Iowa Falls, Iowa
9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Hardin Township. It lies in ZIP code area 50126. It stands on Elk Run. The Survey maps it on the Iowa Falls West quadrangle. 5,106 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,106 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Iowa Falls
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 12 of 21 shown
Carnegie-Ellsworth Public Librarylisted 1983
Edgewood School of Domestic Artslisted 1979
Ellsworth-Jones Buildinglisted 1993
Estes Park Band Shelllisted 1993
First National Banklisted 1993
Iowa Falls Bridgelisted 1998
Iowa Falls Union Depotlisted 1990
Glenn and Nell Kurtz Lustron Home and Garagelisted 2014
McClanahan Blocklisted 1993
Metropolitan Opera Houselisted 1975
Mills Tower Historic Districtlisted 1990
Princess-Sweet Shoplisted 1993
Population over time
2 figuresIowa Falls fell from 5,238 to 5,106 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 | 5,238 | |
| 2020 | 5,106 | -132 (-3%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
4 surveys from 9 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 Waterloo quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1955 USGS Waterloo quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1979 USGS Iowa Falls West quadrangle1:24000
- 1984 USGS Iowa Falls quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
15 since 2006Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 15 fires within 5 miles of Iowa Falls between 2006 and 2014, burning about 145 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 | 14 |
| Debris and open burning | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 July 2007 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 14 July 2007 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 17 June 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 14 June 2008 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 May 2014 | Debris and open burning | 8.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 6 April 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | I-35 MM 102, IA |
| 5 April 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 April 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 11908 MM AVENUE, IOWA |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 11 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 11 workings within 5 miles of Iowa Falls: 7 past producers, 4 producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Falls Tile Co. | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Riekena Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Harms Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Iowa Falls Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Janssen Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Klein Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Lyman Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Slayton Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Stinson Excavating Co. Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 104 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Iowa Falls in 104 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 32 thunderstorm wind, 27 hail, 24 heavy rain, 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1998 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $400,000 | no account filed |
| March 2019 | Flash Flood | Iowa Falls | $200,000 | Emergency manager reported an ice jam in Iowa Falls has caused rapid rises along the Iowa river. At one point there was an 8 foot rise in 15 minutes. |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $100,000 | Microburst wind event. |
| May 1999 | Flash Flood | Iowa Falls | $100,000 | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $100,000 | no account filed |
| May 2008 | Flood | Iowa Falls | $75,000 | The Mayor of Alden reported that the Alden Elementary School was closed Wednesday due to 4 feet of water in the boiler room and a foot of water in the cafeteria. The water softener, main compressor, and several chemicals have water damage in the boiler room as well. |
| June 1998 | Flood | Iowa Falls | $70,000 | no account filed |
| July 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $50,000 | Trained spotter reported many whole trees down, either snapped or uprooted, along with several smaller limbs down throughout town. Some roads were blocked from the downed trees. The local college was without power. Penny hail also occurred. |
| May 2008 | Heavy Rain | Iowa Falls | $50,000 | The rain began around 1845 CST Tuesday evening and ended around 0115 CST Wednesday morning. A total of 6.25 inches was reported. |
| May 2008 | Flood | Iowa Falls | $50,000 | The Mayor of Alden reported that several County Roads were washed out or covered with water in and around Alden. The Alden Fire Department was pumping water out of drains due to storm drains running full and manhole covers popping. |
| June 2008 | Heavy Rain | Iowa Falls | $50,000 | Water was reported in residential basements. |
| August 2004 | Lightning | Iowa Falls | $50,000 | no account filed |
| July 1999 | Flash Flood | Iowa Falls | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flood | Iowa Falls | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flood | Iowa Falls | $50,000 | no account filed |
| August 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $30,000 | no account filed |
| May 2008 | Flood | Iowa Falls | $25,000 | The Hardin County Sheriff reported the intersection of D15 and D20 closed between Iowa Falls and Alden. |
| June 2008 | Heavy Rain | Iowa Falls | $25,000 | Numerous roads closed in the Alden area by flooding with 4.75 inches of rain. |
| June 2008 | Flash Flood | Iowa Falls | $25,000 | Hwy 65 covered by water near the railroad underpass in Iowa Falls. |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $20,000 | Public reported large trees down in Iowa Falls. Report received via post to WHO TV Facebook page. |
| March 2008 | Flood | Iowa Falls | $20,000 | Shallow water was flowing over county road D15. Water was forced onto highway by blocked culvert in the Alden area. |
| June 2008 | Flash Flood | Iowa Falls | $20,000 | Water was over the road on County Highway D20 between Iowa Falls and Alden. |
| May 2004 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $20,000 | no account filed |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $15,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $15,000 | no account filed |
| September 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $10,000 | Public reported wind damage in and near Iowa Falls, including tree branches and power pole damage. This is a delayed report. Time and location estimated based on radar. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $10,000 | Law Enforcement reported several power lines and large trees down throughout the town of Alden. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $10,000 | Trained spotter reports large trees down across driveway. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $10,000 | Trees damaged with one 18 inch diameter tree falling on a van. |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | Trained spotter reported numerous instances of medium to large tree branches down while driving around town, including estimated 12 inch diameter branches. Also reported power out in parts of town. Time estimated from radar. |
| August 2018 | Lightning | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | A lightning strike blew a transformer causing a loss of power, internet and cell service. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | Five inch diameter tree limbs snapped. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | Six to eight tree limbs fell on a vehicle. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | Widespread small tree limb damage and one 8 inch diameter limb snapped. Tree was snapped at Linden and Indiana Ave. |
| April 2006 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2002 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2007 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $3,000 | no account filed |
| April 2007 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $3,000 | no account filed |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $2,000 | Branches, trees, and powerlines down. Report by Alden Fire Department. |
| August 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $2,000 | Tree damage was reported in town with some limbs down. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $2,000 | Dime size hail was reported as well. |
| April 2006 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $2,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $2,000 | no account filed |
| April 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Iowa Falls | $1,000 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $1,000 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $1,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $1,000 | no account filed |
| June 1995 | Tornado (F0) | Iowa Falls | $1,000 | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $500 | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Hail | Iowa Falls | $500 | no account filed |
| March 2025 | Hail | Iowa Falls | - | Pea to penny sized hail in Iowa Falls, reported from a trained spotter. |
| March 2025 | Hail | Iowa Falls | - | Hail report received via social media. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Falls Junction | 0.8 miles | 9 | |
| Racine | 5.5 miles | 9 | |
| Macey | 5.6 miles | 9 | |
| Owasa | 6.6 miles | 9 | |
| Alden | 6.6 miles | 9 | |
| Eagle City | 6.6 miles | 9 | |
| Robertson | 6.7 miles | 9 | |
| Alden Station (historical) | 7.0 miles | 9 |
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 Iowa Falls | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1917841 | 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 457829. 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.



