About Carlisle
Carlisle, IA is a small town located in southern Iowa counting 4,381 people who proudly call it home.
Carlisle holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 5.65 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 775 residents per square mile.
📰 Carlisle News Today
- Top moments of ADM vs Carlisle In Iowa softball state championship game The Des Moines Register · Jul 23
- Barbara (Mrs. Clifford) Carlisle Obituary Apr 19, 2026 pearsonfuneralhomes.com · Apr 19
- 'It could happen to any of us:' Carlisle community rallies around family after devastating house fire KCCI · May 18
- Carlisle Basketball Schedule MaxPreps · Jul 22
- Carlisle sees season end with Iowa state baseball loss to Assumption Yahoo Sports · Jul 21
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Carlisle Unique
- One of 8 places in the US named Carlisle — but the Iowa one has a character all its own.
- Positioned in southern Iowa, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
- Part of the fabric of Iowa — one of 1,026 recognized communities statewide.
Why People Love It Here
- Quiet streets and a slower rhythm — the kind of place people move to on purpose.
- Cost of living typically runs below the big-metro average.
- Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 8 miles.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Carlisle
- Coco & Nini's
- Fiss' — sandwich
- Johnny & Mike's Pizza — pizza
- La Villa — mexican
- Morning Glory Coffee — coffee shop (café)
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🎡 Fun Things to Do
- Antique Tractor Museum · Museum
- Carlisle water park · Water park
Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Carlisle
- Banner Flats Wildlife Management Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
- Care Center Garden · Garden reviews ★
- Carlisle Community School Park reviews ★
- Carlisle Municipal Park reviews ★
- Lindhardt Park reviews ★
- Volunteer Park reviews ★
- Water Tower Park reviews ★
- Yellow Banks Park reviews ★
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Carlisle
- Carlisle Elementary School
- Carlisle High School
- Carlisle Middle School
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
⚡ Quick Facts
StateIowa
TypeCity
Population (2024)4,381
Rank in state#97 of 940
Land area5.65 sq mi
Density775/sq mi
Coordinates41.5136, -93.4968