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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

Iowa Falls within Hardin County

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

Every listing in Hardin County

Population over time

2 figures

Iowa 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.

YearPeople Change
20105,238
20205,106-132 (-3%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 9 printed sheets

Matched 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.

Fires near this place

15 since 2006

Regional 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/undetermined14
Debris and open burning1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
2 July 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
14 July 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
17 June 2006Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
14 June 2008Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 May 2014Debris and open burning8.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
6 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresIowa Department of Natural ResourcesI-35 MM 102, IA
5 April 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 April 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resources11908 MM AVENUE, IOWA

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Hardin County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 11 shown

Regional 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 SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Iowa Falls Tile Co.ClayPast Producer
Riekena QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
UnknownStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Harms PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Iowa Falls PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Janssen PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Klein PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Lyman PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Slayton PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Stinson Excavating Co. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every working recorded in Hardin County

Storms near this place

60 of 104 shown

Regional 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.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1998HailIowa Falls$400,000no account filed
March 2019Flash FloodIowa Falls$200,000Emergency 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 2001Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$100,000Microburst wind event.
May 1999Flash FloodIowa Falls$100,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$100,000no account filed
May 2008FloodIowa Falls$75,000The 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 1998FloodIowa Falls$70,000no account filed
July 2019Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$50,000Trained 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 2008Heavy RainIowa Falls$50,000The rain began around 1845 CST Tuesday evening and ended around 0115 CST Wednesday morning. A total of 6.25 inches was reported.
May 2008FloodIowa Falls$50,000The 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 2008Heavy RainIowa Falls$50,000Water was reported in residential basements.
August 2004LightningIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
July 1999Flash FloodIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
June 1998FloodIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
June 1998FloodIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
August 1993Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
June 2001HailIowa Falls$30,000no account filed
May 2008FloodIowa Falls$25,000The Hardin County Sheriff reported the intersection of D15 and D20 closed between Iowa Falls and Alden.
June 2008Heavy RainIowa Falls$25,000Numerous roads closed in the Alden area by flooding with 4.75 inches of rain.
June 2008Flash FloodIowa Falls$25,000Hwy 65 covered by water near the railroad underpass in Iowa Falls.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$25,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$25,000no account filed
June 2015Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$20,000Public reported large trees down in Iowa Falls. Report received via post to WHO TV Facebook page.
March 2008FloodIowa Falls$20,000Shallow water was flowing over county road D15. Water was forced onto highway by blocked culvert in the Alden area.
June 2008Flash FloodIowa Falls$20,000Water was over the road on County Highway D20 between Iowa Falls and Alden.
May 2004HailIowa Falls$20,000no account filed
August 2004Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$15,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$15,000no account filed
September 2017Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000Public 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 2016Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000Law Enforcement reported several power lines and large trees down throughout the town of Alden.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000Trained spotter reports large trees down across driveway.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000Trees damaged with one 18 inch diameter tree falling on a van.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000no account filed
June 2005Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000no account filed
July 2019Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000Trained 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 2018LightningIowa Falls$5,000A lightning strike blew a transformer causing a loss of power, internet and cell service.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000Five inch diameter tree limbs snapped.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000Six to eight tree limbs fell on a vehicle.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000Widespread small tree limb damage and one 8 inch diameter limb snapped. Tree was snapped at Linden and Indiana Ave.
April 2006HailIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
May 2004HailIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
April 2002HailIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
June 2000Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
April 2007HailIowa Falls$3,000no account filed
April 2007HailIowa Falls$3,000no account filed
June 2025Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$2,000Branches, trees, and powerlines down. Report by Alden Fire Department.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$2,000Tree damage was reported in town with some limbs down.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$2,000Dime size hail was reported as well.
April 2006HailIowa Falls$2,000no account filed
June 1997Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$2,000no account filed
April 2008Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$1,000no account filed
June 2005HailIowa Falls$1,000no account filed
June 2005HailIowa Falls$1,000no account filed
June 1997HailIowa Falls$1,000no account filed
June 1995Tornado (F0)Iowa Falls$1,000no account filed
May 1999HailIowa Falls$500no account filed
May 1999HailIowa Falls$500no account filed
March 2025HailIowa Falls-Pea to penny sized hail in Iowa Falls, reported from a trained spotter.
March 2025HailIowa Falls-Hail report received via social media.

Every storm recorded in Hardin County

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 PlaceDistance Sheets
Iowa Falls Junction0.8 miles9
Racine5.5 miles9
Macey5.6 miles9
Owasa6.6 miles9
Alden6.6 miles9
Eagle City6.6 miles9
Robertson6.7 miles9
Alden Station (historical)7.0 miles9

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 FallsAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q1917841The 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.