Rippey, Iowa Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Rippey is a small town located in Greene County, Iowa. It is situated on the banks of the Raccoon River and is home to around 200 people. The town was founded in 1881 and was named after Colonel Joseph Rippey, who served in the Civil War.

The town has a rich history that dates back to its founding. In 1883, a post office was established and the first school built in 1889. The economy of the town was once largely based on agriculture and it still remains an important part of the community today. There are several local farms that produce corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, hay and other crops for sale throughout the year.

Rippey is also known for its unique architecture. Many of the older buildings have been preserved as historical sites and can be seen today when visiting the town. The most notable example is the old Rippey Hotel which was built in 1895 and stands as a testament to the towns past prosperity.

The local government consists of an elected mayor who serves as chief executive officer of Rippey along with six council members who are responsible for setting policy for the community’s future development.

Rippey has two churches: St Paul Lutheran Church and St Mary’s Catholic Church which both offer regular services for their congregations as well as special events throughout the year such as Easter Egg Hunts or Christmas Dinners for families in need during these times of celebration.

The community also offers many recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking trails at Big Creek State Park nearby or just relaxing at one of Rippey’s natural attractions like Beaver Lake or Whitetail Creek Park where visitors can enjoy swimming or canoeing on a hot summer day.

In addition to all these amenities, Rippey also has a variety of small businesses including a hardware store, auto parts store, grocery store and several restaurants that serve up some delicious local cuisine! Overall this small Iowa town offers something special to those looking to experience rural living at its finest.

Population: 319. Estimated population in July 2024: 302 (-5.3% change)
Males: 170 (53.3%), Females: 149 (46.7%)

Greene County

Zip code: 50235

Demographics

Median resident age: 35.3 years
Median household income: $33,611
Median house value: $38,300

Population by Race

Races in Rippey:

  • White Non-Hispanic (95.3%)
  • Hispanic (4.1%)
  • Two or more races (2.2%)
  • Other race (0.9%)

Ancestries: German (35.1%), English (13.2%), Irish (11.0%), United States (9.1%), Dutch (5.0%), Swedish (4.4%).

Elevation: 1077 feet

Land area: 0.8 square miles

Map of Rippey, IA

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Rippey

  • High school or higher: 82.1%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.5%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 2.5%
  • Unemployed: 4.0%
  • Mean travel time to work: 21.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Rippey city

  • Never married: 14.0%
  • Now married: 66.8%
  • Separated: 1.3%
  • Widowed: 5.7%
  • Divorced: 12.2%

3.1% Foreign born (2.5% Latin America, 0.6% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: +45 (+16.4%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Rippey:

  • DALLAS COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 9 miles; PERRY, IA)
  • GREENE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (about 14 miles; JEFFERSON, IA)
  • BOONE COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 25 miles; BOONE, IA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Rippey:

  • FORT DODGE REGIONAL (about 43 miles; FORT DODGE, IA; Abbreviation: FOD)
  • DES MOINES INTL (about 48 miles; DES MOINES, IA; Abbreviation: DSM)
  • MASON CITY MUNI (about 104 miles; MASON CITY, IA; Abbreviation: MCW)

Other public-use airports nearest to Rippey:

  • PERRY MUNI (about 9 miles; PERRY, IA; Abbreviation: PRO)
  • JEFFERSON MUNI (about 11 miles; JEFFERSON, IA; Abbreviation: EFW)
  • GUTHRIE COUNTY REGIONAL (about 24 miles; GUTHRIE CENTER, IA; Abbreviation: GCT)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Rippey:

  • IOWA CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 39 miles; FT DODGE, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,807)
  • DRAKE UNIVERSITY (about 43 miles; DES MOINES, IA; Full-time enrollment: 4,227)
  • DES MOINES COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 44 miles; ANKENY, IA; Full-time enrollment: 6,959)
  • IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 52 miles; AMES, IA; Full-time enrollment: 24,473)
  • BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY (about 84 miles; STORM LAKE, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,524)
  • GRACELAND UNIVERSITY-LAMONI (about 92 miles; LAMONI, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,026)
  • NORTH IOWA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 109 miles; MASON CITY, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,161)

Public primary/middle school in Rippey:

  • RIPPEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 199; Location: 300 PERCIVAL; Grades: PK – 06)

Libraries

Library in Rippey:

  • RIPPEY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $18,674; Location: 306 MAIN, BOX 184; 4,950 books; 78 audio materials; 24 video materials; 18 serial subscriptions)