The Mind-Boggling Numbers That Make Up the Iowa State Map

Iowa is a remarkably unique state, made up of exactly 947 incorporated cities from border to border.

That number alone is pretty fascinating when you look at the surrounding map. Iowa actually has fewer incorporated municipalities than neighboring states like Illinois, Missouri, and Minnesota, but boasts more than Nebraska, South Dakota, and even Wisconsin—a state with nearly double Iowa's total population.

When you dive into the data across every single one of those 947 communities, you get a wild, fascinating look into how the Hawkeye State actually functions on a daily basis.

From corner gas stations and fast food joints to local libraries and neighborhood churches, we pulled the total statewide counts for some of Iowa's most common fixtures. And the final numbers say a lot about what makes this state tick.

Get our free mobile app

Gas Stations & Convenience Stores

Credit: Canva

Iowa Count: 1,515 Gas Stations

Compared to Our Northern Neighbor of Minnesota: Minnesota sits at roughly 2,200 gas stations, but when you factor in population density, Iowa actually has significantly more gas stations per capita (about 1 station for every 2,100 Iowans vs. 1 for every 2,600 Minnesotans).

Public Schools

Credit: Canva

Iowa Count: 327 Active School Districts

Compared to Our Western Neighbor of Nebraska: Nebraska has 244 school districts for a much smaller population, but Iowa’s 327 districts feature over 100 districts with fewer than 500 total K-12 students. Iowa’s high density of independent rural school districts stems directly from those early agricultural community boundaries.

The largest school district (by far) in Iowa is the Des Moines Independent Community School District, with roughly 31,000 students. The smallest public school district is the Diagonal Community School District in southwest Iowa, which has a very small enrollment of fewer than 90 students.

Licensed Grain Elevators & Warehouses

Credit: Canva

Iowa Count: Between 850-900 Commercial Locations

Compared to Our Eastern Neighbor of Illinois: Illinois and Iowa constantly battle for corn dominance (Illinois has over 1,000 Grain Elevators), but Iowa’s high density of grain elevators serves as the official "small-town skyscraper" for hundreds of communities that don't have a single traditional high-rise building.

Fast Food Restaurants

Credit: Canva

Iowa Count: 2,428 fast food spots (with Subway leading at least 260 locations)

Compared to Our Northeastern Neighbor of Wisconsin: Wisconsin has far more total fast food locations due to its higher population (4,500), but Iowa holds a higher density of Subways per capita than almost all of its northern neighbors—making the green-and-yellow sign a near-guarantee in almost every single one of Iowa's 99 county seats.

Places of Worship (Churches) 

Credit: Canva

Iowa Count: At Least 5,400 physical church structures (and around 3,750 active non-profit registrations)

Compared to Our Southern Neighbor of Missouri: Missouri's "Bible Belt" reputation gives it nearly 9,000 churches, but Iowa’s roughly 5,400 church steeples mean there is roughly one church structure for every 590 residents in the state. Out of all 947 incorporated towns, a church is often one of the first two permanent brick structures built in a community's history.

Libraries

Credit: Canva

Iowa Count: 540+ public libraries

Compared to Our Northwestern Neighbor of South Dakota: South Dakota maintains around 115 public libraries statewide. Iowa's 540+ libraries mean that Iowa has nearly twice as many public libraries as it has Subway restaurants, a rare stat in modern America where public knowledge hubs outnumber fast food chains 2 to 1.

Post Offices

Credit: Canva

Iowa Count: 830+ active USPS post offices

Compared to Our Eastern Neighbor of Illinois: Illinois may have Chicago, but Iowa ranks in the top 10 states in the entire nation for post office density per capita. With 830+ active post offices for 947 towns, almost every single municipality in Iowa maintains its own unique ZIP code and physical mail anchor.

Dollar General Stores

Credit: Canva

Iowa Count: 345 locations

Compared to Our Southern Neighbor of Missouri: Missouri is flooded with over 600 Dollar Generals, but Iowa's 345 stores have strategically filled the lasting void left behind when traditional small-town grocery stores closed across rural Iowa communities over the last two decades.

AND FINALLY, the One We've All Been Waiting For...

Bars/Pubs

Credit: Canva

Iowa Count: 1,550 Bars & Pubs

Compared to.... Of Course It's Wisconsin: Iowa’s 1,550 bars give it a very respectable top-10 national ranking for tavern density per capita. But its neighbor across the Mississippi is in a league of its own. Wisconsin boasts a mind-boggling 2,738 bars, meaning Wisconsin has more than nearly twice as many as Iowa, rocking a wild 46.9 bars per 100,000 people!