Browse / United States / Iowa / Indianola
Indianola
Iowacity
Indianola
Total population
16,044
Median home value
$237,500
Bachelor's+
Median income
$75,453
Founded
1849
Air quality index
Demographic figures from US Census Bureau · ACS 5-year estimates. Overview below cites Wikipedia and may reference a different year.
- Extreme Heat Watch · SevereExtreme Heat Watch issued June 27 at 8:49AM CDT until June 30 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Source: NOAA National Weather Service.
City facts
Facts from Wikidata (CC0).
Overview
Indianola is a city in and the county seat of Warren County, Iowa, United States, located 19 miles (31 km) south of downtown Des Moines. The population was 15,833 at the time of the 2020 census. Indianola is home to the National Balloon Classic, a nine-day hot air balloon festival held annually in the summer, the Des Moines Metro Opera, a major American Summer Opera Festival, and Simpson College.
Read more on WikipediaHistory & geography
History
Indianola was founded in 1849 as the county seat of Warren County. The town was located near the geographic center of the new county. The town's name was taken from a newspaper account of a Texas ghost town of the same name. Indianola was incorporated in 1863.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The Summerset Trail's southern terminus is in Indianola. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Indianola has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.
Excerpted from the corresponding Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA).
Demographics & economy
Race & ethnicity
Source: US Census Bureau — American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.
Geography
Coordinates & boundaries from the US Census TIGER/Line shapefiles.
Climate
Current forecast
Forecast for Indianola, IA from NOAA NWS API.
Air quality
Current readings from Open-Meteo Air Quality API (Copernicus CAMS European reanalysis).
Industrial & pollution facilities
Natural hazard risk
Health (adults)
Age-adjusted prevalence estimates from CDC PLACES (latest release).
Walkability
Amenities nearby
Wildlife & biodiversity
Most-observed species
- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves539
- Canada Goose (canadensis Group)Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves500
- American RobinTurdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves500
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves469
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves461
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves431
- American GoldfinchSpinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves403
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves366
Citizen-science & research observations from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
Schools
Largest nearby schools
- Indianola High SchoolHigh · Indianola · 1,120 students · 17.8:1 ratio
- Norwalk Senior High SchoolHigh · Norwalk · 1,035 students · 17:1 ratio
- Indianola Middle SchoolMiddle · Indianola · 849 students · 15.4:1 ratio
- Norwalk Middle SchoolMiddle · Norwalk · 787 students · 15.4:1 ratio
- Oviatt Elementary SchoolElementary · Norwalk · 616 students · 15.8:1 ratio
- Carlisle Middle SchoolMiddle · Carlisle · 543 students · 15.5:1 ratio
- Wilder Elementary SchoolElementary · Indianola · 442 students · 14.3:1 ratio
- Emerson Elementary SchoolElementary · Indianola · 435 students · 13.2:1 ratio
Public K–12 schools within ~10 mi from Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES Common Core of Data, 2022).
Earthquake history
Most recent
- M 2.5 — 2025-06-2510 km WNW of Marysville, Iowa
- M 3 — 2025-06-255 km S of Knoxville, Iowa
- M 3.3 — 2025-06-258 km SE of Knoxville, Iowa
Events from the USGS Earthquake Catalog (global) (FDSN Event Web Service).
Photos
Sights & places nearby
Notable people from here
People born within ~10 km, from Wikidata (CC0). Click any name for their Wikipedia article.
Geography & sun
Nearby airports
Public attention
Books about this place
Recent natural events nearby
Ground air-quality sensors
Recently spotted species
Nearest stream gauge
Events
Gallery
Sources
- • Wikipedia
- • US Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates)
- • NOAA National Weather Service
- • Wikidata
- • Open-Meteo Air Quality (CAMS)
- • USGS Earthquake Catalog (global feed)
- • NCES via Urban Institute Education Data Portal
- • GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
- • CDC PLACES