Palo Alto County

Palo Alto County encompasses 569 square miles of land with four major lakes, including Five Island Lake and Lost Island Lake in its territory.

The county, established in 1851, received its name from the first significant battle of the Mexican-American War, the Battle of Palo Alto.

The central city of Emmetsburg functions as the county seat, hosting government operations in a nineteenth-century courthouse within its downtown district.

The county maintains multiple administrative services, with the courthouse operating from 8 AM to 4 PM on weekdays, providing property tax and vehicle registration services.

The county contains sixteen distinct townships and features a network of three major highways: U.S. Highway 18, Iowa Highway 4, and Iowa Highway 15.

Location: Iowa

Inception: January 15, 1851

Capital city: Emmetsburg

Elevation above the sea: 365 m

Shares border with: Emmet County, Pocahontas County, Dickinson County, Clay County, Buena Vista County, Kossuth County, Humboldt County

Website: http://paloaltocountyiowa.com

GPS coordinates: 43.08000,-94.68083

Latest update: March 18, 2025 15:43