Why visit Emmetsburg
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 3 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Riviera Theatre, Emmetsburg Public Library, Ormsby-Kelly House and Five Island Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 7°F, and about 37 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Emmetsburg
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Emmetsburg
Emmetsburg is a city in Palo Alto County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,706 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Palo Alto County. Emmetsburg is located around the southern bay of Five Island Lake.
From the Wikipedia article Emmetsburg, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks7
Emmetsburg Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Public library in Emmetsburg, Iowa, United States
Ormsby-Kelly House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic residence located in Emmetsburg, Iowa, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes3
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History
The town was originally settled by immigrants during the Great Famine of Ireland between 1845 and 1852. Emmetsburg was named after the Dublin-born Irish nationalist Robert Emmet, who was executed at 25 for leading an 1803 rebellion against the British. The city was incorporated on November 17, 1877.
From the History section of Emmetsburg, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Americas Best Value Inn Suburban Motel
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
3635 450th Avenue, Emmetsburg
Churches and places of worship7
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare1
Map of Emmetsburg
37 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°F | 7°F | 0.7 in | 8.0 in |
| Feb | 31°F | 12°F | 0.9 in | 8.2 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 24°F | 1.8 in | 5.9 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 36°F | 3.7 in | 2.6 in |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.5 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 59°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 63°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 51°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 38°F | 2.4 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 26°F | 1.5 in | 4.9 in |
| Dec | 32°F | 14°F | 1.1 in | 7.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Emmetsburg (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Palo Alto County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-06-24: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2022-02-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-03-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2018-08-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Estherville Municipal Airport (EST) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Estherville 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
- Algona 23 mi east, about 37 min by car
- Spencer 24 mi west, about 39 min by car
- Pocahontas 26 mi south, about 42 min by car
- Fairmont 38 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Lake Park 40 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
- Manson 41 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Storm Lake 42 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Alta 44 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Fort Dodge 49 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Emmetsburg Iowa, David Morris, CC BY 2.0
- Emmetsburg, Iowa - Five Island Lake at sunset, David Morris, CC BY 2.0
- Lake morning (hdr) (1759580544), David Morris, CC BY 2.0
- 8 14 a.m. clouds below (1454316784), David Morris, CC BY 2.0
- ISS030-E-230256 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS030-E-230257 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS030-E-233542 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS030-E-233541 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- 06-13 angry lake wet dock (2578613332), David Morris, CC BY 2.0
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