House and Jaillisted 1997
C B & Q Passenger Depotlisted 2003
Courthouse Square Historic Districtlisted 1997
Drake Public Librarylisted 1997
Porter Halllisted 1980
Second Baptist Churchlisted 1999
Stratton Houselisted 1975
Sturdivant-Sawyer Houselisted 1984
U.S. Post Officelisted 1978- Vermilion Estatelisted 1978
Population over time
2 figuresCenterville fell from 5,528 to 5,412 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 | 5,528 | |
| 2020 | 5,412 | -116 (-2%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
7 surveys from 11 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.
- 1939 USGS Centerville quadrangle1:62500, 3 printings
- 1941 USGS Centerville quadrangle1:62500
- 1954 USGS Centerville quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1957 USGS Centerville quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Centerville quadrangle1:250000
- 1979 USGS Centerville East quadrangle1:24000
- 1981 USGS Centerville quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
11 since 2011Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 11 fires within 5 miles of Centerville between 2011 and 2019, burning about 194 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 |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 8 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 July 2015 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 4 April 2015 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 1 April 2015 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 1 April 2015 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 31 March 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 30 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 20492 495TH ST., IA |
| 30 March 2015 | Debris and open burning | 120 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 14 March 2015 | Debris and open burning | 20 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 6 February 2017 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 15 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 15 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 15 workings within 5 miles of Centerville: 11 past producers, 4 producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Clay, Zinc, Gypsum-Anhydrite. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerville Gypsum Co. Mine | Gypsum-Anhydrite | Past Producer | ||
| Drill Hole | Zinc | Past Producer | Sphalerite | |
| Carter-Waters Corp. Plant | Clay | Producer | ||
| Centerville Clay Products Co. | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Centerville Quarry | Clay | Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Centerville No. 2 Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Centerville Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Clarkdale Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 83 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Centerville in 83 storm reports between 1996 and 2025: 27 heavy rain, 24 hail, 23 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood. The reports record 2 injuries. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | 1 hurt, $100,000 | no account filed |
| August 2007 | Lightning | Centerville | 1 hurt, $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2007 | Flood | Centerville | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Centerville | $100,000 | no account filed |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $50,000 | Public reported a large tree partially uprooted and on a home. Metal building flipped. Time estimated from radar. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $50,000 | Appanoose County Sheriff reported power lines and trees down in the town of Centerville. Time was estimated via radar. |
| June 2011 | Hail | Centerville | $50,000 | Quarter to golf ball size hail. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $25,000 | Multiple trees of 3 to 4 feet in diameter were down. |
| July 2009 | Flash Flood | Centerville | $25,000 | Highway 2 was closed. |
| July 2008 | Flash Flood | Centerville | $25,000 | Water was reported over Highway 2. |
| July 2008 | Flash Flood | Centerville | $25,000 | Water was flowing over Highway 2 east of Centerville. |
| July 1997 | Flood | Centerville | $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $20,000 | A 10 inch diameter tree was snapped off at the top. |
| November 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $15,000 | Trained spotter reported numerous branches upwards of 6 inches in diameter down as well as a tree approximately 3 feet in diameter down. Time radar estimated. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $15,000 | Reports of outbuildings blown down. |
| June 2019 | Hail | Centerville | $10,000 | Law enforcement reported golf ball sized hail fell for several minutes before becoming smaller in size. A severe weather spotter reported small branches snapped at the same time as the hail. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $10,000 | Trees damaged and power lines were down. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $10,000 | Several large branches were downed and a few trees as well. |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 1996 | Hail | Centerville | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $5,000 | Law Enforcement reported 12 inch diameter trees downed in Centerville. Time and location estimated from radar, delayed report. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $5,000 | Trained spotter reported estimated wind gust of 65 mph. |
| June 2011 | Hail | Centerville | $5,000 | Nickel to quarter size hail covering the parking lot. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $5,000 | Power lines were downed. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $5,000 | no account filed |
| September 2005 | Hail | Centerville | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $5,000 | no account filed |
| September 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $3,000 | Winds was 40 MPH sustained, with gusts to 60 MPH. |
| June 2011 | Hail | Centerville | $3,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Centerville | $3,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $3,000 | no account filed |
| June 2017 | Hail | Centerville | $2,000 | Trained spotter reported 2 inch hail. |
| May 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Centerville | $2,000 | The tornado was a brief touchdown in open areas. The tornado itself was actually embedded within a large area of straight line winds. |
| May 2004 | Hail | Centerville | $2,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Hail | Centerville | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 1996 | Lightning | Centerville | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $1,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Centerville | $1,000 | no account filed |
| May 1997 | Hail | Centerville | $1,000 | no account filed |
| August 2025 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | A 24 hour rain total of 4.8 inches. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | - | Trained spotter reported tree limbs down. |
| June 2021 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | Coop observer reported 2.97 inches of rain in 24 hours. |
| June 2021 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | Coop observer reported 2.64 inches of rain in 24 hours. |
| August 2021 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | A 24 hour rain total of 2.91 inches. |
| August 2021 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | A 24 hour rain total of 3.05 inches. |
| July 2021 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | A 24 hour rainfall report of 2.07 inches. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | - | Wind gusts of 60-70 mph near Centerville reported via social media. Time estimated via radar. |
| June 2020 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | Trained spotter measured 1.99 inches of rain. Beginning time estimated by radar. |
| May 2019 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | CoCoRaHS observer recorded heavy rainfall of 2.28 inches over the last 24 hours. |
| May 2019 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | Coop observer recorded heavy rainfall of 2.10 inches over the last 24 hours. |
| May 2019 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | CoCoRaHS observer recorded heavy rainfall of 2.14 inches over the last 24 hours. |
| September 2019 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | Coop observer recorded heavy rainfall of 3.60 inches over the last 24 hours. |
| September 2019 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | CoCoRaHS observer recorded heavy rainfall of 3.75 inches over the last 24 hours. |
| June 2017 | Hail | Centerville | - | Trained spotter reported jagged very large hail that was potentially 3-4 inches in diameter. Numerous leaves stripped off trees and small branches down due to the hail. |
| June 2017 | Hail | Centerville | - | Trained spotter reported half dollar sized hail. |
| June 2016 | Heavy Rain | Centerville | - | Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall of 1.10 inches. Heavies rain fell between 2129 and 2140 CDT. |
| June 2016 | Hail | Centerville | - | Penny to nickel hail was reported. |
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.
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 Centerville | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1898089 | 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 455310. 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.






