Moving to Riceville, Iowa

Riceville, Iowa is a small rural town located in Mitchell County, in the North-Central part of the state. With a population of just under 900 people, Riceville is an idyllic and peaceful place to live and work. Located at the intersection of two major highways, it is conveniently located for travel throughout the state.

The town was first settled in 1854 by James Rice and his family. They chose this location for its easy access to water from the nearby Shell Rock River, as well as its fertile soil which allowed for successful farming and ranching. The town quickly grew with other settlers coming to join them, and by 1867 it officially became a village. Today, Riceville has all the necessary amenities such as a bank, post office, library, medical clinic, churches and schools.

Riceville’s main industry is agriculture; there are many farms around the area that produce corn, soybeans and hay. There are also several businesses that provide jobs to locals including manufacturing plants, retail stores and restaurants. The town also boasts several recreational activities such as fishing in local ponds or hunting in nearby state parks. It’s also home to an annual Corn Festival which includes a parade down Main Street every summer!

The people of Riceville are friendly and welcoming; it’s not unusual to see neighbors helping each other out or having barbeques on their front lawns during summer evenings! Even though it’s small in size there is still plenty to do here; you can take walks along Shell Rock River or visit one of the many local parks for picnics or fishing trips! The community spirit here is strong; locals often gather at one of Riceville’s two churches on Sundays or attend one of their many community events throughout the year such as concerts or festivals!

Overall Riceville is a wonderful place to live; with its natural beauty combined with its friendly community atmosphere it makes for an ideal spot for anyone looking for peace and relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of larger cities! It may be small but it sure packs a big punch when it comes to charm.

Population: 840. Estimated population in July 2024: 834 (-0.7% change)
Males: 398 (47.4%), Females: 442 (52.6%)

Howard County

Zip code: 50466

Demographics

Median resident age: 45.0 years
Median household income: $30,982
Median house value: $48,500

Population by Race

Races in Riceville:

• White Non-Hispanic (99.9%)

Ancestries: German (42.3%), Irish (14.2%), Norwegian (13.0%), English (8.2%), United States (5.0%), Czech (4.2%).

Elevation: 1230 feet

Land area: 1.1 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Riceville

• High school or higher: 77.3%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.4%
• Graduate or professional degree: 3.5%
• Unemployed: 5.4%
• Mean travel time to work: 21.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Riceville city

• Never married: 19.7%
• Now married: 61.7%
• Separated: 1.0%
• Widowed: 12.0%
• Divorced: 5.7%

0.4% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +28 (+3.4%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Riceville:

• MITCHELL COUNTY REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER (about 20 miles; OSAGE, IA)
• FLOYD COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 22 miles; CHARLES CITY, IA)
• MERCY MEDICAL CENTER (about 26 miles; NEW HAMPTON, IA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Riceville:

• ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL (about 38 miles; ROCHESTER, MN; Abbreviation: RST)
• MASON CITY MUNI (about 55 miles; MASON CITY, IA; Abbreviation: MCW)
• WATERLOO MUNI (about 57 miles; WATERLOO, IA; Abbreviation: ALO)

Other public-use airports nearest to Riceville:

• OSAGE MUNI (about 17 miles; OSAGE, IA; Abbreviation: D02)
• CHARLES CITY MUNI (about 21 miles; CHARLES CITY, IA; Abbreviation: CCY)
• NEW HAMPTON MUNI (about 25 miles; NEW HAMPTON, IA; Abbreviation: 1Y5)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Riceville:

• ROCHESTER COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 44 miles; ROCHESTER, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,368)
• NORTHEAST IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE-CALMAR (about 47 miles; CALMAR, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,393)
• NORTH IOWA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 47 miles; MASON CITY, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,161)
• LUTHER COLLEGE (about 55 miles; DECORAH, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,566)
• HAWKEYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 63 miles; WATERLOO, IA; Full-time enrollment: 3,292)
• UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA (about 64 miles; CEDAR FALLS, IA; Full-time enrollment: 12,524)
• UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY (about 64 miles; FAYETTE, IA; Full-time enrollment: 3,173)

Schools

Public high school in Riceville:

• RICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 144; Location: 912 WOODLAND AVE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Riceville:

• RICEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 266; Location: 912 WOODLAND AVE; Grades: KG – 08)

Libraries

Library in Riceville:

• RICEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $41,137; Location: 307 WOODLAND AVE.; 11,260 books; 489 audio materials; 791 video materials; 163 serial subscriptions)