Arnolds Park, Iowa Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

The current estimated population of Arnolds Park is 1,300, with a gender distribution of 48% male and 52% female. The population has remained steady, driven by tourism and its role as a lakeside resort town in northwestern Iowa.

City Facts

  • Year founded: 1880s
  • County: Dickinson County
  • Land area: 1.6 square miles
  • Population density: 812 people per square mile
  • Area code: 712
  • Zip code: 51331

Geography and Location

Arnolds Park is located in northwestern Iowa, within Dickinson County, along the shores of West Okoboji Lake, part of the Iowa Great Lakes region. The town is a popular tourist destination, known for its historic amusement park, boating, fishing, and other water-related activities. Arnolds Park has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers, making it a popular summer resort area. U.S. Highway 71 runs through the town, providing easy access to nearby towns and cities. The local economy is heavily based on tourism, with visitors flocking to the area for its natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and attractions such as the Arnolds Park Amusement Park, which dates back to the 1880s. Arnolds Park’s lakeside location, recreational opportunities, and small-town atmosphere make it a vibrant community that attracts both residents and visitors seeking a scenic retreat in Iowa.

Demographics

Median resident age: 47.9 years
Median household income: $35,441
Median house value: $90,000

Population by Race

Races in Arnolds Park:

  • White Non-Hispanic (97.5%)
  • American Indian (1.3%)
  • Two or more races (1.2%)

Ancestries: German (39.8%), Irish (12.7%), Norwegian (11.4%), English (10.7%), Dutch (7.1%), United States (7.1%).

Elevation: 1411 feet

Land area: 1.3 square miles

Map of Arnolds Park, IA

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Arnolds Park

  • High school or higher: 88.3%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.6%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.9%
  • Unemployed: 3.3%
  • Mean travel time to work: 16.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Arnolds Park city

  • Never married: 17.1%
  • Now married: 60.5%
  • Separated: 1.2%
  • Widowed: 8.6%
  • Divorced: 12.6%

1.0% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +173 (+17.5%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Arnolds Park:

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Arnolds Park:

  • FORT DODGE REGIONAL (about 87 miles; FORT DODGE, IA; Abbreviation: FOD)
  • SIOUX GATEWAY/COL. BUD DAY FIELD (about 110 miles; SIOUX CITY, IA; Abbreviation: SUX)
  • JOE FOSS FIELD (about 112 miles; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Abbreviation: FSD)

Other public-use airports nearest to Arnolds Park:

  • SPIRIT LAKE MUNICIPAL (about 2 miles; SPIRIT LAKE, IA; Abbreviation: 0F3)
  • FULLER (about 4 miles; MILFORD, IA; Abbreviation: 4D8)
  • SPENCER MUNI (about 16 miles; SPENCER, IA; Abbreviation: SPW)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Arnolds Park:

  • BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY (about 50 miles; STORM LAKE, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,524)
  • SOUTHWEST STATE UNIVERSITY (about 87 miles; MARSHALL, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,405)
  • IOWA CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 89 miles; FT DODGE, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,807)
  • SOUTH CENTRAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE-MANKATO (about 94 miles; NORTH MANKATO, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,186)
  • MINNESOTA STATE UNVERSITY-MANKATO (about 96 miles; MANKATO, MN; Full-time enrollment: 11,210)
  • GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE (about 104 miles; ST PETER, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,355)
  • WESTERN IOWA TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 107 miles; SIOUX CITY, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,639)

Public primary/middle school in Arnolds Park:

  • OKOBOJI MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 285; Location: 10 BROADWAY; Grades: 05 – 08)

Libraries

Library in Arnolds Park:

  • ARNOLDS PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $44,525; Location: HWY.71; 11,384 books; 400 audio materials; 420 video materials; 64 serial subscriptions)