Norwalk, Iowa
11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1931 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Linn Township. It lies in ZIP code area 50211. The Survey maps it on the Norwalk quadrangle. 12,799 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 945 feet above sea level.
Population over time
2 figuresNorwalk grew from 8,945 to 12,799 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 | 8,945 | |
| 2020 | 12,799 | +3,854 (+43%) |
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.
- 1931 USGS Indianola quadrangle1:62500, 4 printings
- 1954 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1956 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000
- 1957 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000
- 1969 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000
- 1972 USGS Norwalk quadrangle1:24000
- 1984 USGS Indianola quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
4 since 2006Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 4 fires within 5 miles of Norwalk between 2006 and 2015, burning about 9 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 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 September 2013 | Misuse of fire by a minor | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 2 April 2015 | Debris and open burning | 4.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 15 February 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 24 November 2008 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
1 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Norwalk: 1 past producer. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Flagstone. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockridge Sandstone Quarry | Flagstone | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 105 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Norwalk in 105 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 41 hail, 27 thunderstorm wind, 19 heavy rain, 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2007 | Tornado (EF1) | Norwalk | $300,000 | Tornado spotted by the Norwalk Fire Department, law enforcement, Warren County Emergency Manager, and trained spotters. Touched down near Norwalk, then tracked southeast into northeast Norwalk, then east-southeast of Norwalk. Damage was done to several buildings. One house had the roof taken off. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. |
| June 2023 | Lightning | Norwalk | $150,000 | House fire started by lightning strike. The home experienced significant damage to the roof and upper floor. Time matched to CG lightning data. |
| September 2014 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | $100,000 | Water 3 to 5 feet deep reported on Cherry Street. |
| June 2011 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | $100,000 | Eight to 10 inches of water flowing rapidly across lawns. |
| September 2014 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | $50,000 | Highway 28 shutdown and portions of S23 closed with water over the road. |
| June 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $40,000 | Public relayed picture of a large tree on the roof of a home. Time estimated from radar. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $25,000 | Numerous trees and power lines downed across town. |
| May 2007 | Flood | Norwalk | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $20,000 | Trained spotter reported 70 MPH winds and nickel size hail in Norwalk. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $15,000 | Trained spotter reported many large branches and trees down. During the rainfall, about 2.5 inches of rain came in about half an hour along with pea sized hail. Winds were estimated in the 76 to 85 mph range. |
| March 2006 | Hail | Norwalk | $15,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Norwalk | $15,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Norwalk | $15,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Norwalk | $15,000 | no account filed |
| May 2014 | Hail | Norwalk | $10,000 | Winds gusts to 60 MPH as well. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $10,000 | Estimated 65 MPH winds with 3 to 6 inch diameter tree branches down. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $10,000 | Trained spotter reported winds gusting to 65 MPH with pea size hail in Norwalk. |
| September 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $10,000 | A power pole was blown down in rural Warren County. |
| April 2007 | Flood | Norwalk | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $10,000 | no account filed |
| April 2003 | Hail | Norwalk | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Norwalk | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Norwalk | $10,000 | no account filed |
| August 2014 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | $5,000 | Three feet of standing water was reported over the road. |
| May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | Wind gusts of up to 70 MPH blew shingles off of a roof. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | Pea size hail also occurred. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | Numerous reports of power lines down in Norwalk. |
| June 2008 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | $5,000 | Six to eight inches of water was running over the road in places, with up to a foot of standing water in places. |
| June 2008 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | $5,000 | Water reported over numerous city streets. |
| June 2011 | Hail | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 1994 | Hail | Norwalk | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Hail | Norwalk | $3,000 | Amateur Radio Operator reported penny to nickel size hail and winds gusting to near 60 MPH in Norwalk. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Norwalk | $3,000 | no account filed |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $3,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Norwalk | $3,000 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $3,000 | no account filed |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $3,000 | no account filed |
| July 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $3,000 | no account filed |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $2,000 | Pine tree branch fell and damaged the side of a house roof. Time estimated by radar. |
| June 2009 | Flood | Norwalk | $2,000 | Cumming Highway and several gravel roads were covered with water due to the North River flooding. |
| May 2001 | Heavy Rain | Norwalk | $2,000 | Two and one half inches of rain in under two hours time. |
| April 2012 | Hail | Norwalk | $2,000 | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $2,000 | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Norwalk | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $1,000 | Lawn furniture was blown away. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $1,000 | no account filed |
| May 1993 | Hail | Norwalk | $500 | no account filed |
| April 2025 | Hail | Norwalk | - | Penny sized hail reported in Norwalk by broadcast media. |
| June 2024 | Funnel Cloud | Norwalk | - | Public report of a funnel cloud near Norwalk, viewed from the south. |
| November 2022 | Heavy Rain | Norwalk | - | A 24 hour rain total of 2.12 inches. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood | 1.8 miles | 16 | |
| Orilla | 3.5 miles | 16 | |
| Greenbush | 3.7 miles | 11 | |
| Cumming | 4.5 miles | 9 | |
| Spring Hill | 4.8 miles | 11 | |
| Prole | 5.2 miles | 11 | |
| Scotch Ridge | 6.4 miles | 11 | |
| Churchville | 6.7 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 Norwalk | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1065562 | 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 459658. 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.






