Curlew is a city in Palo Alto County, Iowa, United States.

[2] Curlew originated in 1882 with the construction of the Des Moines and Fort Dodge Railroad in the area.

[usurped] Curlew got its start in the year 1882, following construction of the Des Moines and Fort Dodge Railroad through that territory.

It was named by the railroad president, an avid hunter, from the curlew birds found in the area.

[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.76 square miles (1.97 km2), all land.

[5] As of the census of 2020,[7] there were 37 people, 13 households, and 12 families residing in the city.

At the 2010 census there were 58 people in 24 households, including 17 families, in the city.

The racial makup of the city was 98.3% White and 1.7% African American.

There were 30.8% of families and 28.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including 72.7% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.