Palo Alto County Map, Iowa

Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: June 10, 2026

Map of Palo Alto County - Palo Alto County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. Palo Alto County Map showing cities, highways, important places and water bodies. Get Where is Palo Alto County located in the map, major cities in Palo Alto county, population, areas, and places of interest.

About Palo Alto County Map, Iowa: The map showing the county boundary, county seat, major cities, highways, water bodies and neighbouring counties.

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Map of Palo Alto County, Iowa

Palo Alto County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It's county seat is Emmetsburg. As per 2020 census, the population of Palo Alto County is 8906 people and population density is square miles. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 564 sq mi (1,461 km2). Palo Alto County was established on -17881.

Palo Alto County Facts

Continent	North America
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County Seat	Emmetsburg
Largest City/Town	Emmetsburg
Established	January 15, 1851
Total Area	569 sq mi (1,474 sq km)
Land Area	564 sq mi (1,461 sq km)
Water Area	5.6 sq mi (15 sq km)
Population	8,996 (Census 2020)
Population Density	16.0 people per sq mi
Time Zone	Central Time Zone (CT)
Major Highways	U.S. Highway 18, Iowa Highway 4, Iowa Highway 15
Major Rivers	West Fork Des Moines River, Lost Island Lake Outlet, Prairie Creek
Neighboring Counties	Emmet County, Kossuth County, Pocahontas County, Clay County
Famous For	Emmetsburg, Five Island Lake, Irish heritage celebrations, agriculture
Top Attractions	Five Island Lake, Palo Alto County Historical Museum, Freedom Rock, Lost Island Nature Center
Official Website	Official Website

About Palo Alto County, Iowa

Palo Alto County is located in northwestern Iowa and was established in 1851. The county seat and largest city is Emmetsburg. Named after the Battle of Palo Alto during the Mexican-American War, the county is known for its rich agricultural economy, scenic lakes, and strong Irish heritage. Five Island Lake and the surrounding recreational areas make the county a popular destination for outdoor activities. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Cities and Towns in Palo Alto County, Iowa

City/Town	Population (Census 2020)	Latitude & Longitude
Emmetsburg (county seat)	3,706	43.1125°N, 94.6783°W
Graettinger	832	43.2364°N, 94.7505°W
Ruthven	725	43.1300°N, 94.9005°W
West Bend (partly)	772	42.9625°N, 94.4452°W
Mallard	257	42.9397°N, 94.6697°W
Ayrshire	133	43.0361°N, 94.8278°W
Cylinder	87	43.0914°N, 94.5519°W
Curlew	37	43.0194°N, 94.7825°W
Rodman	31	43.0431°N, 94.5261°W

Best Golf Courses in Palo Alto County, Iowa

Golf Course	Location	Latitude & Longitude
Emmetsburg Golf Club	Emmetsburg	43.1178°N, 94.6904°W
Ruthven Community Golf Course	Ruthven	43.1315°N, 94.9114°W
Graettinger Golf & Country Club	Graettinger	43.2416°N, 94.7582°W

What are Major Roads and Highways in Palo Alto County

Major highways connect the county to nearby regions and cities.

U.S. Highway 18 - major east-west route serving Emmetsburg and Graettinger
Iowa Highway 4 - north-south corridor connecting the county with Emmet and Pocahontas counties
Iowa Highway 15 - important regional route linking Emmetsburg with surrounding communities

Neighboring Counties of Palo Alto County

Emmet County (north)
Kossuth County (east)
Pocahontas County (south)
Clay County (west)

What are Top Attractions in Palo Alto County, Iowa

The county offers a mix of natural and cultural attractions.

Main Sight Name	City	Famous For
Five Island Lake	Emmetsburg	Boating, fishing, beaches, and recreation
Palo Alto County Historical Museum	Emmetsburg	County history and pioneer exhibits
Freedom Rock	Emmetsburg	Veterans memorial artwork
Lost Island Nature Center	Near Ruthven	Wildlife viewing and environmental education
Five Island Lake Trail	Emmetsburg	Walking, biking, and scenic lake views
Emmetsburg Irish Galleria	Emmetsburg	Irish heritage exhibits and cultural displays
Graettinger City Park	Graettinger	Community recreation and events
Ruthven Community Center	Ruthven	Local events and recreation
Mallard Community Park	Mallard	Outdoor recreation facilities
Ayrshire Heritage Area	Ayrshire	Historic rural Iowa community
West Bend Grotto Area	West Bend	Religious and cultural landmark nearby
Palo Alto County Fairgrounds	Emmetsburg	Agricultural fairs and annual events

Distance from Palo Alto County to Nearby Cities

The following distances are measured by road (driving).

Emmetsburg to Graettinger (Palo Alto County), Iowa - 9 mi (14 km)
Emmetsburg to Ruthven (Palo Alto County), Iowa - 15 mi (24 km)
Emmetsburg to Mallard (Palo Alto County), Iowa - 12 mi (19 km)
Emmetsburg to Estherville (Emmet County), Iowa - 22 mi (35 km)
Emmetsburg to Algona (Kossuth County), Iowa - 30 mi (48 km)
Emmetsburg to Pocahontas (Pocahontas County), Iowa - 32 mi (52 km)
Emmetsburg to Spencer (Clay County), Iowa - 30 mi (48 km)
Emmetsburg to Spirit Lake (Dickinson County), Iowa - 34 mi (55 km)
Emmetsburg to Storm Lake (Buena Vista County), Iowa - 51 mi (82 km)
Emmetsburg to Fort Dodge (Webster County), Iowa - 67 mi (108 km)
Emmetsburg to Mason City (Cerro Gordo County), Iowa - 88 mi (142 km)
Emmetsburg to Sioux City (Woodbury County), Iowa - 117 mi (188 km)
Emmetsburg to Des Moines (Polk County), Iowa - 168 mi (270 km)
Emmetsburg to Minneapolis, Minnesota - 198 mi (319 km)
Emmetsburg to Omaha, Nebraska - 190 mi (306 km)

Nearest Airports

Nearest airport of Palo Alto is San Jose (SJC) Airport.

References

Explore Map of Iowa Counties

US Counties Map by State

Map of Palo Alto County, Iowa