About Cherokee
Set in the northwestern part of Iowa, Cherokee is a close-knit town with an estimated population of 5,186.
Officially, Cherokee is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 6.83 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 759 residents per square mile.
📰 Cherokee News Today
- Medical center and school district looking to build $2.4M tennis & pickleball court in Cherokee, IA KTIV · Aug 13
- DR. AL KENNEDY Obituary Jul 25, 2026 Boothby Funeral Home · Jul 25
- Patricia "Trish" Curtis Obituary Apr 26, 2026 Fisch Funeral Home · Apr 26
- Marilyn S. Isom Obituary Jul 26, 2026 Eldridge Family Funeral Homes · Jul 26
- Election Results for Cherokee County (Unofficial) Northwest Iowa Now · Jun 2
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Cherokee Unique
- One of 6 places in the US named Cherokee — but the Iowa one has a character all its own.
- Positioned in northwestern 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
- The sweet spot: real amenities without big-city congestion.
- Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 5,186.
- Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 8 miles.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Cherokee
- Pizza Hut — pizza
- Godfather's Pizza — pizza
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🎡 Fun Things to Do
- Sanford Museum and Planetarium · Museum
- Tallman Museum · Museum
Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Cherokee
- Brewer Prairie reviews ★
- Central Park reviews ★
- Cherokee County Fairgrounds reviews ★
- Gillette Park reviews ★
- Patterson Wildlife Sanctuary · Nature reserve reviews ★
- Pilot Rock Lookout reviews ★
- Poulson Park reviews ★
- Sanford Lane Park reviews ★
- Spring Lake Disc Golf Course reviews ★
- Spring Lake Park reviews ★
- Sue Jordahl Canoe Access · Nature reserve reviews ★
- Wescott Park reviews ★
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Cherokee
- Cherokee Elementary School
- Cherokee Middle School
- Washington High School
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare
- Cherokee Regional Medical Center ★★ (2/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER · Critical Access Hospitals
- Mental Health Institute · 24/7 ER · Psychiatric
Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.
⚡ Quick Facts
StateIowa
TypeCity
Population (2024)5,186
Rank in state#84 of 940
Land area6.83 sq mi
Density759/sq mi
Coordinates42.7495, -95.5522