Editing Humboldt County, Iowa (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Humboldt County IA Twps.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Humboldt County is divided into 12 [[Civil township|townships]].]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|436|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|434|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.3|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=April 23, 2011 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Unlike all counties to its east and west, Humboldt County has only 12 [[Township (United States)|townships]]. Although founded with the standard 16 townships on January 15, 1851, the county was removed from existence in 1855.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Beaver Township, Dakota City |publisher=Humboldt County Historical Association |year=2011 |chapter=Humboldt County Seat |access-date=December 5, 2011 |chapter-url=http://www.humboldtiowahistory.org/dakota_city.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426021717/http://www.humboldtiowahistory.org/dakota_city.htm |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Kossuth County, Iowa|Kossuth County]]  (north)
*[[Wright County, Iowa|Wright County]]  (east)
*[[Webster County, Iowa|Webster County]]  (south)
*[[Pocahontas County, Iowa|Pocahontas County]]  (west)

===Ecology===
[[File:Corinth Township, Iowa farmland.jpg|right|thumb|Rolling topography along Indian Creek in southern Humboldt County]] 
Humboldt County is located entirely within the [[Western Corn Belt Plains#Des Moines Lobe (47b)|Des Moines Lobe]] of the [[Western Corn Belt Plains]] ecoregion, as defined by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA). One of the flattest regions in Iowa, the Des Moines Lobe ecoregion is a distinctive area naturally defined by [[Wisconsin glaciation]] but modified by humans for extensive agriculture. In general, the land is level to gently rolling with some areas of relief defined by glacial features like [[moraine]]s, [[hummock]]y knobs, and [[Kettle (landform)|kettle]]s, and [[Outwash plain|outwash deposits]]. The lobe does not have any [[loess]] deposits like the [[Loess Hills]] to the west.

The stream network is poorly developed and widely spaced, with major rivers carving valleys that are relatively deep and steep-sided. Almost all of the natural lakes of Iowa are found in the northern part of this region (the [[Iowa Great Lakes]]). Most of the region has been converted from [[wet prairie]] to agricultural use with substantial surface water drainage. Only a small fraction of the [[wetland]]s remain, and many natural lakes have been drained as a result of agricultural drainage projects via [[drainage tile]]s or [[ditch]]es.<ref name="iamo4">{{USGS|title=Ecoregions of Iowa and Missouri |comment=color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs |author= Chapman, S.S., Omernik, J.M., Griffith, G.E. |display-authors=et al |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Level_IV_ecoregions,_Iowa_and_Missouri.pdf }}</ref>

===Hydrology===
Humboldt County is located within the [[Des Moines River]] watershed. The East and West Forks of the Des Moines River merge at Frank Gotch State Park in southern Humboldt County. The eastern part of Humboldt County is within the [[Boone River]] watershed, a tributary of the Des Moines.

===Protected areas===
[[File:Rutland dam.jpg|left|thumb|The Rutland dam in Rose Mill Park.]]
While Humboldt County does not have any state parks, it has county parks. South of Humboldt is Frank A. Gotch County Park. It is named for [[Frank Gotch]], a world-champion, undefeated wrestler from Humboldt. The park is near his childhood farm and is also home to the confluence of the East and West Forks of the [[Des Moines River]]. The park features campgrounds and a well-known converted railroad bridge used by the [[Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway]]. The bridge is part of the Three Rivers Trail, a converted rail route that runs from [[Eagle Grove, Iowa|Eagle Grove]] west to [[Rolfe, Iowa|Rolfe]].

Near [[Bradgate, Iowa|Bradgate]] is the Willow Access Area. The terrain is very wooded. In south [[Rutland, Iowa|Rutland]] is Rose Mill Park. The area can be used for camping and also has access to the Rutland Dam and West Fork of the Des Moines River. The dam is being restored, and most of the park is new. The river is known for its forested limestone bluffs and grassy banks.

[[File:Sheldon Park Humboldt Iowa.jpg|right|thumb|The lower portion of Joe Sheldon Park.]]
Further downriver near Humboldt is Oxbow Park, which contains boating access ramps and much scenic open space. The park's southern border is [[Iowa Highway 3]], and south of that is Joe Sheldon County Park. The park is split into two sections, one mostly for camping and one focused on recreation. There is access to the West Fork of the Des Moines River from the lower part of the park.

Continuing along the river, the Lake Nokomis area begins, popular for its woods and small ponds. The Cottonwood Trail also runs through the area.

West of [[Livermore, Iowa|Livermore]], Lott's Park allows access to Lott's Creek. The park has many benches and picnic tables. South of [[Ottosen, Iowa|Ottosen]] is the Ottosen Marsh State Game Management Area, colloquially the Ottosen Potholes. East of [[Dakota City, Iowa|Dakota City]] is the Dakota City River Park, near an old dam and the Humboldt County Historical Museum. Near the unincorporated community of [[Pioneer, Iowa|Pioneer]] is the Pioneer Prairie Pothole Wildlife Area.