Pocahontas County, Iowa

Pocahontas County, Iowa
County
The Pocahontas County Courthouse in Pocahontas
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Coordinates: 42°44′03″N 94°40′42″W / 42.734033°N 94.678279°W / 42.734033; -94.678279
Country United States
State Iowa
FoundedJanuary 15, 1851 (created)
May 11, 1859 (organized)
Named afterPocahontas
SeatPocahontas
Largest cityPocahontas
Area
 • Total
578.657 sq mi (1,498.71 km2)
 • Land577.241 sq mi (1,495.05 km2)
 • Water1.416 sq mi (3.67 km2)  0.24%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
7,078
 • Estimate 
(2024)
7,006
 • Density12.26/sq mi (4.734/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code712
Congressional district4th
Websitepocahontascounty.iowa.gov
  • Iowa county number 76[1]

Pocahontas County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census the population was 7,078,[2] and was estimated to be 7,006 in 2024,[3] making it the ninth-least populous county in Iowa. The county seat and the largest city is Pocahontas.[4]

History

Pocahontas county was formed on January 15, 1851 and organized on May 11, 1859.[5] The county is named in honor of Pocahontas, the famous Native American woman from Jamestown, Virginia. A colossal statue of her stands in the City of Pocahontas.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 578.657 square miles (1,498.71 km2), of which 577.241 square miles (1,495.05 km2) is land and 1.416 square miles (3.67 km2) (0.24%) is water.[6] It is the 34th-largest county in Iowa by total area.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860103—
18701,4461,303.9%
18803,713156.8%
18909,553157.3%
190015,33960.6%
191014,808−3.5%
192015,6025.4%
193015,6870.5%
194016,2663.7%
195015,496−4.7%
196014,234−8.1%
197012,729−10.6%
198011,369−10.7%
19909,525−16.2%
20008,662−9.1%
20107,310−15.6%
20207,078−3.2%
2024 (est.)7,006[8] −1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[3]
Pocahontas County, Iowa
racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.[13]
Race Number Percent
White alone (NH) 6,383 90.18%
Black or African American alone (NH) 66 0.93%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 10 0.14%
Asian alone (NH) 29 0.41%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 23 0.32%
Other race alone (NH) 24 0.34%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) 189 2.67%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 354 5.00%
Total 7,078 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,078, a population density of 12.2/sq mi (4.7/km2), and 95.79% of residents reported being of one race.[14][15]

The median age was 45.3 years, 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 24.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.4 males age 18 and over.[14]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.0% of the population.[15]

Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]

There were 3,090 households in the county, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.2% were married-couple households, 21.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 3,666 housing units, of which 15.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.3% were owner-occupied and 21.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.9%.[14]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census recorded a population of 7,310 in the county, with a population density of 12.7/sq mi (4.9/km2). There were 3,794 housing units, of which 3,233 were occupied.[17]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 8,662 people, 3,617 households, and 2,430 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 3,988 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.49% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,617 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 21.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,362, and the median income for a family was $40,568. Males had a median income of $27,929 versus $20,515 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,006. About 6.60% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Pocahontas County.

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Pocahontas City 1,867
2 Laurens City 1,264
3 Fonda City 636
4 Rolfe City 509
5 Gilmore City (partially in Humboldt County) City 217 (487 total)
6 Palmer City 138
7 Havelock City 130
8 Varina City 68
9 Plover City 50

Politics

Between 1928 and 2004, Pocahontas County was a reliable bellwether county, backing the nationwide winner in every election except for 1960 (by only 37 votes) and 1988. The county has taken a rightward turn in the 21st century. After backing George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, John McCain in 2008, and Mitt Romney in 2012 by sizable but not huge margins, Pocahontas County swung even further right in 2016. Donald Trump took nearly 70% of the vote share in the county and won the county by an astounding 45% margin. Trump further increased these numbers in 2020, winning almost 74% of the county's vote and increasing his margin of victory to just under 50%, and did even better in 2024, earning more than 76% of the vote and winning by nearly 54%, both records for Pocahontas County for any candidate since the beginning of the 20th century.

United States presidential election results for Pocahontas County, Iowa[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1896 1,866 56.82% 1,377 41.93% 41 1.25%
1900 2,176 61.84% 1,287 36.57% 56 1.59%
1904 2,175 66.09% 976 29.66% 140 4.25%
1908 1,857 57.42% 1,315 40.66% 62 1.92%
1912 760 22.95% 1,176 35.52% 1,375 41.53%
1916 1,808 51.29% 1,658 47.04% 59 1.67%
1920 4,046 70.07% 1,639 28.39% 89 1.54%
1924 2,537 39.65% 819 12.80% 3,042 47.55%
1928 3,322 53.75% 2,824 45.70% 34 0.55%
1932 1,800 28.48% 4,245 67.16% 276 4.37%
1936 2,277 33.39% 4,357 63.89% 185 2.71%
1940 2,985 41.92% 4,118 57.83% 18 0.25%
1944 2,600 41.94% 3,577 57.70% 22 0.35%
1948 2,397 39.61% 3,500 57.84% 154 2.55%
1952 4,472 61.73% 2,517 34.74% 256 3.53%
1956 3,606 52.89% 3,201 46.95% 11 0.16%
1960 3,445 50.23% 3,408 49.69% 6 0.09%
1964 2,079 34.24% 3,988 65.68% 5 0.08%
1968 2,940 52.56% 2,364 42.26% 290 5.18%
1972 3,138 57.19% 2,241 40.84% 108 1.97%
1976 2,700 45.85% 3,055 51.88% 134 2.28%
1980 3,194 56.17% 1,959 34.45% 533 9.37%
1984 2,627 50.64% 2,481 47.82% 80 1.54%
1988 1,871 40.22% 2,722 58.51% 59 1.27%
1992 1,743 37.33% 1,919 41.10% 1,007 21.57%
1996 1,707 40.50% 1,981 47.00% 527 12.50%
2000 2,242 54.14% 1,736 41.92% 163 3.94%
2004 2,441 56.60% 1,822 42.24% 50 1.16%
2008 2,138 53.29% 1,800 44.87% 74 1.84%
2012 2,396 59.42% 1,523 37.77% 113 2.80%
2016 2,702 69.91% 963 24.92% 200 5.17%
2020 2,826 73.92% 933 24.40% 64 1.67%
2024 2,727 76.13% 796 22.22% 59 1.65%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Iowa County Names and Numbers". Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  2. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pocahontas County, Iowa". www.census.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  5. ^ "Iowa: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  6. ^ "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Iowa". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  7. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pocahontas County, Iowa". www.census.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  8. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  13. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pocahontas County, Iowa". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  14. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  15. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  17. ^ "Iowa: 2010 Population & Housing Occupancy Status" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
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