Estherville, Iowa
Estherville is a city of 5,839 people in Emmet County, Iowa, founded in 1881.
Why visit Estherville
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 8 places to eat, 4 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Fridley Grand 3 Theaters, Emmet County Historical Society Museum Complex, Fort Defiance State Park and Estherville Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 5°F.
Weather in Estherville
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Estherville
Estherville is a city in Estherville Township, Emmet County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,904 in the 2020 census, a decline from 6,656 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Emmet County.
From the Wikipedia article Estherville, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks6
Emmet County Historical Society Museum Complex
Museum · 0.9 mi
1720 3rd Avenue South, Estherville
Mo-Su 13:00-16:00
Estherville Meteorite Center
Museum
816 East Central Avenue, Estherville
Parks, trails and playgrounds17
ELC High School Football Field Visitors Stands
Sports field and stadium · 0.7 mi
5 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes8
History
Emmet County was initially created by an act of the Iowa Legislature in 1851. The area that is now Estherville saw its first settlers arrive around 1856 and into 1857. The city was selected as the county seat in 1859, and was eventually incorporated in 1881.
Estherville was named after Esther A. Ridley, one of the first white female settlers in the area. Many of Estherville's current residents are the descendants of the original Scandinavian, German and Irish immigrants that arrived in the community in the second half of the nineteenth century.
A large meteorite struck the ground near Estherville on May 10, 1879. A report shared with the Royal Astronomical Society (UK) indicated that one fragment weighed about 500 lbs. A smaller fragment was found that weighed 170 lbs. The University of Minnesota acquired several pieces for examination.
From the History section of Estherville, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay4
Estherville Hotel & Suites
Motel and hotel · 0.9 mi
2008 East Central Avenue, Estherville
Churches and places of worship16
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Estherville Lincoln Central High School
School · 0.5 mi
1520 Central Ave, Estherville
Healthcare2
Map of Estherville
75 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 5°F | 0.8 in |
| Feb | 28°F | 10°F | 0.8 in |
| Mar | 41°F | 22°F | 1.4 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 33°F | 3.5 in |
| May | 69°F | 46°F | 4.5 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 4.8 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 3.9 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 57°F | 3.8 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 48°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 36°F | 2.5 in |
| Nov | 43°F | 23°F | 1.5 in |
| Dec | 29°F | 11°F | 1.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Estherville 4E Hcn (4 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
Emmet County has had 12 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, 4 miles away.
- Graettinger 12 mi south, about 19 min by car
- Spencer 24 mi southwest, about 38 min by car
- Fairmont 25 mi northeast, about 40 min by car
- Lake Park 25 mi west, about 40 min by car
- Algona 38 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Worthington 41 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
- Primghar 45 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Pocahontas 47 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Storm Lake 55 mi south, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Alta 56 mi southwest, about 1 h 30 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
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Central Avenue Estherville, AlphaFae92, CC0
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