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 created in 1834 when Iowa was still part of the Michigan Territory. In preparation for Michigan's statehood, part of Michigan Territory was formed into Wisconsin Territory in 1836.[1] Two years later, the western portion was split off to become Iowa Territory.[2] The south-eastern part of Iowa Territory became Iowa, the 29th state in the union, on 28 December 1846,[3] by which point 44 counties had been created. Counties continued to be created by the state government until 1857, when the last county, Humboldt County, was created.[4] One of the most significant days in Iowa county history was January 15, 1851, on which 49 counties were created.[5]

Map of counties numbered as in the National Atlas of the United States
Counties of Iowa
LocationState of Iowa
Number99
Populations4,029 (Adams) – 430,640 (Polk)
Areas381 square miles (990 km2) (Dickinson) – 973 square miles (2,520 km2) (Kossuth)
GovernmentCounty government
Subdivisionscities, towns, townships, unincorporated communities, census designated place

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), and no county may be reduced below that size by boundary changes.[6] However, exceptions to this rule were granted, as ten counties have areas below this size. (The table below shows land area, but the Constitution deals with total area.[6]) The smallest county (Dickinson) has a land area of 381 sq mi (990 km2), while the largest (Kossuth) has an area 973 sq mi (2,520 km²). Polk County is the most densely populated county at 756/sq mi (291.7/km2), an increase in density from 2000 when it was 657 inhabitants per square mile (254/km2).[7] Polk County contains the state's capital and largest city, Des Moines. In addition, Iowa has one of the smallest percentages of counties whose boundaries are dictated by natural means, the vast majority of which are being formed by lines of survey instead, resulting in many "box counties".

County information

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, 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. The column labeled '#' is the official county number when listed alphabetically. This number is used for many governmental and organizational purposes, including state income tax preparation.[8] From 1930-1978, it was also used on Iowa license plates[9] until it was replaced by the full county name. Finally, the number in the column headed "Map #" is used by the National Atlas of the United States, shown on the left; for purposes of the National Atlas, counties are numbered in geographical order beginning in the NW corner of the map.

County
 FIPS code[10] County seat[4] #
 Est.[4][11] Formed from[12] Etymology[11]Map #
 Population[13] Area[4] Map
Adair County 001 Greenfield01Jan 15, 1851Cass CountyJohn Adair, Kentucky Governor69 7,682 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)
Adams County 003 Corning02Jan 15, 1851Taylor CountyJohn Adams, US President81 4,029 424 sq mi
(1,098 km2)
Allamakee County 005 Waukon03Feb 20, 1847Clayton CountyDisputed, possibly Allan Makee, early trader and guide for settlers11 14,330 640 sq mi
(1,658 km2)
Appanoose County 007 Centerville04Feb 17, 1843Davis CountyChief Appanoose, headed peace party in the Black Hawk War96 12,884 496 sq mi
(1,285 km2)
Audubon County 009 Audubon05Jan 15, 1851Black Hawk County and Cass CountyJohn James Audubon, ornithologist and artist57 6,119 443 sq mi
(1,147 km2)
Benton County 011 Vinton06Dec 21, 1837Native American lands and Wisconsin TerritoryThomas Hart Benton, Missouri Senator51 26,076 716 sq mi
(1,854 km2)
Black Hawk County 013 Waterloo07Feb 17, 1843Delaware CountyBlack Hawk, leader during Black Hawk War39 131,090 567 sq mi
(1,469 km2)
Boone County 015 Boone08Jan 13, 1846Polk CountyNathan Boone, one of the first to survey Iowa47 26,306 572 sq mi
(1,481 km2)
Bremer County 017 Waverly09Jan 15, 1851Native American lands and Winnebago CountyFredrika Bremer, Swedish poet and author30 24,276 428 sq mi
(1,109 km2)
Buchanan County 019 Independence10Dec 21, 1837Delaware County and Wisconsin TerritoryJames Buchanan, US President40 20,958 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)
Buena Vista County 021 Storm Lake11Jan 15, 1851Clay County and Sac CountyBattle of Buena Vista, Mexican–American War24 20,260 575 sq mi
(1,489 km2)
Butler County 023 Allison12Jan 15, 1851Black Hawk County and Buchanan CountyWilliam Orlando Butler, War of 1812 hero29 14,867 580 sq mi
(1,502 km2)
Calhoun County 025 Rockwell City13Jan 15, 1851Fox County (renamed)John C. Calhoun, US Vice President34 9,670 570 sq mi
(1,476 km2)
Carroll County 027 Carroll14Jan 15, 1851Guthrie CountyCharles Carroll, signatory of the Declaration of Independence45 20,816 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)
Cass County 029 Atlantic15Jan 15, 1851Pottawattamie CountyLewis Cass, Michigan Senator68 13,956 564 sq mi
(1,461 km2)
Cedar County 031 Tipton16Dec 21, 1837Wisconsin TerritoryCedar River that runs through county65 18,499 580 sq mi
(1,502 km2)
Cerro Gordo County 033 Mason City17Jan 15, 1851Floyd CountyBattle of Cerro Gordo, Mexican–American War17 44,151 568 sq mi
(1,471 km2)
Cherokee County 035 Cherokee18Jan 15, 1851Crawford CountyCherokee People23 12,072 577 sq mi
(1,494 km2)
Chickasaw County 037 New Hampton19Jan 15, 1851Fayette CountyChickasaw People19 12,439 505 sq mi
(1,308 km2)
Clarke County 039 Osceola20Jan 13, 1846Lucas CountyJames Clarke, Governor of Iowa Territory83 9,286 431 sq mi
(1,116 km2)
Clay County 041 Spencer21Jan 15, 1851Native American landsHenry Clay, Jr., officer in the Mexican–American War14 16,667 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)
Clayton County 043 Elkader22Dec 21, 1837Dubuque County and Wisconsin TerritoryJohn M. Clayton, Delaware Senator21 18,129 779 sq mi
(2,018 km2)
Clinton County 045 Clinton23Dec 21, 1837Dubuque County and Wisconsin TerritoryDeWitt Clinton, New York Governor66 49,116 695 sq mi
(1,800 km2)
Crawford County 047 Denison24Jan 15, 1851Shelby CountyWilliam Harris Crawford, Georgia Senator44 17,096 714 sq mi
(1,849 km2)
Dallas County 049 Adel25Jan 13, 1846Polk CountyGeorge Mifflin Dallas, US Vice President59 66,135 586 sq mi
(1,518 km2)
Davis County 051 Bloomfield26Feb 17, 1843Van Buren CountyGarrett Davis, Kentucky Congressman97 8,753 503 sq mi
(1,303 km2)
Decatur County 053 Leon27Jan 13, 1846Appanoose CountyStephen Decatur, War of 1812 naval officer94 8,457 532 sq mi
(1,378 km2)
Delaware County 055 Manchester28Dec 21, 1837Dubuque County and Wisconsin TerritoryState of Delaware, home of Iowa statehood advocate US Senator John M. Clayton41 17,764 578 sq mi
(1,497 km2)
Des Moines County 057 Burlington29Sep 6, 1834Michigan Territory and Wisconsin TerritoryDes Moines River that once ran through the county89 40,325 416 sq mi
(1,077 km2)
Dickinson County 059 Spirit Lake30Jan 15, 1851Kossuth CountyDaniel Stevens Dickinson, New York Senator3 16,667 381 sq mi
(987 km2)
Dubuque County 061 Dubuque31Sep 6, 1834Michigan Territory and Wisconsin TerritoryJulien Dubuque, first permanent white settler in Iowa42 93,653 608 sq mi
(1,575 km2)
Emmet County 063 Estherville32Jan 15, 1851Dickinson County and Kossuth CountyRobert Emmet, Irish revolutionary and American republican sympathizer4 10,302 396 sq mi
(1,026 km2)
Fayette County 065 West Union33Dec 21, 1837Clayton County and Wisconsin TerritoryMarquis de Lafayette, Frenchman who aided colonial forces during American Revolutionary War20 20,880 731 sq mi
(1,893 km2)
Floyd County 067 Charles City34Jan 15, 1851Chickasaw CountyCharles Floyd, member of Lewis and Clark Expedition who died in Iowa18 16,303 501 sq mi
(1,298 km2)
Franklin County 069 Hampton35Jan 15, 1851Chickasaw CountyBenjamin Franklin, statesman and US founding father28 10,680 582 sq mi
(1,507 km2)
Fremont County 071 Sidney36Feb 24, 1847Pottawattamie CountyJohn Charles Fremont, Mexican–American War officer90 7,441 511 sq mi
(1,323 km2)
Greene County 073 Jefferson37Jan 15, 1851Dallas CountyNathanael Greene, American Revolutionary War general46 9,336 568 sq mi
(1,471 km2)
Grundy County 075 Grundy Center38Jan 15, 1851Black Hawk CountyFelix Grundy, Tennessee Congressman38 12,453 503 sq mi
(1,303 km2)
Guthrie County 077 Guthrie Center39Jul 8, 1851Jackson CountyEdwin B. Guthrie, Mexican–American War officer58 10,954 591 sq mi
(1,531 km2)
Hamilton County 079 Webster City40Dec 22, 1856Webster CountyWilliam W. Hamilton, President of Iowa Senate (1856–1857)36 15,673 577 sq mi
(1,494 km2)
Hancock County 081 Garner41Jan 15, 1851Wright CountyJohn Hancock, President of First Continental Congress16 11,341 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)
Hardin County 083 Eldora42Jan 15, 1851Black Hawk CountyJohn J. Hardin, prominent soldier, Black Hawk War37 17,534 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)
Harrison County 085 Logan43Jan 15, 1851Pottawattamie CountyWilliam Henry Harrison, US President55 14,928 697 sq mi
(1,805 km2)
Henry County 087 Mount Pleasant44Dec 7, 1836Wisconsin TerritoryDisputed, see reference[14]88 20,145 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
Howard County 089 Cresco45Jan 15, 1851Chickasaw CountyTilghman Howard, US Representative from Indiana9 9,566 473 sq mi
(1,225 km2)
Humboldt County 091 Dakota City46Feb 26, 1857Webster CountyAlexander von Humboldt, German scientist26 9,815 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
Ida County 093 Ida Grove47Jan 15, 1851Cherokee CountyMount Ida in Greece32 7,089 432 sq mi
(1,119 km2)
Iowa County 095 Marengo48Feb 17, 1843Washington CountyIowa River that flows through the county63 16,355 586 sq mi
(1,518 km2)
Jackson County 097 Maquoketa49Dec 21, 1837Wisconsin TerritoryAndrew Jackson, US President54 19,848 636 sq mi
(1,647 km2)
Jasper County 099 Newton50Jan 13, 1846Mahaska CountyWilliam Jasper, American Revolutionary War sergeant61 36,842 730 sq mi
(1,891 km2)
Jefferson County 101 Fairfield51Jan 21, 1839Native American landsThomas Jefferson, US President87 16,843 435 sq mi
(1,127 km2)
Johnson County 103 Iowa City52Dec 21, 1837Des Moines County, Iowa and Wisconsin TerritoryRichard Mentor Johnson, US Vice President64 130,882 614 sq mi
(1,590 km2)
Jones County 105 Anamosa53Dec 21, 1837Wisconsin TerritoryGeorge Wallace Jones, Iowa Senator53 20,638 575 sq mi
(1,489 km2)
Keokuk County 107 Sigourney54Dec 21, 1837Washington CountyChief Keokuk74 10,511 579 sq mi
(1,500 km2)
Kossuth County 109 Algona55Jan 15, 1851Webster CountyLajos Kossuth, Hungarian revolutionary inspired by American democratic ideals5 15,543 973 sq mi
(2,520 km2)
Lee County 111 Fort Madison and Keokuk56Dec 7, 1836Des Moines CountyWilliam Elliott Lee, businessman from the New York Land Company, who sold the county's first tracts of land99 35,862 517 sq mi
(1,339 km2)
Linn County 113 Cedar Rapids57Dec 21, 1837Wisconsin TerritoryLewis Fields Linn, doctor and Missouri Senator52 211,226 718 sq mi
(1,860 km2)
Louisa County 115 Wapello58Dec 7, 1836Des Moines CountyDisputed, see reference[15]76 11,387 402 sq mi
(1,041 km2)
Lucas County 117 Chariton59Jan 13, 1846Monroe CountyRobert Lucas, first Governor of Iowa Territory84 8,898 431 sq mi
(1,116 km2)
Lyon County 119 Rock Rapids60Jan 15, 1851Woodbury County, IowaNathaniel Lyon, first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War, (formerly named Buncombe County)1 11,581 588 sq mi
(1,523 km2)
Madison County 121 Winterset61Jan 13, 1846Polk CountyJames Madison, US President70 15,679 561 sq mi
(1,453 km2)
Mahaska County 123 Oskaloosa62Feb 17, 1843Fox and Sac Indian landsChief Mahaska73 22,381 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)
Marion County 125 Knoxville63Jun 10, 1845Washington CountyFrancis Marion, American Revolutionary War general72 33,309 554 sq mi
(1,435 km2)
Marshall County 127 Marshalltown64Jan 13, 1846Jasper CountyJohn Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court49 40,648 572 sq mi
(1,481 km2)
Mills County 129 Glenwood65Jan 15, 1851Pottawattamie CountyFrederick Mills, major killed during the Battle of Churubusco, Mexican–American War79 15,059 437 sq mi
(1,132 km2)
Mitchell County 131 Osage66Jan 15, 1851Chickasaw CountyJohn Mitchel, Irish revolutionary who operated out of the US8 10,776 469 sq mi
(1,215 km2)
Monona County 133 Onawa67Jan 15, 1851Harrison CountyNative American word thought to mean "peaceful valley"43 9,243 693 sq mi
(1,795 km2)
Monroe County 135 Albia68Feb 17, 1843Wapello CountyJames Monroe, US President85 7,970 433 sq mi
(1,121 km2)
Montgomery County 137 Red Oak69Jan 15, 1851Polk CountyRichard Montgomery, American Revolutionary War general80 10,740 424 sq mi
(1,098 km2)
Muscatine County 139 Muscatine70Dec 7, 1836Des Moines Countydebated, possibly Mascouten People77 42,745 439 sq mi
(1,137 km2)
O'Brien County 141 Primghar71Jan 15, 1851Cherokee CountyWilliam Smith O'Brien, Irish revolutionary inspired by American democratic ideals13 14,398 573 sq mi
(1,484 km2)
Osceola County 143 Sibley72Jan 15, 1851Woodbury CountyOsceola, Seminole leader2 6,462 399 sq mi
(1,033 km2)
Page County 145 Clarinda73Feb 24, 1847Pottawattamie CountyJohn Page, officer killed in Battle of Palo Alto, Mexican–American War91 15,932 535 sq mi
(1,386 km2)
Palo Alto County 147 Emmetsburg74Jan 15, 1851Kossuth CountyBattle of Palo Alto, Mexican–American War15 9,421 564 sq mi
(1,461 km2)
Plymouth County 149 Le Mars75Jan 15, 1851Woodbury CountyPlymouth, Massachusetts22 24,986 864 sq mi
(2,238 km2)
Pocahontas County 151 Pocahontas76Jan 15, 1851Greene County and Humboldt CountyPocahontas, famous Native American woman25 7,310 578 sq mi
(1,497 km2)
Polk County 153 Des Moines77Jan 13, 1846Native American landsJames K. Polk, US President60 430,640 570 sq mi
(1,476 km2)
Pottawattamie County 155 Council Bluffs78Feb 24, 1847Native American landsPotawatomi People67 93,158 954 sq mi
(2,471 km2)
Poweshiek County 157 Montezuma79Feb 17, 1843Meskwaki landsChief Poweshiek, Meskwaki62 18,914 585 sq mi
(1,515 km2)
Ringgold County 159 Mount Ayr80Feb 24, 1847Taylor CountySamuel Ringgold, major killed in the Mexican–American War93 5,131 538 sq mi
(1,393 km2)
Sac County 161 Sac City81Jan 15, 1851Greene CountySauk (Sac) People33 10,350 576 sq mi
(1,492 km2)
Scott County 163 Davenport82Dec 21, 1837Wisconsin TerritoryWinfield Scott, War of 1812 General78 165,224 458 sq mi
(1,186 km2)
Shelby County 165 Harlan83Jan 15, 1851Cass CountyIsaac Shelby, American Revolutionary War General, War of 181256 12,167 591 sq mi
(1,531 km2)
Sioux County 167 Orange City84Jan 15, 1851Plymouth CountySioux People12 33,704 768 sq mi
(1,989 km2)
Story County 169 Nevada85Jan 13, 1846Boone County, Jasper County, and Polk CountyJoseph Story, US Supreme Court Justice48 89,542 573 sq mi
(1,484 km2)
Tama County 171 Toledo86Feb 17, 1843Benton County and Boone CountyDisputed, see reference[16]50 17,767 721 sq mi
(1,867 km2)
Taylor County 173 Bedford87Feb 24, 1847Page CountyZachary Taylor, US President92 6,317 534 sq mi
(1,383 km2)
Union County 175 Creston88Jan 15, 1851Clarke CountyThe union of the states82 12,534 424 sq mi
(1,098 km2)
Van Buren County 177 Keosauqua89Dec 7, 1836Des Moines CountyMartin Van Buren, US President98 7,570 485 sq mi
(1,256 km2)
Wapello County 179 Ottumwa90Feb 17, 1843Native American landsChief Wapello86 35,625 432 sq mi
(1,119 km2)
Warren County 181 Indianola91Jan 13, 1846Polk CountyJoseph Warren, American Revolutionary War General71 46,225 572 sq mi
(1,481 km2)
Washington County 183 Washington92Jan 25, 1839Wisconsin TerritoryGeorge Washington, US President75 21,704 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)
Wayne County 185 Corydon93Jan 13, 1846Appanoose CountyAnthony Wayne, American Revolutionary War General95 6,403 526 sq mi
(1,362 km2)
Webster County 187 Fort Dodge94Jan 12, 1853Risley County and Yell County (defunct IA counties)[17]Daniel Webster, Massachusetts Senator35 38,013 715 sq mi
(1,852 km2)
Winnebago County 189 Forest City95Jan 15, 1851Kossuth CountyWinnebago (Ho–Chunk) People6 10,866 400 sq mi
(1,036 km2)
Winneshiek County 191 Decorah96Feb 20, 1847Native American landsChief Winneshiek10 21,056 690 sq mi
(1,787 km2)
Woodbury County 193 Sioux City97Jan 12, 1853Wahkaw County (renamed), Polk CountyLevi Woodbury, New Hampshire Governor31 102,172 873 sq mi
(2,261 km2)
Worth County 195 Northwood98Jan 15, 1851Mitchell CountyWilliam Jenkins Worth, Black Hawk War and Mexican–American War officer7 7,598 400 sq mi
(1,036 km2)
Wright County 197 Clarion99Jan 15, 1851Webster County and Kossuth CountySilas Wright, New York Governor, and Joseph Albert Wright, Indiana Governor (brothers)27 13,229 581 sq mi
(1,505 km2)

Former counties

The following counties no longer exist:[18]

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See also

References
  1. "The Creation of Wisconsin Territory". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  2. "Chronology of Wisconsin History". Ney Family History. Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  3. "Statehood Dates". 50states.com. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  4. National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Archived from the original on 2005-04-10. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  5. "Iowa: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  6. "Iowa Commentary". Iowa Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Archived from the original on 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  7. U.S. Census Bureau. "Polk County Quickfacts". State & County QuickFacts. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  8. "Iowa County Names and Numbers" (PDF). Iowa Department of Revenue. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  9. "Iowa License Plate: County Codes". Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  10. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  11. Pratt, LeRoy G. (1977). The Counties and Courthouses of Iowa. Mason City, Iowa: Klipto Printing and Office Supply Company.
  12. "Formation of Counties in Iowa". Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  13. "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  14. "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.
  15. "Louisa County, Iowa". Official website. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. Pratt, H. M. (1913). History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa.
  18. "Iowa County Formation Table". Iowa Genweb Project. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  19. "Bancroft County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  20. "Cook County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2004-07-14. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  21. "Crocker County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2004-07-15. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  22. "Risley County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2016-02-20. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  23. "Yell County, Iowa". Archived from the original on 2004-07-20. Retrieved 2008-08-16.

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