Lake City, Iowa
Lake City is a city of 1,693 people in Calhoun County, Iowa, founded in 1856.
Why visit Lake City
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 2 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge, Lake City Capri Theater, Historic Central School and Lake City Public Library.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 8°F, and about 32 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Lake City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lake City
Lake City is a city in Calhoun County, Iowa, United States, founded in 1856. The population was 1,731 at the time of the 2020 census. The sign coming into town proudly proclaims that Lake City has "Everything but a Lake."
From the Wikipedia article Lake City, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Bridge in Lake City, Iowa
Museums and landmarks9
Historic Central School
Museum
211 South Center Street, Lake City
Mo-Fr 09:30-11:30 || "by appointment"
Lake City Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Former library building in Lake City, Iowa, United States
110 Washington Street, Lake City
Central School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic school building in Lake City, Iowa, USA
Chicago and North Western Office Building/Passenger Depot-Lake City
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Railway station in Lake City, the United States of America
Gen. Cass and Belle Smith House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in Iowa, United States
Lake City Community Memorial Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States of America
Lake City Water Standpipe
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Peter and Mary Smith House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic dwelling located in Lake City, Iowa, United States
Smith Farmhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic house in Iowa, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Restaurants and cafes2
History
Lake City was founded in 1856. Lake City took its name from Lake Creek. The town experienced growth with the advent of the railroad in 1881. On June 9, 1954, the city was struck by an F4 tornado, killing one. On July 14, 2021, the city was struck by an EF3 tornado.
From the History section of Lake City, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship6
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness
312 North Hancock Street, Lake City
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries2
Healthcare3
Map of Lake City
35 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 | 0.8 in | 7.4 in |
| Feb | 31°F | 12°F | 1.0 in | 7.6 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 24°F | 2.0 in | 4.9 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 36°F | 3.8 in | 1.9 in |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 51°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 38°F | 2.4 in | 0.6 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 25°F | 1.5 in | 2.4 in |
| Dec | 32°F | 15°F | 1.3 in | 7.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rockwell City Hcn (10 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
Calhoun County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-05-24: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (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)
- 2010-07-29: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Arthur N. Neu Airport (CIN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Rockwell City 10 mi northeast, about 17 min by car
- Lytton 13 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Breda 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
- Carroll 15 mi southwest, about 25 min by car
- Glidden 15 mi south, about 23 min by car
- Coon Rapids 27 mi south, about 44 min by car
- Fort Dodge 33 mi northeast, about 53 min by car
- Storm Lake 35 mi northwest, about 57 min by car
- Boone 46 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Dunlap 53 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
- 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
- Lake City, IA, Jared Winkler, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lake City Rainbow Bridge, Image taken by Joe Elliott, HAER Photographer, Public domain
- LakeCityIA FormerCarnegieLibrary, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LakeCityIA CommunityMemorialBuilding, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LakeCityIA WaterStandpipe, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LakeCityIA CentralSchool, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LakeCityIA FormerCNWDepot, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LakeCityIA PeterAndMarySmithHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LakeCityIA GenCassAndBelleSmithHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LakeCityIA SmithFarmhouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
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