Kingsley, Iowa
9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Garfield Township. It lies in ZIP code area 51028. It stands on Johns Creek. The Survey maps it on the Kingsley quadrangle. 1,396 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,257 feet above sea level.
Population over time
2 figuresKingsley fell from 1,411 to 1,396 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 | 1,411 | |
| 2020 | 1,396 | -15 (-1%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
5 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 Fort Dodge quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1957 USGS Fort Dodge quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Fort Dodge quadrangle1:250000
- 1969 USGS Kingsley quadrangle1:24000
- 1985 USGS Storm Lake quadrangle1:100000, 3 printings
Fires near this place
2 since 2009Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 2 fires within 5 miles of Kingsley in 2009, burning about 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 April 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 19 March 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Mines and quarries near this place
8 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 8 workings within 5 miles of Kingsley: 6 past producers, 2 producers. 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bainbridge | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Kingsley Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Tom Flewelling Pit and Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | 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 | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 64 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Kingsley in 64 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 34 hail, 26 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2021 | Tornado (EF1) | Kingsley | $50,000 | This tornado formed around 4 miles east-northeast of Moville in Woodbury County and entered Plymouth County around two miles south of Kingsley, just east of the intersection of Knox Avenue and 100th Street. Numerous large trees were snapped as the tornado entered Plymouth County. The tornado continued to travel north-northeast to a location around one mile east of Kingsley where several outbuildings were destroyed and large trees snapped. The tornado then turned to a northerly track as it crossed County Road C66, where it damaged several power poles. The tornado traveled another mile and a half parallel to Roosevelt Avenue before it destroyed a hoop barn and removed the steel roof from a corn crib, with debris scattered a half mile to the north. The tornado dissipated after another quarter mile at 1642CST. The tornado was rated EF1 while in both Woodbury and Plymouth Counties. The average path width in Plymouth County was 50 yards and the maximum estimated wind speed was 105 mph. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $50,000 | no account filed |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $35,000 | Thunderstorms winds caused failure of a south-facing door which resulted in uplift of numerous roof panels and removal of insulation. Debris was deposited to the north and northwest of the building amongst several large trees which were snapped. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $30,000 | Thunderstorm winds peeled back large sections of north-facing roof on a hog confinement building. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $30,000 | Thunderstorm winds destroyed two farm outbuildings and flipped a truck on its side. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $30,000 | Thunderstorm winds uprooted large trees, caused other tree damage, and destroyed a machine shed. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $25,000 | An old barn was destroyed by thunderstorms winds. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $25,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused extensive damage to an outbuilding with an open side toward the southeast. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $25,000 | South-facing door of outbuilding was buckled by thunderstorm winds, which resulted in failure of the east wall of the building. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $20,000 | Thunderstorm winds damaged the top section of a barn, also leaning toward the north. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $20,000 | Thunderstorm winds ripped a porch overhang off the exposed south-facing side of a house, with debris impacting a fence and home north of this location. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $20,000 | no account filed |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds removed numerous metal panels from a shed roof. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2025 | Hail | Kingsley | - | Quarter to half-dollar size hail was reported. |
| June 2025 | Hail | Kingsley | - | Hail from pea to nickel size covered the ground. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | Trees and some power lines were downed by thunderstorm winds in Kingsley. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts snapped several trees at the intersection of County Highway C60 and Tamarack Avenue. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | A machine shed and two trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | An old barn was pushed off its foundation and partially collapsed. |
| May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including up to 6 inch diameter branches broken off. The winds also blew weather equipment off a garage. |
| May 2016 | Tornado (EF0) | Kingsley | - | A brief tornado, a landspout, caused no reported damage. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | Thunderstorm winds caused an unknown amount of tree damage. |
| August 2009 | Hail | Kingsley | - | Large hail damaged vehicles. The amount of damage was not known. |
| May 2008 | Hail | Kingsley | - | Large hail whitened the ground. |
| May 2008 | Hail | Kingsley | - | Large hail partially covered the ground. |
| September 2005 | Hail | Kingsley | - | Large hail covered the ground. |
| July 2003 | Hail | Kingsley | - | Large hail caused an unknown amount of crop damage. |
| July 2003 | Hail | Kingsley | - | Large hail damaged crops. The amount of crop damage was not known. |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several trees blown down. |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including some trees and large branches blown down. |
| July 1997 | Tornado (F0) | Kingsley | - | A tornado resulted in no reported damage. |
| August 2022 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| June 2016 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| October 2013 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| September 2012 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Funnel Cloud | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| August 2006 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| August 2005 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| August 2005 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| August 2005 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| September 2005 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| June 2004 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| August 2004 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| September 2004 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| June 2003 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| April 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| July 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| May 2000 | Hail | Kingsley | - | no account filed |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingsley | - | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Center | 8.7 miles | 10 | |
| O'Leary | 9.5 miles | 10 | |
| Neptune | 11.3 miles | 10 | |
| Remsen | 15.6 miles | 9 | |
| Plymouth (historical) | 16.2 miles | 10 | |
| Oyens | 16.7 miles | 10 | |
| Wren | 17.4 miles | 9 | |
| Hinton | 17.4 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 Kingsley | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1925352 | 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 458095. 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.




