Why visit Iowa Falls
Townapedia lists 25 museums and landmarks, 18 parks and trails, 9 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Iowa Falls Bridge, Metropolitan Opera House, Carnegie-Ellsworth Public Library and Edgewood School of Domestic Arts.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 8°F, and about 28 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Iowa Falls
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Iowa Falls
Iowa Falls is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. Iowa Falls is the home of Ellsworth Community College. It is also a regional transportation center, located along U.S. Routes 20 and 65 and the Canadian National and Union Pacific Railroads. The population was 5,106 at the time of the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Iowa Falls, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Iowa Falls Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places
Bridge in United States of America
Museums and landmarks25
Carnegie-Ellsworth Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic Carnegie library in Iowa
Edgewood School of Domestic Arts
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic building in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States
Ellsworth-Jones Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States
Estes Park Band Shell
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States
First National Bank
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States
Glenn and Nell Kurtz Lustron Home and Garage
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic building located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States
Herman Wood Round Barn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Iowa Falls, Iowa, NRHP-listed in Franklin County
Iowa Falls Union Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Railway station in Iowa Falls, the United States of America
McClanahan Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States
Metropolitan Opera House
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places
Theater in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States
Mills Tower Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
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Princess Sweet Shop
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States of America
13 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds18
6 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes9
History
Iowa Falls was laid out and platted in 1856. Prior to being named Iowa Falls, the area had been known as Rocksylvania. However, due to the difficulty of pronunciation and spelling, it was then changed to Iowa Falls. It was named from the falls on the Iowa River.
The Illinois Central Railroad was built through Iowa Falls in 1866.
The Metropolitan Opera House was built in 1899, it presented plays, operas, and vaudeville in the town during the first half of the twentieth century, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Iowa Falls Popcorn Stand, located in Estes Park, is the oldest popcorn stand in Iowa that is still running. It was first opened on May 29, 1948, as "Louie's Korn Krib."
From the History section of Iowa Falls, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
AmericInn by Wyndham Iowa Falls
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
810 South Oak Street, Iowa Falls
Churches and places of worship13
St. Matthew's by the Bridge Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Healthcare3
Map of Iowa Falls
91 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°F | 8°F | 0.9 in | 7.1 in |
| Feb | 31°F | 12°F | 1.2 in | 7.1 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 24°F | 2.1 in | 4.5 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 35°F | 3.8 in | 1.3 in |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 6.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 51°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 38°F | 2.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 45°F | 26°F | 2.0 in | 1.6 in |
| Dec | 32°F | 15°F | 1.5 in | 6.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Iowa Falls Hcn (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
Hardin County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-08-17: Severe Storms (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-03-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2014-08-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-07-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Iowa Falls Municipal Airport (IFA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Eldora 14 mi southeast, about 22 min by car
- Hampton 16 mi north, about 25 min by car
- Parkersburg 25 mi east, about 41 min by car
- Grundy Center 27 mi southeast, about 44 min by car
- Roland 27 mi southwest, about 44 min by car
- Clarion 28 mi northwest, about 45 min by car
- Belmond 28 mi northwest, about 46 min by car
- Marshalltown 38 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Ames 39 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Cedar Falls 41 mi east, about 1 h 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
- Iowa falls iowa, Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iowa Falls Union Passenger Depot 6-5-24, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- Iowa Falls Union Depot, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CN 2296 Leads EB L570 Manifest Iowa Falls, IA 5-20-22, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- CN 5273 a EMD SD40-2W in Iowa Falls, IA 5-19-22, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- Union Pacific Iowa Falls Switcher Office (35684664791), Tyler Silvest from Olathe, Kansas, CC BY 2.0
- 07312017-Iowa Falls Lustron, Justin Calkins, CC BY-SA 4.0
- UP 1917 Leads NB Local "Job 47" Iowa Falls, IA 5-21-19, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- UP 8648 Leads SB Manifest Iowa Falls, IA 7-20-24, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- PRLX 4831 Leads WB G899 Covered Hopper Iowa Falls, IA 6-26-18 (cropped), Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- 3 CN 8336 Leads EB L570 Manifest Iowa Falls, IA 6-29-26, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 4.0
- Post Office Iowa Falls Iowa, Billwhittaker at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mills Tower Historic District, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Princess Sweets Iowa Falls Iowa, Billwhittaker at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WRC hall Iowa Falls Iowa, Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Met Opera Iowa Falls, Billwhittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First national iowa falls, Billwhittaker at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carnegie ellsworth library, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St Matthew's by the bridge, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sentinel Iowa Falls Iowa, Billwhittaker at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cemetery cottage, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slayton Farms Round Barn, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ellsworth jones iowa falls, Billwhittaker at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Herman Wood Round Barn, rural Iowa Falls, Iowa, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- River st bridge plaque 1, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- River street bridge, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- River street bridge plaque 2, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- McClanahan Block Building, Keith Snyder, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Estes park bandshell, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Washington Avenue HD NRHP 12000889 Hardin County, IA, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Washington Avenue Bridge, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Edgewood School of Domestic Arts, Keith Snyder, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iowa river bridge side, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iowa river bridge, Ann Sullivan-Larson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Metropolitan Opera House at Night, Bryan Van Donslear, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CRGX 402 (SW900) 11-24-22, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- CRGX 402 (SW900) (34976875184), Tyler Silvest from Olathe, Kansas, CC BY 2.0
- CN 5712 Leads WB L571 Manifest over Iowa River 6-27-20, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- 2 3 CN 8862 Leads WB L571 Manifest over Iowa River 6-25-17 (35417546830), Tyler Silvest from Olathe, Kansas, CC BY 2.0
- CN 2117 (C40-8) - May 2023, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
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