Sheldahl is a city in Polk, Boone, and Story counties in the U.S. state of Iowa.

[3] The Boone County portion of Sheldahl is part of the Boone Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Story County portion is part of the Ames Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The area was settled by 120 Norwegian immigrants from Lisbon, Illinois on June 7, 1855; including Osmond and Anna Sheldahl and five of their children.

[4] The Chicago and Northwestern Railway[5] established a NE to S rail line through Sheldahl during the 1880s.

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad connected with this line 2 miles north in Slater.

In 2005, Union Pacific Railroad sold a 25-mile discontinued rail corridor—which included the recently abandoned line through Sheldahl—to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, which enabled the construction of the recreational High Trestle Trail.

Access to the trail, including a parking area and washroom, is located in Sheldahl.

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.84 square miles (2.18 km2), all land.

The racial makeup of the city was 98.7% White, 0.3% Native American, and 0.9% from two or more races.

16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.