City

Emmetsburg

County

Palo Alto

Population – Emmetsburg

3,867 (2002)

Population – Palo Alto Co.

10,147 (2000)

Location

Northwest Iowa; intersection of Hwy 18 & 4

Land Area

3.8 square miles

Zip Code

50536

Median Resident Age

40.9

Median Household Income

$31,520  (2000)

Median Family Income

$44,554

Unemployment

1.9%

Education (Age 25 + over)

      Less than High School

18%

      High School or more

81%

      Bachelor’s degree or higher

15%

Race

97.9% White Non-Hispanic
.8% Hispanic

Ancestry

      German

38.6%

      Irish

16.2%

      Norwegian

15.2%

      Other

17.6%

Sex

Male 48%
Female 52%

Resident Age under 60

73%

Median House Value

$61,700 (2000)

Occupied Housing Units

89%

Family Households

58%

Non-family Households

42%

Married Couple Families

56%

Single parent families

16%

Never Married

23%

Families below poverty level

6.9%

Average Household size

2.3

Average Family Size

2.9

Largest Employers

Iowa Lakes Community College
Palo Alto County Hospital
Poet Biorefining (formerly Voyager Ethanol)
AGP Processing
Skyjack Mfg.
Wild Rose Casino (2006)

Airport - Public Use

Emmetsburg Municipal (EGQ) 2 mi.

Airport - Carrier

Colleges

Iowa Lakes Community College
Buena Vista University (Center)
U. of Iowa, RN-BSN (Center)

Public and Private Schools

Emmetsburg Comm. School (K-12)
Emmetsburg Catholic School (1-8)

Libraries

Emmetsburg Public Library
Iowa Lakes Com. College Library

Newspaper

Emmetsburg Reporter & Democrat

Radio

KEMB-PL 94.1

Dominant Economic Base

Agriculture with growth in manufacturing