Emmet County is a county in Iowa, United States, on the Minnesota border in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 9,388 at the 2020 census and covers 402.5 square miles (1,042.5 km2) centred near 43°22′38″N 94°40′39″W.
Estherville is the county seat, and its postal code is 51334. The county has six incorporated cities and several small unincorporated communities, and it sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Emmet County
Emmet County has six incorporated cities, led by the county seat, plus a handful of small unincorporated communities scattered across its farmland. Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no city government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estherville | City · seat | 5,904 | 51334 |
| Armstrong | City | 875 | 50514 |
| Ringsted | City | 365 | 50578 |
| Wallingford | City | 165 | 51365 |
| Dolliver | City | 65 | 50531 |
| Gruver | City | 63 | — |
| Gridley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Huntington | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maple Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Raleigh | Unincorp. | — | — |
Ringsted straddles the Emmet–Palo Alto county line, with most of the town on the Emmet County side. The unincorporated crossroads above have no post office of their own and are served by the ZIP codes of the nearest incorporated city.
ZIP Codes
- 51334 — Estherville (also serves Gruver and the surrounding countryside)
- 50514 — Armstrong
- 50578 — Ringsted
- 51365 — Wallingford
- 50531 — Dolliver
The unincorporated communities in the county use the mailing ZIP code of the nearest incorporated city rather than one of their own.
Geography
Emmet County lies in the Des Moines Lobe of the Iowa Plain, a gently rolling landscape shaped by glaciers and dotted with shallow lakes, including High Lake, Iowa Lake, Tuttle Lake and Swan Lake. The county covers 402.5 square miles, of which 395.9 square miles is land and 6.6 square miles (1.65%) is water — a higher share of surface water than most Iowa counties, a legacy of its glacial-lake topography. The West Fork Des Moines River flows south through the county past Estherville.
Emmet County borders Kossuth County to the east, Palo Alto County to the south, and Dickinson County to the west, all in Iowa. Across the state line to the north lie Jackson County and Martin County, Minnesota.
Demographics
Emmet County had 9,388 residents at the 2020 census, spread across roughly 24 people per square mile of land. Estherville, the county seat, is by far the largest community, holding about 63% of the county’s population; Armstrong is a distant second at 875. Median household income in the county runs below the Iowa median of $71,433, typical of a farm-dependent county with a small manufacturing base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — corn, soybeans and hog production — anchors the county’s economy, supported by grain elevators and farm-supply businesses around Estherville and Armstrong. Estherville is home to Iowa Lakes Community College’s main campus and a regional hospital, Avera Holy Family Health, both significant local employers. Summer brings visitors to the county’s lakes for fishing and boating, and the Emmet County Fair is the area’s largest annual event. Estherville’s downtown retains a number of 19th-century storefronts and serves as the main retail and service hub for the surrounding farm towns, while the smaller cities function chiefly as bedroom communities and grain-shipping points along the county’s rail lines.
History
The Iowa Legislature created Emmet County in 1851, but it was not organized as a functioning county government until 1859, once enough settlers had arrived. It is named for Robert Emmet, the Irish nationalist hanged in Dublin in 1803 at age 25 for leading a rebellion against British rule. Estherville was platted in 1858 along the West Fork Des Moines River and became the county seat.
Getting There
U.S. Route 9 crosses Emmet County east–west through Estherville, and Iowa Highway 15 runs north–south through the same town, linking the county to Interstate 90 in Minnesota to the north.
- Spencer, Iowa — 25 miles south
- Fairmont, Minnesota — 30 miles northeast
- Spirit Lake, Iowa — 30 miles southwest
- Fort Dodge, Iowa — 75 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Fort Dodge Regional Airport; Estherville Municipal Airport handles general aviation locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Emmet County, Iowa?
It sits in north-central Iowa on the Minnesota border, about 25 miles north of Spencer.
What is the population of Emmet County?
9,388 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Emmet County?
402.5 square miles (1,042.5 km2), of which 6.6 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Emmet County?
Estherville, the county’s largest city.
How many towns are in Emmet County?
Six incorporated cities — Estherville, Armstrong, Ringsted, Wallingford, Dolliver and Gruver — plus several small unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Emmet County?
51334, 50514, 50578, 51365 and 50531.
Why is it called Emmet County?
It is named for Robert Emmet, the Irish nationalist executed in 1803 for leading a rebellion against British rule.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Iowa.