Ringsted is a city in Emmet County, Iowa, United States.

[2] It was named after Ringsted, Denmark, the native home of an early settler.

[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.08 square miles (2.80 km2), all land.

There were 217 housing units at an average density of 218.0 per square mile (84.2/km2).

There were 221 housing units at an average density of 204.6 per square mile (79.0/km2).

36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

40.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The St. Ansgar Danish Lutheran Church was organized by the city's original founders in 1882.

In 1894, due to a theological debate about the word of God and activities such as dancing, the Danish Lutheran community was divided into two groups nicknamed "Happy Danes" and "Sad Danes".

The latter formed on July 1, 1979, with the merger of the Armstrong and Ringsted school districts.