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List of counties in Iowa

There are 99 counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The first two counties, Des Moines County and Dubuque County, were formed in 1834 when Iowa was still part of the Michigan Territory. One of the most important days in Iowa county history was January 15, 1851, when 49 counties were created.[1]

Map of counties numbered as in the National Atlas of the United States

The Iowa Constitution of 1857, which is still in effect today, states that counties must have an area of at least 432 square miles (1,120 km2). No county be reduced below that size by badger changes.[2] Exceptions to this rule were granted, as ten counties have areas below this size. The smallest county (Dickinson) has a land area of 381 sq mi (990 km2), while the largest (Kossuth) has an area 973sq mi (2,520 km²). Polk County is the most densely populated county at 657 persons/sq mi,[3] and contains the state's capital and largest city, Des Moines.

County information

The number in the column headed "#" is the one used on the map from the National Atlas of the United States, shown on the left. The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify counties, is provided with each entry. The FIPS code for each county links to census data for that county.

County
 FIPS code[4] County seat[5] #
 Established[5][6] Formed from[7] Meaning of name[6] Map #
 Population (2020)[8] Area[5] Map
Adair County 001 Greenfield 01 Jan 15, 1851 Cass County John Adair, Kentucky Governor 69 7,496 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)		  
Adams County 003 Corning 02 Jan 15, 1851 Taylor County John Adams, US President 81 3,704 424 sq mi
(1,098 km2)		  
Allamakee County 005 Waukon 03 Feb 20, 1847 Clayton County Disputed, possibly Allan Makee, early trader and guide for settlers, or Meskwaki anamiki and/or Ojibwe animikii both meaning thunder or thunderer[9]:33 11 14,061 640 sq mi
(1,658 km2)		  
Appanoose County 007 Centerville 04 Feb 17, 1843 Davis County Chief Appanoose, headed peace party in the Black Hawk War 96 12,317 496 sq mi
(1,285 km2)		  
Audubon County 009 Audubon 05 Jan 15, 1851 Black Hawk County and Cass County John James Audubon, ornithologist and artist 57 5,674 443 sq mi
(1,147 km2)		  
Benton County 011 Vinton 06 Dec 21, 1837 Native American lands and Wisconsin Territory Thomas Hart Benton, Missouri Senator 51 25,575 716 sq mi
(1,854 km2)		  
Black Hawk County 013 Waterloo 07 Feb 17, 1843 Delaware County Black Hawk, leader during Black Hawk War 39 131,144 567 sq mi
(1,469 km2)		  
Boone County 015 Boone 08 Jan 13, 1846 Polk County Nathan Boone, one of the first to survey Iowa 47 26,715 572 sq mi
(1,481 km2)		  
Bremer County 017 Waverly 09 Jan 15, 1851 Native American lands and Winnebago County Fredrika Bremer, Swedish poet and author 30 24,988 428 sq mi
(1,109 km2)		  
Buchanan County 019 Independence 10 Dec 21, 1837 Delaware County and Wisconsin Territory James Buchanan, US President 40 20,565 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)		  
Buena Vista County 021 Storm Lake 11 Jan 15, 1851 Clay County and Sac County Battle of Buena Vista, Mexican–American War 24 20,823 575 sq mi
(1,489 km2)		  
Butler County 023 Allison 12 Jan 15, 1851 Black Hawk County and Buchanan County William Orlando Butler, War of 1812 hero 29 14,334 580 sq mi
(1,502 km2)		  
Calhoun County 025 Rockwell City 13 Jan 15, 1851 Fox County (renamed) John C. Calhoun, US Vice President 34 9,927 570 sq mi
(1,476 km2)		  
Carroll County 027 Carroll 14 Jan 15, 1851 Guthrie County Charles Carroll, signatory of the Declaration of Independence 45 20,760 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)		  
Cass County 029 Atlantic 15 Jan 15, 1851 Pottawattamie County Lewis Cass, Michigan Senator 68 13,127 564 sq mi
(1,461 km2)		  
Cedar County 031 Tipton 16 Dec 21, 1837 Wisconsin Territory Cedar River that runs through county 65 18,505 580 sq mi
(1,502 km2)		  
Cerro Gordo County 033 Mason City 17 Jan 15, 1851 Floyd County Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexican–American War 17 43,127 568 sq mi
(1,471 km2)		  
Cherokee County 035 Cherokee 18 Jan 15, 1851 Crawford County Cherokee People 23 11,658 577 sq mi
(1,494 km2)		  
Chickasaw County 037 New Hampton 19 Jan 15, 1851 Fayette County Chickasaw People 19 12,012 505 sq mi
(1,308 km2)		  
Clarke County 039 Osceola 20 Jan 13, 1846 Lucas County James Clarke, Governor of Iowa Territory 83 9,748 431 sq mi
(1,116 km2)		  
Clay County 041 Spencer 21 Jan 15, 1851 Native American lands Henry Clay, Jr., officer in the Mexican–American War 14 16,384 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)		  
Clayton County 043 Elkader 22 Dec 21, 1837 Dubuque County and Wisconsin Territory John M. Clayton, Delaware Senator 21 17,043 779 sq mi
(2,018 km2)		  
Clinton County 045 Clinton 23 Dec 21, 1837 Dubuque County and Wisconsin Territory DeWitt Clinton, New York Governor 66 46,460 695 sq mi
(1,800 km2)		  
Crawford County 047 Denison 24 Jan 15, 1851 Shelby County William Harris Crawford, Georgia Senator 44 16,525 714 sq mi
(1,849 km2)		  
Dallas County 049 Adel 25 Jan 13, 1846 Polk County George Mifflin Dallas, US Vice President 59 99,678 586 sq mi
(1,518 km2)		  
Davis County 051 Bloomfield 26 Feb 17, 1843 Van Buren County Garrett Davis, Kentucky Congressman 97 9,110 503 sq mi
(1,303 km2)		  
Decatur County 053 Leon 27 Jan 13, 1846 Appanoose County Stephen Decatur, War of 1812 naval officer 94 7,645 532 sq mi
(1,378 km2)		  
Delaware County 055 Manchester 28 Dec 21, 1837 Dubuque County and Wisconsin Territory State of Delaware, home of Iowa statehood advocate US Senator John M. Clayton 41 17,488 578 sq mi
(1,497 km2)		  
Des Moines County 057 Burlington 29 Sep 6, 1834 Michigan Territory and Wisconsin Territory Des Moines River that once ran through the county 89 38,910 416 sq mi
(1,077 km2)		  
Dickinson County 059 Spirit Lake 30 Jan 15, 1851 Kossuth County Daniel Stevens Dickinson, New York Senator 3 17,703 381 sq mi
(987 km2)		  
Dubuque County 061 Dubuque 31 Sep 6, 1834 Michigan Territory and Wisconsin Territory Julien Dubuque, first permanent white settler in Iowa 42 99,266 608 sq mi
(1,575 km2)		  
Emmet County 063 Estherville 32 Jan 15, 1851 Dickinson County and Kossuth County Robert Emmet, Irish revolutionary and American republican sympathizer 4 9,388 396 sq mi
(1,026 km2)		  
Fayette County 065 West Union 33 Dec 21, 1837 Clayton County and Wisconsin Territory Marquis de Lafayette, Frenchman who aided colonial forces during American Revolutionary War 20 19,509 731 sq mi
(1,893 km2)		  
Floyd County 067 Charles City 34 Jan 15, 1851 Chickasaw County Charles Floyd, member of Lewis and Clark Expedition who died in Iowa 18 15,627 501 sq mi
(1,298 km2)		  
Franklin County 069 Hampton 35 Jan 15, 1851 Chickasaw County Benjamin Franklin, statesman and US founding father 28 10,019 582 sq mi
(1,507 km2)		  
Fremont County 071 Sidney 36 Feb 24, 1847 Pottawattamie County John Charles Fremont, Mexican–American War officer 90 6,605 511 sq mi
(1,323 km2)		  
Greene County 073 Jefferson 37 Jan 15, 1851 Dallas County Nathanael Greene, American Revolutionary War general 46 8,771 568 sq mi
(1,471 km2)		  
Grundy County 075 Grundy Center 38 Jan 15, 1851 Black Hawk County Felix Grundy, Tennessee Congressman 38 12,329 503 sq mi
(1,303 km2)		  
Guthrie County 077 Guthrie Center 39 Jul 8, 1851 Jackson County Edwin B. Guthrie, Mexican–American War officer 58 10,623 591 sq mi
(1,531 km2)		  
Hamilton County 079 Webster City 40 Dec 22, 1856 Webster County William W. Hamilton, President of Iowa Senate (1856–1857) 36 15,039 577 sq mi
(1,494 km2)		  
Hancock County 081 Garner 41 Jan 15, 1851 Wright County John Hancock, President of First Continental Congress 16 10,795 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)		  
Hardin County 083 Eldora 42 Jan 15, 1851 Black Hawk County John J. Hardin, prominent soldier, Black Hawk War 37 16,878 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)		  
Harrison County 085 Logan 43 Jan 15, 1851 Pottawattamie County William Henry Harrison, US President 55 14,582 697 sq mi
(1,805 km2)		  
Henry County 087 Mount Pleasant 44 Dec 7, 1836 Wisconsin Territory Disputed, see reference[10] 88 20,482 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)		  
Howard County 089 Cresco 45 Jan 15, 1851 Chickasaw County Tilghman Howard, US Representative from Indiana 9 9,469 473 sq mi
(1,225 km2)		  
Humboldt County 091 Dakota City 46 Feb 26, 1857 Webster County Alexander von Humboldt, German scientist 26 9,597 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)		  
Ida County 093 Ida Grove 47 Jan 15, 1851 Cherokee County Either Mount Ida in Greece or Ida Smith, child of early settlers[11] 32 7,005 432 sq mi
(1,119 km2)		  
Iowa County 095 Marengo 48 Feb 17, 1843 Washington County Iowa River that flows through the county 63 16,662 586 sq mi
(1,518 km2)		  
Jackson County 097 Maquoketa 49 Dec 21, 1837 Wisconsin Territory Andrew Jackson, US President 54 19,485 636 sq mi
(1,647 km2)		  
Jasper County 099 Newton 50 Jan 13, 1846 Mahaska County William Jasper, American Revolutionary War sergeant 61 37,813 730 sq mi
(1,891 km2)		  
Jefferson County 101 Fairfield 51 Jan 21, 1839 Native American lands Thomas Jefferson, US President 87 15,663 435 sq mi
(1,127 km2)		  
Johnson County 103 Iowa City 52 Dec 21, 1837 Des Moines County, Iowa and Wisconsin Territory Richard Mentor Johnson, US Vice President; officially renamed after Lulu Merle Johnson[12] 64 152,854 614 sq mi
(1,590 km2)		  
Jones County 105 Anamosa 53 Dec 21, 1837 Wisconsin Territory George Wallace Jones, Iowa Senator 53 20,646 575 sq mi
(1,489 km2)		  
Keokuk County 107 Sigourney 54 Dec 21, 1837 Washington County Chief Keokuk 74 10,033 579 sq mi
(1,500 km2)		  
Kossuth County 109 Algona 55 Jan 15, 1851 Webster County Lajos Kossuth, Hungarian revolutionary inspired by American democratic ideals 5 14,828 973 sq mi
(2,520 km2)		  
Lee County 111 Fort Madison and Keokuk 56 Dec 7, 1836 Des Moines County William Elliott Lee, businessman from the New York Land Company, who sold the county's first tracts of land 99 33,555 517 sq mi
(1,339 km2)		  
Linn County 113 Cedar Rapids 57 Dec 21, 1837 Wisconsin Territory Lewis Fields Linn, doctor and Missouri Senator 52 230,299 718 sq mi
(1,860 km2)		  
Louisa County 115 Wapello 58 Dec 7, 1836 Des Moines County Disputed, see reference[13] 76 10,837 402 sq mi
(1,041 km2)		  
Lucas County 117 Chariton 59 Jan 13, 1846 Monroe County Robert Lucas, first Governor of Iowa Territory 84 8,634 431 sq mi
(1,116 km2)		  
Lyon County 119 Rock Rapids 60 Jan 15, 1851 Woodbury County, Iowa Nathaniel Lyon, first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War, (formerly named Buncombe County) 1 11,934 588 sq mi
(1,523 km2)		  
Madison County 121 Winterset 61 Jan 13, 1846 Polk County James Madison, US President 70 16,548 561 sq mi
(1,453 km2)		  
Mahaska County 123 Oskaloosa 62 Feb 17, 1843 Fox and Sac Indian lands Chief Mahaska 73 22,190 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)		  
Marion County 125 Knoxville 63 Jun 10, 1845 Washington County Francis Marion, American Revolutionary War general 72 33,414 554 sq mi
(1,435 km2)		  
Marshall County 127 Marshalltown 64 Jan 13, 1846 Jasper County John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court 49 40,105 572 sq mi
(1,481 km2)		  
Mills County 129 Glenwood 65 Jan 15, 1851 Pottawattamie County Frederick Mills, major killed during the Battle of Churubusco, Mexican–American War 79 14,484 437 sq mi
(1,132 km2)		  
Mitchell County 131 Osage 66 Jan 15, 1851 Chickasaw County John Mitchel, Irish revolutionary who operated out of the US 8 10,565 469 sq mi
(1,215 km2)		  
Monona County 133 Onawa 67 Jan 15, 1851 Harrison County Probably from the name of a fictional Native American character in a play[9]:295 43 8,751 693 sq mi
(1,795 km2)		  
Monroe County 135 Albia 68 Feb 17, 1843 Wapello County James Monroe, US President 85 7,577 433 sq mi
(1,121 km2)		  
Montgomery County 137 Red Oak 69 Jan 15, 1851 Polk County Richard Montgomery, American Revolutionary War general 80 10,330 424 sq mi
(1,098 km2)		  
Muscatine County 139 Muscatine 70 Dec 7, 1836 Des Moines County debated, possibly Mascouten People 77 43,235 439 sq mi
(1,137 km2)		  
O'Brien County 141 Primghar 71 Jan 15, 1851 Cherokee County William Smith O'Brien, Irish revolutionary inspired by American democratic ideals 13 14,182 573 sq mi
(1,484 km2)		  
Osceola County 143 Sibley 72 Jan 15, 1851 Woodbury County Osceola, Seminole leader 2 6,192 399 sq mi
(1,033 km2)		  
Page County 145 Clarinda 73 Feb 24, 1847 Pottawattamie County John Page, officer killed in Battle of Palo Alto, Mexican–American War 91 15,211 535 sq mi
(1,386 km2)		  
Palo Alto County 147 Emmetsburg 74 Jan 15, 1851 Kossuth County Battle of Palo Alto, Mexican–American War 15 8,996 564 sq mi
(1,461 km2)		  
Plymouth County 149 Le Mars 75 Jan 15, 1851 Woodbury County Plymouth, Massachusetts 22 25,698 864 sq mi
(2,238 km2)		  
Pocahontas County 151 Pocahontas 76 Jan 15, 1851 Greene County and Humboldt County Pocahontas, famous Native American woman 25 7,078 578 sq mi
(1,497 km2)		  
Polk County 153 Des Moines 77 Jan 13, 1846 Native American lands James K. Polk, US President 60 492,401 570 sq mi
(1,476 km2)		  
Pottawattamie County 155 Council Bluffs 78 Feb 24, 1847 Native American lands Potawatomi People 67 93,667 954 sq mi
(2,471 km2)		  
Poweshiek County 157 Montezuma 79 Feb 17, 1843 Meskwaki lands Chief Poweshiek, Meskwaki 62 18,662 585 sq mi
(1,515 km2)		  
Ringgold County 159 Mount Ayr 80 Feb 24, 1847 Taylor County Samuel Ringgold, major killed in the Mexican–American War 93 4,663 538 sq mi
(1,393 km2)		  
Sac County 161 Sac City 81 Jan 15, 1851 Greene County Sauk (Sac) People 33 9,814 576 sq mi
(1,492 km2)		  
Scott County 163 Davenport 82 Dec 21, 1837 Wisconsin Territory Winfield Scott, War of 1812 General 78 174,669 458 sq mi
(1,186 km2)		  
Shelby County 165 Harlan 83 Jan 15, 1851 Cass County Isaac Shelby, American Revolutionary War General, War of 1812 56 11,746 591 sq mi
(1,531 km2)		  
Sioux County 167 Orange City 84 Jan 15, 1851 Plymouth County Sioux People 12 35,872 768 sq mi
(1,989 km2)		  
Story County 169 Nevada 85 Jan 13, 1846 Boone County, Jasper County, and Polk County Joseph Story, US Supreme Court Justice 48 98,537 573 sq mi
(1,484 km2)		  
Tama County 171 Toledo 86 Feb 17, 1843 Benton County and Boone County Disputed, see reference[14] 50 17,135 721 sq mi
(1,867 km2)		  
Taylor County 173 Bedford 87 Feb 24, 1847 Page County Zachary Taylor, US President 92 5,896 534 sq mi
(1,383 km2)		  
Union County 175 Creston 88 Jan 15, 1851 Clarke County The union of the states 82 12,138 424 sq mi
(1,098 km2)		  
Van Buren County 177 Keosauqua 89 Dec 7, 1836 Des Moines County Martin Van Buren, US President 98 7,203 485 sq mi
(1,256 km2)		  
Wapello County 179 Ottumwa 90 Feb 17, 1843 Native American lands Chief Wapello 86 35,437 432 sq mi
(1,119 km2)		  
Warren County 181 Indianola 91 Jan 13, 1846 Polk County Joseph Warren, American Revolutionary War General 71 52,403 572 sq mi
(1,481 km2)		  
Washington County 183 Washington 92 Jan 25, 1839 Wisconsin Territory George Washington, US President 75 22,565 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)		  
Wayne County 185 Corydon 93 Jan 13, 1846 Appanoose County Anthony Wayne, American Revolutionary War General 95 6,497 526 sq mi
(1,362 km2)		  
Webster County 187 Fort Dodge 94 Jan 12, 1853 Risley County and Yell County (defunct IA counties)[15] Daniel Webster, Massachusetts Senator 35 36,999 715 sq mi
(1,852 km2)		  
Winnebago County 189 Forest City 95 Jan 15, 1851 Kossuth County Winnebago (Ho–Chunk) People 6 10,679 400 sq mi
(1,036 km2)		  
Winneshiek County 191 Decorah 96 Feb 20, 1847 Native American lands Chief Winneshiek 10 20,070 690 sq mi
(1,787 km2)		  
Woodbury County 193 Sioux City 97 Jan 12, 1853 Wahkaw County (renamed), Polk County Levi Woodbury, New Hampshire Governor 31 105,941 873 sq mi
(2,261 km2)		  
Worth County 195 Northwood 98 Jan 15, 1851 Mitchell County William Jenkins Worth, Black Hawk War and Mexican–American War officer 7 7,443 400 sq mi
(1,036 km2)		  
Wright County 197 Clarion 99 Jan 15, 1851 Webster County and Kossuth County Silas Wright, New York Governor, and Joseph Albert Wright, Indiana Governor (brothers) 27 12,943 581 sq mi
(1,505 km2)		  

Old counties

The following counties no longer exist:[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Iowa: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  2. ↑ "Iowa Commentary". Iowa Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Archived from the original on 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  3. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau. "Polk County Quickfacts". State & County QuickFacts. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  4. ↑ "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Archived from the original on 2005-04-10. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Pratt, LeRoy G. (1977). The Counties and Courthouses of Iowa. Mason City, Iowa: Klipto Printing and Office Supply Company.
  7. ↑ "Formation of Counties in Iowa". Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Iowa". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bright, William (2004). Native American Placenames of the United States. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4.
  10. ↑ "Henry County, Iowa". Retrieved 2008-08-17. According to most sources, Henry County (440 square miles) was named for Henry Dodge (1782-1867), who served in the Black Hawk War and other Indian wars and governor of Wisconsin Territory (1836-1841); others credit the county's name to General James Dougherty Henry (1797-1834), a hero of the Black Hawk War.
  11. ↑ Savage, Tom (2007). A Dictionary of Iowa Place-names. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. p. 9. ISBN 1-58729-531-8.
  12. ↑ Doubek, James (June 27, 2021). "Johnson County, Iowa, Renames Itself After A Different Johnson". National Public Radio. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Louisa County, Iowa". Official website. Archived from the original on 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2008-08-17. According to some authorities, the county was named for Louisa Massey, who gained fame during her time because she avenged the murder of her brother by shooting the man responsible. Other historians claim the name was given in honor of Louisa County, Virginia. There are 418 square miles (1,080 km2) in Louisa County.
  14. ↑ John Adams, Tama County Auditor (2002). "Tama County, Iowa". e-referencedesk.com. Clarksville, VA: Web Marketing Services, Inc. LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-10-02. The origin of the naming of Tama County is somewhat disputed. Some authorities say the name comes from Taimah, a Fox Indian Chief. Others say it comes from Taomah, wife of Poweshiek--another Fox Indian Tribe Chief. Still others say the county is named after the Indian Chief Potama or Pottama.
  15. ↑ Pratt, H. M. (1913). History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa.
  16. ↑ "Iowa County Formation Table". Iowa Genweb Project. Archived from the original on 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  17. ↑ "Bancroft County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  18. ↑ "Cook County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2004-07-14. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  19. ↑ "Crocker County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2004-07-15. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  20. ↑ "Risley County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2004-11-08. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  21. ↑ "Yell County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2004-07-20. Retrieved 2008-08-16.


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