The Fillmore Block, now known as the Dows Mercantile Store, is a historic building located in Dows, Iowa, United States. The Dows commercial district was destroyed in a fire in 1894. This building was completed for $12,000 in 1895 for D.H.

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3 on the National Register · #104 in IAHistoric places →

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The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Dows

City in Iowa, US

1880Established

521Population

0.8 sq miArea

1,152 ftElevation

Dows is a city in Franklin and Wright counties of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 521 at the time of the 2020 census. The town was incorporated on May 3, 1892.

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Town numbers

ZIP code50071

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Living in Dows

Housing in Dows

$116K▲ 2.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Dows home is worth about $116,000, up 2.5% in a year, 52% below the Iowa typical home.

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Work & commute in Dows

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Most working residents leave Dows for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Clarion (13%), Ames (6%) and Iowa Falls (5%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Clarion

13%

Ames

Iowa Falls

Belmond

2%Work in townlive and work in Dows 22 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 37Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Dows →

Health in Dows

Compared with Iowa

2worse than IA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 30 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

9.5%More uninsured adultsIA 7.3% · worse 14.7%More older adults who have lost all their teethIA 11.6% · worse

Care nearby

Iowa Specialty Hospital - ClarionClarion · 12.5 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Center of ClarionClarion · 12.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Dows · CMS · HRSAHealth in Dows →

Natural hazards in Dows

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 47% of U.S. communities.

🌵 Drought🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

0Does Dows flood?no paid flood claims on record 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Dows

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Dows →

Climate in Dows

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Dows has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 8°, and about 30 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

29° / 12°Winter

58° / 36°Spring

81° / 59°Summer

60° / 38°Fall