Stanley, Iowa

About Stanley

Set in the northeastern part of Iowa, Stanley is a tiny community, home to 86 residents as of the latest Census estimates.

Officially, Stanley is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 0.2 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 430 residents per square mile.

📰 Stanley News Today

• Stanley Sievert Obituary (1940 - 2026) - Spirit Lake, IA - Northwest Iowa Now Legacy | Obituary · Oct 9
• Fareway Game Ball: Stanley and Adrian Cooper bringing SEP to 7-0 weareiowa.com · Oct 9
• Southeast Polk takes down Waukee Northwest in IHSAA football Week 7 The Des Moines Register · Oct 9
• Stanley "Stan" Amil Lawrence Obituary Jul 1, 2026 Murdoch Funeral Homes & Cremation Service · Jul 1
• Former Iowa QB Nate Stanley looks back on 2017 stunner over #3 OSU KCCI · Oct 2

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

📰 Local News

Read the latest Iowa headlines on our news site, Bless News Daily.

What Makes Stanley Unique

• One of 9 places in the US named Stanley — but the Iowa one has a character all its own.
• One of the smallest municipal footprints in the country at just 0.2 sq mi.
• With 86 residents, it's one of America's smallest incorporated communities — everybody really does know everybody.
• Positioned in northeastern Iowa, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.

Why People Love It Here

• Small-town pace of life: less traffic, more community, and neighbors who wave.
• Housing dollars stretch further here than in the nearest metro.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 6 miles.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Stanley

• Swartz Preserve · Nature reserve reviews ★

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

⚡ Quick Facts

🌤️ Current Weather

Full forecast →

Source: National Weather Service

🗺️ Map of Stanley

🏘️ Nearby Communities