Palo Alto County

Palo Alto County is an administrative division in northwest Iowa covering approximately 569 square miles of land. The landscape is marked by several major lakes, including Five Island Lake and Lost Island Lake, which shape the terrain.

The county was established in 1851 and named after the Battle of Palo Alto from the Mexican-American War. This naming connects the region to a significant moment in United States history.

Emmetsburg serves as the county seat and shapes local life around government operations housed in its downtown 19th-century courthouse. The city remains the administrative center where people conduct official business and gather for community matters.

The courthouse in Emmetsburg operates on weekdays from 8 AM to 4 PM for services including property and vehicle registration. Government services are centrally located, making official matters accessible during standard business hours.

The county is divided into sixteen townships and crossed by three major highways: U.S. Highway 18, Iowa Highway 4, and Iowa Highway 15. These roads structure transportation across the region and connect its different areas.

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: December 10, 2025 15:59