Indianola, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Indianola, Iowa
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City
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National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa
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Location of Indianola, Iowa
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 Indianola, Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Warren |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.44 sq mi (29.62 km2) |
| • Land | 11.44 sq mi (29.62 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 958 ft (292 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,833 |
| • Density | 1,384.61/sq mi (534.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50125
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| Area code(s) | 515 |
| FIPS code | 69-38280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 468071 |
Indianola is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States. It is located about 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Des Moines. In 2020, about 15,833 people lived there.
Indianola is the county seat of Warren County. It is famous for the National Balloon Classic, a nine-day hot air balloon festival held every summer. The city is also home to the Des Moines Metro Opera, a big summer opera festival, and Simpson College.
Contents
History of Indianola
Indianola was started in 1849. It was chosen as the main town, or county seat, for Warren County. The town was built close to the center of the new county. Its name came from a newspaper story about a Texas ghost town also called Indianola.
The city of Indianola officially became a town in 1863.
Geography and Climate
Indianola covers a total area of about 11.25 square miles (29.14 square kilometers). All of this area is land. The southern end of the Summerset Trail, a popular path, is in Indianola.
What is the Climate Like?
Indianola has a climate known as a "hot-summer humid continental climate." This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters.
| Climate data for Indianola, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 70 (21) |
79 (26) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
106 (41) |
105 (41) |
112 (44) |
113 (45) |
104 (40) |
95 (35) |
82 (28) |
70 (21) |
113 (45) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.9 (12.7) |
59.0 (15.0) |
74.3 (23.5) |
82.7 (28.2) |
88.0 (31.1) |
91.5 (33.1) |
94.5 (34.7) |
93.4 (34.1) |
90.4 (32.4) |
84.6 (29.2) |
70.9 (21.6) |
58.6 (14.8) |
94.5 (34.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.7 (−0.2) |
36.3 (2.4) |
49.5 (9.7) |
62.1 (16.7) |
71.9 (22.2) |
81.4 (27.4) |
85.5 (29.7) |
84.0 (28.9) |
77.6 (25.3) |
64.8 (18.2) |
49.6 (9.8) |
36.9 (2.7) |
60.9 (16.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 21.7 (−5.7) |
25.8 (−3.4) |
38.3 (3.5) |
50.0 (10.0) |
60.9 (16.1) |
70.7 (21.5) |
74.7 (23.7) |
72.8 (22.7) |
65.0 (18.3) |
52.5 (11.4) |
38.8 (3.8) |
27.1 (−2.7) |
49.9 (9.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.6 (−11.3) |
15.2 (−9.3) |
27.1 (−2.7) |
37.9 (3.3) |
49.9 (9.9) |
60.0 (15.6) |
64.0 (17.8) |
61.6 (16.4) |
52.4 (11.3) |
40.1 (4.5) |
27.9 (−2.3) |
17.4 (−8.1) |
38.8 (3.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −11.7 (−24.3) |
−6.4 (−21.3) |
7.0 (−13.9) |
22.3 (−5.4) |
34.7 (1.5) |
46.5 (8.1) |
53.5 (11.9) |
51.1 (10.6) |
36.5 (2.5) |
23.8 (−4.6) |
10.1 (−12.2) |
−3.3 (−19.6) |
−16.1 (−26.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −33 (−36) |
−35 (−37) |
−20 (−29) |
−2 (−19) |
21 (−6) |
36 (2) |
40 (4) |
38 (3) |
23 (−5) |
4 (−16) |
−11 (−24) |
−26 (−32) |
−35 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.91 (23) |
1.42 (36) |
1.94 (49) |
3.88 (99) |
5.58 (142) |
5.72 (145) |
4.32 (110) |
3.90 (99) |
3.86 (98) |
3.02 (77) |
1.85 (47) |
1.40 (36) |
37.8 (961) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.5 (22) |
8.2 (21) |
3.7 (9.4) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
1.9 (4.8) |
6.7 (17) |
30.8 (78.76) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.1 | 6.6 | 7.3 | 10.0 | 12.3 | 11.0 | 8.0 | 8.9 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 96.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.7 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 14.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Population Growth of Indianola
Indianola has grown steadily over the years. Here's how its population has changed:
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1860 | 836 | — |
| 1870 | 1,428 | +70.8% |
| 1880 | 2,146 | +50.3% |
| 1890 | 2,254 | +5.0% |
| 1900 | 3,261 | +44.7% |
| 1910 | 3,283 | +0.7% |
| 1920 | 3,628 | +10.5% |
| 1930 | 3,488 | −3.9% |
| 1940 | 4,123 | +18.2% |
| 1950 | 5,145 | +24.8% |
| 1960 | 7,062 | +37.3% |
| 1970 | 8,852 | +25.3% |
| 1980 | 10,843 | +22.5% |
| 1990 | 11,340 | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 12,998 | +14.6% |
| 2010 | 14,782 | +13.7% |
| 2020 | 15,833 | +7.1% |
| Source: Source: U.S. Decennial Census |
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Who Lives in Indianola?
In 2020, Indianola had 15,833 people living there. There were 5,886 households. Most people (92.8%) were White. About 2.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 36 years old. About 28.5% of the people were under 20. More than half of the residents (52.4%) were female.
How Indianola is Governed
Indianola is run by a Mayor-council system. This means the city has a Mayor and a City Council. The Mayor is the main leader, and the City Council members help make decisions for the city.
City Council Members:
| Position | Name | Term expires |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Stephanie Erickson | 2025 |
| City Council Ward 1 | John Parker Jr. | 2023 |
| City Council Ward 2 | Ron Dalby | 2025 |
| City Council Ward 3 | Gwen Schroder | 2023 |
| City Council Ward 4 | Christina Beach | 2025 |
| City Council At-Large | Josh Rabe | 2023 |
| City Council At-Large | Steve Richardson | 2025 |
Fun Things to Do in Indianola
Indianola is known for its exciting events and places to visit. It is home to the National Balloon Classic, where you can see many colorful hot air balloons. You can also learn about hot air balloons at the National Balloon Museum.
Popular Places to Visit
- Buxton Park Arboretum: A beautiful park with many different trees and plants.
- Des Moines Metro Opera: A place to enjoy amazing opera performances.
- Summerset Winery: A local winery.
- Simpson College: A college founded in 1860.
- U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame: A museum honoring important people in ballooning.
Education in Indianola
Indianola has a good public school system. It is part of the Indianola Community School District.
Schools for Kids
Indianola has four elementary schools:
- Whittier Elementary
- Emerson Elementary
- Irving Elementary
- Wilder Elementary
There is one middle school, Indianola Middle School. Indianola High School is the only senior high school.
Colleges and Universities
Simpson College is a liberal arts college located in Indianola. It is connected to the United Methodist Church and was started in 1860.
Getting Around Indianola
Indianola has several ways to travel in and out of the city.
Roads and Highways
Iowa Highway 92 runs through the city from east to west. It crosses US Highways 65 and 69, which are just southeast of the city center.
Past Railroads
Indianola no longer has train service. In the past, it was a stop for two different railroad lines. These lines were used to move goods and even passengers. However, these train services stopped in the 1960s and 1980s. Part of the old railroad line has now become the Summerset Trail.
Air Travel
For air travel, people in Indianola use the Des Moines International Airport. It is about 13 miles (21 km) northwest of the city. There are also two smaller, privately owned airports nearby: Nash Field and Laverty Field.
Famous People from Indianola
Many notable people have connections to Indianola, including:
- Casey Blake: A former baseball player.
- George Washington Carver: A famous botanical researcher and educator.
- Dayton Duncan: A writer and documentary filmmaker.
- Chris Street: A basketball player for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
- Ilo Browne Wallace: The wife of Vice President Henry A. Wallace.
- Ed Yost: The person who invented the modern hot air balloon.
Technology in Indianola
Indianola has a modern, high-speed fiber optic internet network. This network helps connect schools and Simpson College to local technology businesses. It also supports programs that encourage new ideas in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
See also
In Spanish: Indianola (Iowa) para niños
