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Athelstan, IA
Iowa›Taylor County
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AthelstanIA

A town in Iowa.

Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo of Athelstan

Athelstan, IA · Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗

Land area
0 sq mi

Is Athelstan a good place to live?

Among 141 Iowa towns, just 8 have a higher January low than Athelstan. We don’t grade Athelstan yet; the figures below are still real.

Getting set up

Moving to Athelstan: who provides what

Athelstan is unincorporated, so Taylor County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesTaylor CountyTaylor County provides services here
SchoolsBedford Community School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereTaylor County AuditorTaylor County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5083650836 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Athelstan.

Natural hazards

The biggest natural risk in Athelstan is inland flooding, at a high overall level

30% of Athelstan’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by drought at 27%. Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 73% of U.S. communities.

73risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
73High riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingDroughtHeat waves
Full pageAthelstan’s hazards pageOpen the full Hazards page
What it facesHigh riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters12 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready1 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

The climate in Athelstan brings four seasons and pleasant summers

The seasons in Athelstan: cold winters, warm summers. Summer afternoons peak near 86° in July, and January nights bottom out around 15°; snowfall runs to about 18 inches a winter.

18″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter18–36°
Spring40–62°
Summer63–84°
Fall42–64°
Oct 19
typical first frost
Apr 20
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageAthelstan’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page
A year of weatherJuly highs 86°, January lows 15°Rain & snow18″ of snow a winter · 38 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+0.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Athelstan stands out in Iowa and nationally: a larger share of its adults have high blood pressure

In Athelstan, 15% of adults report frequent mental distress. Two fifths of Athelstan adults have obesity, against 38% in Iowa’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 2 have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Athelstan. CDC measures, 32 in all: Athelstan beats Iowa on 6 and trails on 9.

AthelstanIowa townsU.S. towns
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)43%35%35%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)14%12%12%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)15%16%17%
Depression (CDC PLACES)20%21%23%
32 measures vs. Iowa
6 better17 too close to call9 worse
What stands outAthelstanIA
Fewer adults facing housing insecurity7.7%9.4%
Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off5.4%6.4%
More adults with heart disease9.1%6.6%
Ringgold County Hospital
18.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
Full pageAthelstan’s health reportOpen the full Health report
Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exerciseHospitals & doctors nearby18.8 miles to an ER · Ringgold County HospitalHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than IA on 6 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Athelstan

11pages on Athelstan
The big questions
HealthBetter than IA on 6 of 32 CDC measuresNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 73% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
PlacesLibraryWorth County LibraryColleges
The story
Climate86° summer highs · 18″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Athelstan; the nearest are

Northwest Missouri State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Maryville, MO23.5 mi$10,611 in-state tuitionSouthwestern Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Creston35.6 mi$8,064 in-state tuition

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

About Athelstan

CDP in Iowa, USA

Athelstan is a census-designated place in Taylor County, Iowa, United States, along the Platte River, on the border with Missouri; it is majority owned by the Young family. The population was 6 at the 2020 census.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
0.1 sq mi
Elevation
1,076 ft

Questions about Athelstan

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Athelstan, IA a good place to live?

We don’t grade Athelstan yet; the figures below are still real. A town in Iowa.