Iowa

Palo Alto

8,996
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Palo Alto

Palo Alto, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 132. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,996.

Its recorded population peaked at 16,170 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 44 percent.

On the ground today, 4 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,996
20109,421
200010,147
199010,669
198012,721
197013,289
196014,736
195015,891
194016,170
193015,398
192015,486
191013,845
190014,354
18909,318
18804,131
18701,336
1860132
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Palo Alto

National Register of Historic Places listings in Palo Alto, Iowa.

Emmetsburg Public Library
Emmetsburg
Ormsby-Kelly House
Emmetsburg
Grotto of the Redemption
West Bend
First Presbyterian Church
West Bend

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Everything a full report reveals about Palo Alto County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Palo Alto County, Iowa. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Palo Alto

When does Palo Alto first appear in the US census?
Palo Alto, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 132.
What is the population of Palo Alto?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Palo Alto had a recorded population of 8,996.
When did Palo Alto's population peak?
Palo Alto's recorded population peaked at 16,170 in 1940.
How many historic places are in Palo Alto?
4 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Palo Alto, Iowa.
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