Local servicesHospitalPalo Alto County Hospital10.2 miPost officeRuthven Post Officeunder a mileTown hallRuthven City Hallunder a mileFire stationRuthven Fire Departmentunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 otherSchoolRuthven - Ayrshire Community Schoolunder a mileCollegeIowa Lakes Community College - Emmetsburg Campus10.2 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportFort Dodge Regional Airport FOD54 miMajor airportDes Moines International Airport DSM127 miInterstateI-9036 miUS highwayUS 18under a mileSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 51358 ZIP area.
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Local Information
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 51358 ZIP area.
Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 23 min5:40 am – 9:02 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 8 h 59 min7:48 am – 4:47 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People1,277 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 47.3524 householdsMedian household income $70,921Median home value $146,900Median rent $652 a month82% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,490 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023
Work and commuting1.7% unemployment rate59% of adults are in the labour force, 587 employedMain industries: education and health care 26%, construction 13%, hospitality, food and recreation 11%Average commute 23 minutes73% drive alone, 15% car-pool, 2% walk or cycle, 9% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023, ZIP area
Education and languages29% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher96% finished high school, 6% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 97%, Spanish 2%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 85°F, lows 63°FColdest month January: highs 26°F, lows 7°F34 in of rain a year, on about 58 dayswettest month June37 in of snow a year, on about 19 days15 days above 90°F, 153 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Emmetsburg station, 11 mi away
Nearby landmarksElbow Lake (historical)lake · under a mileVirgin Lakelake · 1.9 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsBarringer Slough Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 1.6 mi · 1,257 acresBlue Wing Marsh Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 1.9 mi · 448 acresVirgin Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 1.9 mi · 183 acresD.U. Marsh Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 2.4 mi · 229 acresElk Lake Wetland Complex Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 3.4 mi · 276 acresDewey's Pasture Complexstate conservation land · 3.6 mi · 2,359 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
EarthquakesNone of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 1970Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Very LowPalo Alto County, IA, compared with all US countiesHighest-rated hazardsDrought Relatively ModerateHail Relatively ModerateSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality72% of days had good air in 2025263 of 364 days measured92 moderate, 9 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 40, worst day 134main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, Palo Alto County monitors, IA
Internet at home91% of households have a broadband subscription75% have cable, fibre or DSL11% rely on a mobile data plan alone8% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023
Drinking waterRuthven Water Supplyserves 779 people from ground waterNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation1,423 ft434 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
