Emmetsburg, Iowa
7 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Emmetsburg Township. It lies in ZIP code area 50536. The Survey maps it on the Emmetsburg quadrangle. 3,706 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,237 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Emmetsburg
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 2 records
Emmetsburg Public Librarylisted 1983- Ormsby-Kelly Houselisted 1977
Population over time
2 figuresEmmetsburg fell from 3,904 to 3,706 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 | 3,904 | |
| 2020 | 3,706 | -198 (-5%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
4 surveys from 7 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.
- 1954 USGS Fairmont quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Fairmont quadrangle1:250000
- 1980 USGS Emmetsburg quadrangle1:24000
- 1985 USGS Estherville quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
1 since 2011Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 1 fire within 5 miles of Emmetsburg in 2011, burning about 1 acre 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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | NE CORNER OF 12 MILE LAKE, IA |
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 12 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 12 workings within 5 miles of Emmetsburg: 8 past producers, 4 producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boggess Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Hoffert Sand and Gravel | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Palo Alto County Pits | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Ryan 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 | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 67 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Emmetsburg in 67 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 27 hail, 18 thunderstorm wind, 10 heavy rain, 7 flash flood. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1997 | Flash Flood | Emmetsburg | $150,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flash Flood | Emmetsburg | $60,000 | no account filed |
| June 2018 | Flood | Emmetsburg | $50,000 | Water was flooding portions of US Hwy 18 east of Emmetsburg and in Cylinder. Water was also over Hwy 18 at the 4900 block of 370th St. and the 5500 block of 390th Street. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $50,000 | Numerous trees uprooted in town. Some minor flooding was also noted. |
| March 2007 | Flood | Emmetsburg | $50,000 | no account filed |
| October 2002 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $50,000 | no account filed |
| August 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $45,000 | no account filed |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $35,000 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $25,000 | Trees were blown down. |
| April 2010 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $25,000 | Largest hail was on the south side of town where golf ball size hail was reported. Quarter size hail fell on the north side of town. |
| September 2004 | Flash Flood | Emmetsburg | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Flash Flood | Emmetsburg | $20,000 | KICD reported that Highway 18 was under water in 2 places between Spencer and Emmetsburg. |
| August 2002 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $20,000 | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Lightning | Emmetsburg | $20,000 | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $15,000 | Several trees blown down. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $15,000 | Radio reported public sighting of trees down on the east side of Five Island Lake. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $10,000 | Law Enforcement reported trees down in town. Time radar estimated. |
| May 2013 | Flash Flood | Emmetsburg | $10,000 | Several inches of water flowing over the road in Emmetsburg at Lawler and Main. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $10,000 | Patio furniture was blown around and branches were down in the yard. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $10,000 | Numerous trees down, some uprooted. |
| June 2004 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $10,000 | no account filed |
| August 2003 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $10,000 | no account filed |
| August 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $10,000 | no account filed |
| September 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | Public reported power line down in town. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | Water was flowing over 460th Avenue. |
| April 2010 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2002 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2013 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $3,000 | Public reported heavy rainfall along with nickel to quarter size hailstones. |
| April 2011 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $3,000 | Nickel to quarter size hail reported. |
| April 2010 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $3,000 | Hail beginning to accumulate at the time of observation. |
| June 2007 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 2005 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $2,000 | no account filed |
| April 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 2013 | Hail | Emmetsburg | $1,000 | no account filed |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | - | Strong wind gusts with large branches down reported in Emmetsburg. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | - | Gust reported by personal weather station. |
| June 2023 | Hail | Emmetsburg | - | Law enforcement reported golf ball sized hail falling in Emmetsburg. |
| June 2023 | Hail | Emmetsburg | - | Law enforcement relayed report of nearly baseball sized hail in Emmetsburg. This is a delayed report and time estimated from radar. |
| June 2023 | Hail | Emmetsburg | - | Emergency manager reported leaf damage to tress around down and some brachhes down as well from golf ball sized hail. This is a delayed report. |
| June 2018 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | KICD relayed report heavy rainfall of about 3 inches since 2:30 pm. |
| July 2018 | Funnel Cloud | Emmetsburg | - | Broadcast media relayed reports of funnel clouds in the area. |
| September 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emmetsburg | - | Storm chaser measured 60 mph wind gusts via their personal anemometer. |
| September 2018 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | Mesonet station recorded heavy rainfall of 3.26 inches over the last 24 hours. |
| August 2017 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | Coop observer recorded heavy rainfall of 1.35 inches over a 30 minute period from 11 am to 11:30 am CDT. |
| April 2016 | Hail | Emmetsburg | - | Trained spotter reported nickel to quarter sized hail. |
| May 2016 | Hail | Emmetsburg | - | Trained spotter reported dime to nickel sized hail. |
| July 2016 | Flash Flood | Emmetsburg | - | Law Enforcement reported various roadways with water 3 to 5 inches deep. Time and location estimated. |
| September 2016 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | Coop observer reported heavy rainfall of 2.41 inches. |
| September 2016 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | Iowa DOT reported heavy rainfall of 3.50 inches storm total through 8am. |
| May 2013 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | Rainfall in the past hour of 1.25 inches. |
| May 2013 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | Rainfall in the past hour of 5.00 inches. Relayed by KICD radio. |
| April 2013 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | Rainfall 1.10 inches. |
| June 2011 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | Observer reported 2.96 inches of rain in 90 minutes. |
| August 2010 | Heavy Rain | Emmetsburg | - | Public reports very heavy rain in Emmetsburg with water 3-4 inches deep on Highway 18. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osgood | 5.6 miles | 7 | |
| Cylinder | 7.1 miles | 7 | |
| Fallow (historical) | 8.6 miles | 7 | |
| Depew | 8.9 miles | 7 | |
| Graettinger | 9.4 miles | 7 | |
| Ayrshire | 9.4 miles | 7 | |
| Curlew | 9.7 miles | 8 | |
| Rodman | 9.9 miles | 7 |
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 Emmetsburg | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q989465 | 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 456375. 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.



