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Spirit Lake, Iowa

7 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Center Grove Township. It lies in ZIP code area 51360. The Survey maps it on the Spirit Lake quadrangle. 5,439 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,473 feet above sea level.

Spirit Lake within Dickinson County

On record in Spirit Lake

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 4 records

Population over time

2 figures

Spirit Lake grew from 4,840 to 5,439 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
20104,840
20205,439+599 (+12%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 7 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

27 since 2006

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 27 fires within 5 miles of Spirit Lake between 2006 and 2019, burning about 711 acres in total. None started naturally. 1 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/undetermined22
Debris and open burning3
Arson/incendiarism1
Misuse of fire by a minor1

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
27 September 2006Arson/incendiarismunder an acreIowa Wetland Management DistrictBLOOPER
29 August 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined4.0 acresIowa Wetland Management DistrictKETTELSON
31 July 2017Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
27 June 2017Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
5 May 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined52 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
9 April 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
7 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resources25271 182ND ST., CENTER GROVE TWP, SPIRIT LAKE, IA
30 April 2015Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Dickinson County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 14 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 14 workings within 5 miles of Spirit Lake: 10 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 SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Frey PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Herman WedkingSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Roth PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Dickinson County

Storms near this place

60 of 81 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Spirit Lake in 81 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 34 hail, 33 thunderstorm wind, 12 flash flood, 2 tornado. 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
June 2001HailSpirit Lake$500,000Large hail caused severe damage to vehicles and also damaged buildings. Crop damage was suspected in the area but no estimates were available.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$500,000no account filed
June 2001Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$300,000Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including large trees blown down. Some of the trees landed on vehicles and houses and caused further damage.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$50,000Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a concrete plant and scattered the debris, resulting in damage to some vehicles. The winds also blew down power lines, resulting in a widespread power outage, and starting a small fire which damaged a house. Tree damage from the winds included several trees blown down.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$50,000no account filed
June 1994Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$50,000no account filed
June 1994Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$50,000no account filed
August 2014Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$20,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage, resulting in a power outage in most of the town of Spirit Lake.
September 2004Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$20,000Thunderstorm winds damaged grain bins, outbuildings, and other farm equipment.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$20,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage. At least one house was damaged when a tree was blown over onto the roof.
April 1998Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$20,000no account filed
December 2021Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$10,000Thunderstorm winds downed several power poles. Property damage costs are a rough estimate.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$10,000Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a mobile home and also blew down power lines.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$1,000Thunderstorm winds damaged a small shed.
September 2004Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake$1,000Thunderstorm winds moved two outbuildings off their foundations.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorms winds pushed a large tree onto a house, another tree fell across a city street, and a couple of power lines were downed from broken tree limbs.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-A tree and several three-inch tree limbs were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts in Spirit Lake.
June 2024Flash FloodSpirit Lake-After 2 to 4 inches of rain over a couple hours, flooding of roads resulted in multiple stalled vehicles in Spirit Lake and Okoboji. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for areal and river flooding for Dickinson County.
June 2024Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Three cars stalled in high water ponded in city streets.
June 2024Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Significant street flooding was reported in Spirit Lake.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-A tree fell on a power line just west of Spirit Lake.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a 12 inch diameter limb blown down.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds damaged a fence.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several large trees blown down.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds damaged a warehouse.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including at least one tree blown down. The winds were accompanied by marble size hail.
June 2014Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Heavy rain caused flash flooding of streets, stalling cars.
September 2012Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage.
July 2010Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Heavy rain caused flash flooding of numerous streets.
October 2009Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Heavy rain caused flooding of numerous streets, parkland, and low areas in the town of Spirit Lake.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including at least one large tree blown down.
May 2009HailSpirit Lake-Hail covered a patio, and covered the ground up to several inches deep in a few spots.
July 2009HailSpirit Lake-Hail was accompanied by wind gusts to 59 mph.
August 2007Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Heavy rainfall cuased street and yard flooding in Spirit lake.
July 2007HailSpirit Lake-Hail was mostly pea size with a few hailstones up to the size of pennies.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several large trees blown down. A few power lines were also blown down.
August 2006Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Heavy rainfall...measured at 3.40 inches in less than an hour...caused widespread street flooding.
June 2005Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Heavy rain caused flooding of numerous streets, especially at intersections. Basement flooding was also reported.
August 2005Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Heavy rain caused widespread street flooding.
September 2005Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Heavy rain caused flooding of streets at Spirit Lake, with Lake Street being the most severely flooded.
September 2004Flash FloodSpirit Lake-Rainfall estimated at 3 to 6 inches caused flooding of streets and basements.
September 2004Tornado (F0)Spirit Lake-A brief tornado caused no reported damage.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindSpirit Lake-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage.
June 2001Tornado (F0)Spirit Lake-A rope tornado was observed with dust or debris, but there were no reports of damage available.
June 2000HailSpirit Lake-Large hail was reported along Highway 71 just south of the state line.
July 1995HailSpirit Lake-Hail caused extensive but undetermined crop damage.
June 2025HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
June 2022HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
May 2018HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
June 2014HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
May 2009HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
May 2009HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
July 2006HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
March 2005HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
May 2005HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
June 2005HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
May 2005HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
May 2005HailSpirit Lake-no account filed
May 2005HailSpirit Lake-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Dickinson 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
Orleans1.8 miles7
Village East Resort2.8 miles8
Okoboji3.5 miles8
Crows Nest Resort3.6 miles7
Arnolds Park3.6 miles7
Beaches Resort3.8 miles8
Triboji Beach3.9 miles8
Egralharve4.0 miles8

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 Spirit LakeAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q989683The 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 461851. 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.