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County ZIP codes · Iowa · FIPS 19147

Palo Alto County, IA ZIP Codes

Palo Alto County, Iowa has 14 ZIP codes (Census 2020 ZCTA-county file; GeoNames postal codes, October 2026), all residential. 8 of the residential ones lie mainly in Palo Alto County and 6 mainly in a neighboring county; 11 cross the county line. Median household income ranges from $59,261 in 50536 (Emmetsburg) to $92,000 in 50597 (West Bend) (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).

  • ACS2020-24
  • Census2020

Where are the ZIP codes of Palo Alto County?

50515 · Ayrshire: $63k50527 · Curlew: –50528 · Cylinder: $116k50536 · Emmetsburg: $59k50539 · Fenton: $65k50546 · Havelock: $65k50554 · Laurens: $64k50562 · Mallard: $73k50578 · Ringsted: $72k50581 · Rolfe: $58k50597 · West Bend: $92k50598 · Whittemore: $79k51342 · Graettinger: $85k51358 · Ruthven: $65k505365134250554505815059750528513585057850598505625053950527505465051550515 · Ayrshire: $63k50527 · Curlew: –50528 · Cylinder: $116k50536 · Emmetsburg: $59k50539 · Fenton: $65k50546 · Havelock: $65k50554 · Laurens: $64k50562 · Mallard: $73k50578 · Ringsted: $72k50581 · Rolfe: $58k50597 · West Bend: $92k50598 · Whittemore: $79k51342 · Graettinger: $85k51358 · Ruthven: $65k505365134250554505815059750528513585057850598505625053950527505465051550515 · Ayrshire: $63k50527 · Curlew: –50528 · Cylinder: $116k50536 · Emmetsburg: $59k50539 · Fenton: $65k50546 · Havelock: $65k50554 · Laurens: $64k50562 · Mallard: $73k50578 · Ringsted: $72k50581 · Rolfe: $58k50597 · West Bend: $92k50598 · Whittemore: $79k51342 · Graettinger: $85k51358 · Ruthven: $65k5053651342505545058150597505285135850578505985056250539505275054650515
The residential ZIP codes of Palo Alto County (whole outlines, including the parts in neighboring counties), shaded by median household income in national fifths (ACS 2020-2024). <$54.1k$98.1k+no figure

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries; ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B19013).

How different are its ZIP codes?

The middle half of its ranked ZIP codes (1,000+ people living in households) report median household incomes between $63,802 and $84,866.

They carry 14 postal town names.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B19013).

All 14 residential ZIP codes in Palo Alto County

8 ZIP codes lie mainly in Palo Alto County; 6 more reach into it from a neighboring county and follow the first table.

Residential ZIP codes mainly in Palo Alto County, largest first; "In this county" is the share of the ZIP's land in the county
In this county
50536 Emmetsburg 4,207 30 $59k $122k 100%
51342 Graettinger 1,385 17 $85k $109k 66%
50597 West Bend 1,341 16 $92k $180k 55%
51358 Ruthven 1,213 15 $65k $151k 64%
50562 Mallard 377 6 $73k $100k 93%
50528 Cylinder 366 5 $116k $188k 100%
50515 Ayrshire 251 7 $63k $29k 77%
50527 Curlew 106 2 – – 100%

Partly in Palo Alto County

Residential ZIP codes mainly in another county that reach at least 1% into Palo Alto County, by their share here
In this county
50598 Whittemore 818 12 $79k $111k 30%
50539 Fenton 444 8 $65k $71k 22%
50554 Laurens 1,653 18 $64k $83k 12%
50578 Ringsted 633 9 $72k $107k 10%
50581 Rolfe 809 8 $58k $93k 8%
50546 Havelock 356 7 $65k – 5%

Download the 14 ZIP codes as CSV

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; county shares by land area (Census 2020 ZCTA-county relationship file).

Which ZIP codes cross the county line?

11 ZIP codes of Palo Alto County extend into another county. A ZIP code follows mail routes, not county borders.

Share of each ZIP code's land in Palo Alto County and in the neighboring counties
ZIPIn Palo AltoElsewhere
5055412%Pocahontas County 85%; Buena Vista County 3%
5134266%Emmet County 34%
5059755%Kossuth County 42%; Humboldt County 1%
5135864%Clay County 36%
5059830%Kossuth County 70%
505818%Pocahontas County 92%
5057810%Emmet County 90%
5053922%Kossuth County 78%
5056293%Pocahontas County 7%
505465%Pocahontas County 95%
5051577%Clay County 23%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA-county relationship file (shares of land area).

Which first three digits do Palo Alto County's ZIP codes use?

The first three digits of a ZIP code name the sectional center, the mail processing plant that sorts it. Palo Alto County's ZIP codes use 2 prefixes: 505 and 513.

Three-digit prefixes of Palo Alto County's ZIP codes, the sectional center for each (USPS labeling list L005, effective October 1, 2026) and how many of the prefix's codes are Palo Alto County's
PrefixSectional centerHereAll codes
505 Des Moines, IA (SCF 500) 12 75
513 Sioux Falls, SD (SCF 570) 2 23

Source: U.S. Postal Service, labeling list L005 (3-digit ZIP Code prefix groups, SCF sortation), effective October 1, 2026.