Fort Dodge, Iowa

About Fort Dodge

Set in the central part of Iowa, Fort Dodge is a close-knit town counting 24,886 people who proudly call it home.

Fort Dodge holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 16.01 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,554 residents per square mile.

📰 Fort Dodge News Today

• Joseph McLimans Obituary Aug 14, 2026 Laufersweiler Funeral Home & Cremation Services · Aug 14
• Megan Barker Obituary | Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services | Fort Dodge, IA Tribute Archive · Aug 18
• Ben Ahlers talks New York acting career in Fort Dodge KCCI · Aug 16
• Obituary information for Kay Lynn Eldredge Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services · Jul 6
• Man detained following fatal shooting in Fort Dodge, police report WHO13.com · Jul 24

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Fort Dodge Unique

• A top-25 city in Iowa by population (#21 of 940 incorporated places).
• Part of the fabric of Iowa — one of 1,026 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 24,886.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 8 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Fort Dodge

• Applebee's — american
• BNB Motorwerks (café)
• GAGA & HOO Korean Restaurant & Cafe — korean
• Willow Ridge
• Buffalo Wild Wings — wings
• Perkins — american
• Pizza Ranch Fort Dodge — pizza
• Scooter's Coffee — coffee shop (café)
• Starbucks — coffee shop (café)

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Blanden Memorial Art Museum · Museum
• Fort Frenzy · Arcade
• Rosedale Rapids Aquatic Center · Water park
• Curious Kids' Museum · Museum
• Olsen Park Zoo · Zoo
• The Fort Museum and Frontier Village · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Fort Dodge

• Armstrong Park reviews ★
• Becker Wildlife Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Bob Hay Memorial Conservation Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• City Square Park reviews ★
• Exposition Park reviews ★
• Fort Dodge Park reviews ★
• Haskell Park reviews ★
• Hydro Electric Park reviews ★
• Island Park · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Kennedy Brown Park reviews ★
• Knollcrest Park reviews ★
• Leif Ericson Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Fort Dodge

• Butler Elementary School
• Cooper Elementary School
• Duncombe Elementary School
• Early Childhood Center
• Feelhaver Elementary School
• Fort Dodge High School
• Fort Dodge Middle School

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• Trinity Regional Medical Center ★★ (2/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Fort Dodge

🏘️ Nearby Communities