Howard County, Iowa

County in Iowa, United States

U.S. county in Iowa

Howard County

U.S. county

Howard County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of Iowa

Iowa's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Iowa
Founded| 1851
Named for| Tilghman Howard
Seat| Cresco
Largest city| Cresco
Area

• Total| 474 sq mi (1,230 km2)
• Land| 473 sq mi (1,230 km2)
• Water| 0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.08%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 9,469
• Density| 20/sq mi (7.7/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| howardcounty.iowa.gov

Howard County is a county located in the US state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,469.[1] The county seat is Cresco.[2] The county was founded in 1851; it was named for General Tilghman Ashurst Howard, a Representative of Indiana.[3][4]

## Contents

* 1 Geography
* 1.1 Major highways
* 1.2 Adjacent counties
* 2 Demographics
* 2.1 2020 census
* 2.2 2010 census
* 2.3 2000 census
* 3 Events
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Unincorporated communities
* 4.3 Townships
* 4.4 Population ranking
* 5 Notable people
* 6 Politics
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## Geography

[edit | edit source]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 474 square miles (1,230 km2), of which 473 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.08%) is water.[5]

### Major highways

[edit | edit source]

* U.S. Highway 63
* Iowa Highway 9
* Iowa Highway 139

### Adjacent counties

[edit | edit source]

* Mower County, Minnesota (northwest)
* Fillmore County, Minnesota (north)
* Winnesheik County (east)
* Chickasaw County (south)
* Mitchell County (west)
* Floyd County (southwest)

## Demographics

[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 3,168| | —
1870| 6,282| | 98.3%
1880| 10,837| | 72.5%
1890| 11,182| | 3.2%
1900| 14,512| | 29.8%
1910| 12,920| | −11.0%
1920| 13,705| | 6.1%
1930| 13,082| | −4.5%
1940| 13,531| | 3.4%
1950| 13,105| | −3.1%
1960| 12,734| | −2.8%
1970| 11,442| | −10.1%
1980| 11,114| | −2.9%
1990| 9,809| | −11.7%
2000| 9,932| | 1.3%
2010| 9,566| | −3.7%
2020| 9,469| | −1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2018[10]
Population of Howard County from US census data

### 2020 census

[edit | edit source]

The 2020 census recorded a population of 9,469 in the county, with a population density of 19.9387/sq mi (7.6984/km2). 96.75% of the population reported being of one race. 91.69% were non-Hispanic White, 0.24% were Black, 2.72% were Hispanic, 0.51% were Native American, 0.29% were Asian, 0.07% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.48% were some other race or more than one race. There were 4,314 housing units, of which 3,945 were occupied.[1]

### 2010 census

[edit | edit source]

The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,566 in the county, with a population density of 20.207/sq mi (7.8020/km2). There were 4,367 housing units, of which 3,944 were occupied.[11]

### 2000 census

[edit | edit source]

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Howard County

At the 2000 census,[12] there were 9,932 people, 3,974 households and 2,650 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 per square mile (8/km2). There were 4,327 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.06% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,974 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.03.

26.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.

The median household income was $34,641 and the median family income was $43,284. Males had a median income of $28,856 compared $21,367 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,842. About 5.6% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Events

[edit | edit source]

The Mighty Howard County Fair is held annually in Cresco, in the last full week of June. This celebration originated in 1858, and three fairs were celebrated before being interrupted by the American Civil War. They resumed from 1866 through 1899, and were resumed in 1923 under aegis of the present directorship.[13]

## Communities

[edit | edit source]

### Cities

[edit | edit source]

* Chester
* Cresco
* Elma
* Lime Springs
* Protivin
* Riceville

### Unincorporated communities

[edit | edit source]

* Bonaire
* Florenceville
* Schley

### Townships

[edit | edit source]

* Afton
* Albion
* Chester
* Forest City
* Howard
* Howard Center
* Jamestown
* New Oregon
* Oak Dale
* Paris
* Saratoga
* Vernon Springs

### Population ranking

[edit | edit source]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Howard County.[1]

† county seat

Rank  | City/Town/etc.  | Municipal type  | Population (2020 Census)

|
|
|

1  | † Cresco | City  | 3,888
2  | Riceville (partially in Mitchell County)  | City  | 806
3  | Elma | City  | 505
4  | Lime Springs | City  | 473
5  | Protivin (partially in Chickasaw County)  | City  | 269
6  | Chester | City  | 139

## Notable people

[edit | edit source]

* Norman Borlaug (1914–2009) - Nobel Peace Prize winner who was raised and went to school in the county.

## Politics

[edit | edit source]

Through much of its history Howard County has been a swing county in US presidential elections.

United States presidential election results for Howard County, Iowa[14][15] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 3,127  | 63.07% | 1,772  | 35.74%  | 59  | 1.19%
2016 | 2,611  | 57.27% | 1,677  | 36.78%  | 271  | 5.94%
2012 | 1,795  | 38.64%  | 2,768  | 59.59% | 82  | 1.77%
2008 | 1,722  | 36.41%  | 2,941  | 62.19% | 66  | 1.40%
2004 | 2,028  | 43.18%  | 2,614  | 55.65% | 55  | 1.17%
2000 | 1,922  | 42.80%  | 2,426  | 54.02% | 143  | 3.18%
1996 | 1,528  | 34.69%  | 2,303  | 52.28% | 574  | 13.03%
1992 | 1,516  | 31.18%  | 2,099  | 43.17% | 1,247  | 25.65%
1988 | 1,970  | 45.55%  | 2,330  | 53.87% | 25  | 0.58%
1984 | 2,718  | 55.49% | 2,135  | 43.59%  | 45  | 0.92%
1980 | 2,975  | 53.35% | 2,214  | 39.71%  | 387  | 6.94%
1976 | 2,618  | 46.62%  | 2,917  | 51.94% | 81  | 1.44%
1972 | 2,980  | 54.37% | 2,439  | 44.50%  | 62  | 1.13%
1968 | 3,141  | 53.90% | 2,420  | 41.53%  | 266  | 4.56%
1964 | 2,360  | 38.00%  | 3,841  | 61.84% | 10  | 0.16%
1960 | 3,378  | 49.79%  | 3,406  | 50.21% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 3,491  | 52.85% | 3,106  | 47.02%  | 8  | 0.12%
1952 | 4,305  | 62.56% | 2,564  | 37.26%  | 12  | 0.17%
1948 | 2,630  | 43.19%  | 3,378  | 55.47% | 82  | 1.35%
1944 | 2,961  | 48.43%  | 3,132  | 51.23% | 21  | 0.34%
1940 | 3,714  | 50.16% | 3,675  | 49.63%  | 16  | 0.22%
1936 | 2,947  | 41.52%  | 3,861  | 54.40% | 290  | 4.09%
1932 | 2,426  | 36.44%  | 4,176  | 62.72% | 56  | 0.84%
1928 | 3,375  | 51.18% | 3,193  | 48.42%  | 26  | 0.39%
1924 | 2,850  | 47.67% | 1,604  | 26.83%  | 1,525  | 25.51%
1920 | 3,601  | 66.46% | 1,717  | 31.69%  | 100  | 1.85%
1916 | 1,562  | 48.86% | 1,560  | 48.80%  | 75  | 2.35%
1912 | 750  | 23.92%  | 1,416  | 45.17% | 969  | 30.91%
1908 | 1,530  | 50.10% | 1,408  | 46.10%  | 116  | 3.80%
1904 | 1,823  | 59.93% | 1,096  | 36.03%  | 123  | 4.04%
1900 | 1,944  | 56.30% | 1,420  | 41.12%  | 89  | 2.58%
1896 | 1,929  | 55.24% | 1,507  | 43.16%  | 56  | 1.60%

## See also

[edit | edit source]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Iowa

## References

[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Howard County, Iowa - History". Howard County, Iowa. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 162.
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
11. ^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau – American FactFinder. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. ^ About the Society
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
15. ^ "2020 Iowa President Election Results". desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.

## External links

[edit | edit source]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Howard County, Iowa.

* Howard County Development Commission's website
* Howard County Government Website

Places adjacent to Howard County, Iowa

| Mower County, Minnesota | Fillmore County, Minnesota |

|
|

|  |
Mitchell County |

Howard County, Iowa

| Winneshiek County
|  |
Floyd County | Chickasaw County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Howard County, Iowa, United States

County seat: Cresco

Cities|

* Chester
* Cresco
* Elma
* Lime Springs
* Protivin‡
* Riceville‡

Map of Iowa highlighting Howard County

Unincorporated
community|

* Florenceville

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Iowa

Des Moines (capital)

Topics|

* Archaeology
* Area codes
* Attorney General
* Auditor of State
* Capitol
* Code
* Congressional districts
* Crime
* Delegations
* Representatives
* Senators
* Elections
* Caucuses
* Environment
* Flag
* Governor
* History
* Historic Places
* Index
* Legislature
* House
* Senate
* Museums
* People
* Native Americans
* Political parties
* Democratic
* Libertarian
* Republican
* Seal
* Secretary of Agriculture
* Secretary of State
* State Parks
* Supreme Court
* Symbols
* Treasurer of State

Regions|

* Coteau des Prairies
* Des Moines metropolitan area
* Dissected Till Plains
* Driftless Area
* Great River Road
* Honey Lands
* Iowa Great Lakes
* Loess Hills
* Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area
* Quad Cities
* Siouxland

Largest cities|

* Ames
* Ankeny
* Bettendorf
* Burlington
* Cedar Falls
* Cedar Rapids
* Clinton
* Council Bluffs
* Davenport
* Des Moines
* Dubuque
* Fort Dodge
* Iowa City
* Marion
* Marshalltown
* Mason City
* Muscatine
* Ottumwa
* Sioux City
* Urbandale
* Waterloo
* West Des Moines

Counties|

* Adair
* Adams
* Allamakee
* Appanoose
* Audubon
* Benton
* Black Hawk
* Boone
* Bremer
* Buchanan
* Buena Vista
* Butler
* Calhoun
* Carroll
* Cass
* Cedar
* Cerro Gordo
* Cherokee
* Chickasaw
* Clarke
* Clay
* Clayton
* Clinton
* Crawford
* Dallas
* Davis
* Decatur
* Delaware
* Des Moines
* Dickinson
* Dubuque
* Emmet
* Fayette
* Floyd
* Franklin
* Fremont
* Greene
* Grundy
* Guthrie
* Hamilton
* Hancock
* Hardin
* Harrison
* Henry
* Howard
* Humboldt
* Ida
* Iowa
* Jackson
* Jasper
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Jones
* Keokuk
* Kossuth
* Lee
* Linn
* Louisa
* Lucas
* Lyon
* Madison
* Mahaska
* Marion
* Marshall
* Mills
* Mitchell
* Monona
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Muscatine
* O'Brien
* Osceola
* Page
* Palo Alto
* Plymouth
* Pocahontas
* Polk
* Pottawattamie
* Poweshiek
* Ringgold
* Sac
* Scott
* Shelby
* Sioux
* Story
* Tama
* Taylor
* Union
* Van Buren
* Wapello
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Winnebago
* Winneshiek
* Woodbury
* Worth
* Wright

Coordinates: 43°21′27″N 92°18′56″W﻿ / ﻿43.35750°N 92.31556°W﻿ / 43.35750; -92.31556
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template