**History and Geography**:
– Fort Dodge was established in 1850 by E Company of the 6th Infantry and was originally named Fort Clarke before being renamed after Henry Dodge.
– The town of Fort Dodge was founded in 1869 and is located at the junction of the Des Moines River and Lizard Creek in Webster County, Iowa.
– Gypsum production in Iowa began in 1872 with the Fort Dodge Plaster Mills.
– The city covers a total area of 16.31 square miles, with 0.26 square miles being water.
– Fort Dodge is known for its scenic riverfront and natural surroundings.
**Climate and Demographics**:
– Fort Dodge experiences a humid continental climate with cold winters and hot, humid summers.
– Average daily maximum temperatures range from 25.5°F in January to 94.2°F in July.
– Average daily minimum temperatures vary from 7.4°F in January to 58.4°F in July.
– Fort Dodge receives an average of 39 inches of snowfall annually.
– In the 2010 census, the city had 25,206 residents living in 10,275 households with a predominantly White population and notable African American and Hispanic communities.
– The median age in Fort Dodge was 36.8 years, with a fairly balanced gender distribution, and a median household income of $33,361 with a poverty rate of 7.7%.
**Economy and Infrastructure**:
– Major industries in Fort Dodge include biofuels, livestock feed, gypsum and limestone mining, drywall manufacturing, and trucking services.
– Companies like National Gypsum, Georgia Pacific, and United States Gypsum operate in Fort Dodge.
– Fort Dodge is home to Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division of Boehringer Ingelheim, and retail also plays a significant role in the local economy.
– U.S. Route 20 and U.S. 169 bypass Fort Dodge, Iowa Highway 7 terminates at the northwest edge, and DART operates six local bus routes on weekdays.
– Jefferson Bus lines link Fort Dodge to Williams and offer expanded services.
**Arts, Culture, and Recreation**:
– Fort Museum and Frontier Village is a full-scale recreation of a 19th-century military outpost, and the Blanden Memorial Art Museum is the first public art museum in Iowa.
– Annual events like Frontier Days and Shellabration feature historical reenactments and rock concerts.
– Oleson Park, Snell-Crawford Park, Rosedale Rapids, and John F. Kennedy Park offer various recreational activities like hiking, disc golf, aquatic centers, and camping.
– Gypsum City Off-Highway Vehicle Park opened in 2006 on abandoned gypsum mines.
**Education, Media, Transportation, and Healthcare**:
– Iowa Central Community College’s central campus is in Fort Dodge, and the Fort Dodge Community School District serves the area.
– Public schools include Fort Dodge Senior High School and Fort Dodge Middle School, with private schools like St. Edmond and Community Christian School also present.
– Various radio stations serve the community, covering news, music, and sports.
– Fort Dodge Regional Airport primarily serves general aviation and is located conveniently for residents.
– Unity Point Hospital, formerly Trinity Regional Medical Center, is the city’s main healthcare provider, offering essential medical services to the community.
Fort Dodge is a city in and the county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 24,871 in the 2020 census, a decrease from 25,136 in 2000. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S. Routes 20 and 169.
Fort Dodge, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 Central Avenue | |
 Flag  Seal  | |
| Motto: Frontier of the Future | |
 Location in the State of Iowa | |
| Coordinates: 42°30′24″N 94°10′49″W / 42.50667°N 94.18028°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Webster |
| Incorporated | 1869 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Matt Bemrich |
| • City Manager | David Fierke |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16.27 sq mi (42.15 km2) |
| • Land | 16.01 sq mi (41.46 km2) |
| • Water | 0.27 sq mi (0.69 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,155 ft (352 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 24,871 |
| • Density | 1,553.66/sq mi (599.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 50501 |
| Area code | 515 |
| FIPS code | 19-28515 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0456686 |
| Website | www |