Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam · National Register of Historic Places
Mitchell’s story
171 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1855Mitchell is settled
MitchellIA
A town of 116, settled in 1855.
Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
116
2025 Census estimate · −5.7% since 2020
Median home value
$116K
Census ACS
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
45.3
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Mitchell a good place to live?
No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Mitchell. Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mitchell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
116 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Mitchell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mitchell, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Mitchell’s trash rules yet
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.govWho runs elections hereMitchell County AuditorMitchell County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code5046150461 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 Mitchell.
Natural hazards
Mitchell stands out in Iowa and nationally: the FEMA risk score there is higher
At 82 of 100, Mitchell’s FEMA risk score is against 40 of 100 in Iowa’s towns and 44 of 100 across U.S. towns.
82risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingStrong windDrought
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
A typical July afternoon in Mitchell is cooler than in most of Iowa or the rest of the country
At 82°F, Mitchell’s July high is below both Iowa’s towns (84°F) and U.S. towns (85°F). Mitchell has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
40″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–27°
Spring35–56°
Summer59–80°
Fall38–59°
Oct 9
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Mitchell is
Mitchell beats the Iowa average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 19% of Mitchell adults have been diagnosed with depression.
| Mitchell | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 21% | 23% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
2 better25 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Mitchell | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.4% | 77.8% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 86.5% | 84.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.2% | 8.7% |
Floyd County Medical Center
20.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Outdoors
Mitchell has set aside 5.5% of its land for conservation
0.3 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.
5.5%conserved
| Mitchell | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 5.5% | 3.1% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
5.5%
conserved · 20 of 361 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Interstate Park | — | 7 |
| 2. Cedar River Greenbelt Trail | 0.2 mi | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mitchell
17pages on Mitchell
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mitchell; the nearest are
North Iowa Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Mason City17.3 mi$6,653 in-state tuitionUniversity of Minnesota-RochesterUniversity or college · Public · Rochester, MN52.6 mi$15,016 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Mitchell residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Mitchell
City in Iowa, United States
Mitchell is a city in Mitchell County, Iowa, United States. The population was 124 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,191 ft
Questions about Mitchell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mitchell, IA a good place to live?
Mitchell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.