Fort Dodge
Around Fort Dodge
Photo: Robert W. Wood · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Iowa · 36k people
Fort Dodge
“Gypsum City”
Where the prairie meets the river
Iowa Central Community College goldIowa Central Community College navyCornfield green
Welcome to Fort Dodge! Whether you're here for the fair, the fishing, or just passing through, you'll find a friendly bunch. Grab a tenderloin and say hi.
Clubs for Fort Dodge
No clubs for Fort Dodge yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Fort Dodge. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Fort Dodge. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Blanden Memorial Art Museum Historic downtown art museum with rotating exhibits.
- Oleson Park Large city park with a pool, trails, and shelter houses.
- John F. Kennedy Memorial Park Lakeside park with camping, fishing, and a beach.
- The Fort Museum Reconstructed frontier fort with local history exhibits.
- Webster County Fairgrounds Home of the county fair and other community events.
- Iowa Central Community College Local community college with sports and arts programs.
- Outdoors Fishing at Kennedy Park
- Outdoors Hiking at Oleson Park
- With kids Visit the Blanden Art Museum
- With kids Swim at Oleson Park pool
- Evenings Downtown bars
- Evenings Live music at local venues
- Locals love County fairs
- Locals love Small-town diners
Through the year
- Frontier Days June Summer festival with parades, music, and carnival rides.
- Webster County Fair July Classic county fair with livestock, rides, and food.
- Fort Dodge Farmers Market Summer Local produce, baked goods, and crafts downtown.
- Iowa Central Community College athletics Fall and winter Tritons football, basketball, and wrestling games.
- Humboldt County Fair August Neighboring county fair with harness racing and 4-H shows.
Hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Spring and fall are the sweet spots for being outdoors. Best: Spring and fall are perfect for being outside—mild temps and low humidity.
Talk like a local
- “The Fort”
- Fort Dodge
- “Gypsum”
- The gypsum industry and its quarries
- “Tenderloin”
- The pork tenderloin sandwich
- “Hawkeye”
- Iowa Hawkeyes fan
Getaways
- Ames College town with Iowa State campus and shops.
- Carroll Small city with a historic downtown and parks.
- Storm Lake Lake town with boating and fishing.
- Spencer Gateway to the Iowa Great Lakes.
Local flavour
Rooting for Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones
Eat and drink
- Pork tenderloin sandwich A classic Iowa staple, often served breaded and larger than the bun.
- Sweet corn Fresh Iowa sweet corn, a summer tradition.
- Maid-Rite loose meat sandwich A local chain known for its loose meat sandwiches, a regional favourite.
Where people go
- County fairs Annual gatherings with livestock, food, and rides.
- Small-town diners Classic eateries serving homestyle meals and pie.
- Grain elevators Tall structures that punctuate the flat landscape.
- Gypsum quarries Historic mining sites that gave Fort Dodge its nickname.
Heritage and traditions
Fort Dodge is proud of its gypsum mining heritage, which earned it the nickname 'Gypsum City,' and its strong small-town Iowa character with a deep sense of community.
This time of year in Fort Dodge
- Harvest festivals fall Fall celebrations of the agricultural season.
- Algona Band Festival fall A high school marching band competition that draws bands from across the state.
Say it like a local: “How's it going?” — A common greeting.
Festivals
- Algona Band Festival fall A high school marching band competition that draws bands from across the state.
- Gypsum City Days summer Celebrates the city's gypsum mining heritage with parades and community events.
Landmarks with a story
- Fort Dodge State Hospital A former psychiatric hospital with a long history, now repurposed.
- Webster County Courthouse Historic courthouse in the town square.
Music and arts
- Community theater Local theater groups put on productions.
A little history
- 1850 Fort Dodge was established as a military outpost to protect settlers.
- 1870s Gypsum mining began, leading to the city's nickname 'Gypsum City'.
- 1900s The city became a hub for agriculture and manufacturing.
Rivalries
- Fort Dodge vs. Webster City Big high school football and basketball games.
- Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Iowa State Cyclones The state's biggest college football rivalry.
- Fort Dodge vs. Algona Fierce high school basketball matchups.
- Game day High school football games
Iowans speak with a neutral Midland accent and often say 'pop' for soda.
Only here
- The gypsum quarries have created unique lakes.
- The city is known for its gypsum and limestone.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Fort Dodge' with a hard 'g'.
- Be prepared for cold winters and hot summers.
- Try a pork tenderloin sandwich at a local diner.
- Visit the gypsum quarry lakes for swimming and fishing.
- Get used to the flat landscape and agricultural fields.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaWebster CityIowaWhere the cornfields meet the horizon.Sac CityIowaWhere the corn meets the lakeAlgonaIowaWhere the corn grows tall and the welcome is warm.AmesIowaHome of the Cyclones, where cornfields meet campus life.CarrollIowaWhere the cornfields meet the sky.Iowa FallsIowaWhere the Iowa River runs through the heartlandStorm LakeIowaA lake town with a warm heart and a world of flavors.SpencerIowaWhere the lakes meet the prairie.
Fort Dodge, IA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.