SwanIowaCityHall, 2024
Swan’s story
146 years in pictures
Census counts: 99 in 1880, a peak of 419 in 1890, 76 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1910 on.
- 1880Swan is settled
SwanIA
A town of 79, settled in 1880.
Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
79
2025 Census estimate · +3.9% since 2020
Typical home
$326K
+4.1% in a year
Median age
58.1
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Swan a good place to live?
Swan’s average trip to work is 34 minutes, above both Iowa’s towns (19 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a higher median age than Swan. 72% of the land in Swan is conserved, above both Iowa’s towns (3.1%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). The biggest park or preserve is Red Rock Wildlife Management Area, at 284 acres. Swan has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
79 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 Swan: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Swan, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMarion Co. Rural Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Swan’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 hereMarion County AuditorMarion County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code5025250252 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 Swan.
Outdoors
Swan has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
0.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
71.6%conserved
71.6%
conserved · 280 of 392 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Red Rock Wildlife Management Area | — | 284 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Housing
A larger share of households in Swan own their home than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
100% of Swan households own their home. The typical Swan home is worth about $326,000, up 4.1% in a year, 38% above the Iowa typical home.
$326KZillow home value
Typical home value
Swan$326K
Iowa$237K
+4.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Swan faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 76% of U.S. communities.
24risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesDrought
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Swan has four seasons and pleasant summers
Swan has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 13° and about 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–34°
Spring40–61°
Summer63–84°
Fall42–63°
Oct 15
typical first frost
Apr 21
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Swan is
23% of adults binge drink in Swan. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 6 have a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Swan. 43% of adults have obesity in Swan.
| Swan | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 20% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 75% | 78% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better29 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Swan | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 19.8% | 11.6% |
| More smokers | 18% | 14.5% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 73.1% | 77.8% |
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics
15 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 21 attractions →Casey's Center and 12 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Swan. Close and well known come first.
18 mi Stadium & arenaCasey's Center
18 mi MuseumIowa State Capitol16 mi Theme parkAdventureland
17 mi Zoo & aquariumBlank Park Zoo
21 mi MuseumDes Moines Art Center
20 mi Stadium & arenaDrake StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Casey's Center: Iowahwyman at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Iowa State Capitol: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Blank Park Zoo: Lawrence Lansing, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Des Moines Art Center: Nhandler at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Drake Stadium: U.S. Navy photo by James Woods, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Swan
16pages on Swan
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Swan
About 6 of every 100 Swan residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Iowa.
About Swan
City in Iowa, United States
Swan is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 76 at the time of the 2020 census. On April 18th 2025 the city council of Swan voted to disincorporate the city.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 778 ft
- ZIP code
- 50252
Questions about Swan
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Swan, IA a good place to live?
Swan has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.