Editing Howard County, Iowa

{{short description|County in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Howard County
 | state                = Iowa
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1851
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Cresco
 | largest city wl      = Cresco
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 474
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 473
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.4
 | area percentage      = 0.08
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 9469
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = https://howardcounty.iowa.gov/
 | ex image             = HowardCountyCourthouseCrescoIowa.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Howard County Courthouse (Iowa)|Howard County Courthouse]]
 | district             = 1st
 | named for            = [[Tilghman Howard]]
}}

'''Howard County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the US state of [[Iowa]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 9,469.<ref name="cen2020">{{Cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Cresco, Iowa|Cresco]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was founded in 1851; it was named for General [[Tilghman Ashurst Howard]], a Representative of [[Indiana]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Howard County, Iowa - History |url=http://www.co.howard.ia.us/history.htm |access-date=March 6, 2014 |publisher=Howard County, Iowa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gannett, Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |year=1905 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n161 162]}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|474|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|473|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi}} (0.08%) is water.<ref>{{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>

===Major highways===
*[[File:US 63.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 63 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 63]]
*[[File:Circle sign 9.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 9]]
*[[File:Elongated circle 139.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 139]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Mower County, Minnesota|Mower County]], Minnesota  (northwest)
*[[Fillmore County, Minnesota|Fillmore County]], Minnesota  (north)
*[[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek County]]  (east)
*[[Chickasaw County, Iowa|Chickasaw County]]  (south)
*[[Mitchell County, Iowa|Mitchell County]]  (west)
*[[Floyd County, Iowa|Floyd County]]  (southwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 3168
|1870= 6282
|1880= 10837
|1890= 11182
|1900= 14512
|1910= 12920
|1920= 13705
|1930= 13082
|1940= 13531
|1950= 13105
|1960= 12734
|1970= 11442
|1980= 11114
|1990= 9809
|2000= 9932
|2010= 9566
|2020= 9469
|estyear=2023
|estimate=9376
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=April 2, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=July 17, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=July 17, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt |access-date=July 17, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |access-date=July 17, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19089.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607065900/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19089.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
}}
[[File:HowardCountyIowaPop2020.png|thumb|right|Population of Howard County from US census data]]

===2020 census===
[[File:HowardCountyIA2022PopPyr.png|thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Howard County from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 9,469 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|9469|474.905309|sqmi|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.<ref name=cen2020/>

===2010 census===
The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,566 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|9566|473.4|sqmi|km2}}. There were 4,367 housing units, of which 3,944 were occupied.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |access-date=August 15, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau – American FactFinder}}</ref>

===2000 census===
At the 2000 census,<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 9,932 people, 3,974 households and 2,650 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|21|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 4,327 housing units at an average density of {{convert|9|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 99.06% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.17% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.08% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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.
{{clear left}}

==Events==
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.<ref>[https://www.mhcfair.com/site/mhcf-about-us.php ''About the Society'']</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{div col}}
*[[Chester, Iowa|Chester]]
*[[Cresco, Iowa|Cresco]]
*[[Elma, Iowa|Elma]]
*[[Lime Springs, Iowa|Lime Springs]]
*[[Protivin, Iowa|Protivin]]
*[[Riceville, Iowa|Riceville]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
*[[Bonaire, Iowa|Bonaire]]
*[[Florenceville, Iowa|Florenceville]]
*[[Saratoga, Iowa (village)|Saratoga]]
*[[Schley, Iowa|Schley]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col}}
* [[Afton Township, Howard County, Iowa|Afton]]
* [[Albion Township, Howard County, Iowa|Albion]]
* [[Chester Township, Howard County, Iowa|Chester]]
* [[Forest City Township, Howard County, Iowa|Forest City]]
* [[Howard Township, Howard County, Iowa|Howard]]
* [[Howard Center Township, Howard County, Iowa|Howard Center]]
* [[Jamestown Township, Howard County, Iowa|Jamestown]]
* [[New Oregon Township, Howard County, Iowa|New Oregon]]
* [[Oak Dale Township, Howard County, Iowa|Oak Dale]]
* [[Paris Township, Howard County, Iowa|Paris]]
* [[Saratoga Township, Howard County, Iowa|Saratoga]]
* [[Vernon Springs Township, Howard County, Iowa|Vernon Springs]]
{{div col end}}

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] of Howard County.<ref name=cen2020/>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2020 Census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''†''' '''[[Cresco, Iowa|Cresco]]''' 
| City
| 3,888
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[Riceville, Iowa|Riceville]]'''  (''partially in [[Mitchell County, Iowa|Mitchell County]]'') 
| City
| 806
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Elma, Iowa|Elma]]''' 
| City
| 505
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[Lime Springs, Iowa|Lime Springs]]''' 
| City
| 473
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 5
|'''[[Protivin, Iowa|Protivin]]'''  (''partially in [[Chickasaw County, Iowa|Chickasaw County]]'') 
| City
| 269
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[Chester, Iowa|Chester]]''' 
| City
| 139
|}

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

==Politics==
From [[1972 United States presidential election in Iowa|1972]] to [[2012 United States presidential election in Iowa|2012]], Howard County leaned [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] in presidential elections. [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] only carried the county three times, all amidst national landslides, and the county almost always weighed in to the left of the national popular vote. However, in [[2016 United States presidential election in Iowa|2016]], the county swung dramatically towards Republican [[Donald Trump]], going from a 21-point Democratic margin in 2012 to a more than 20-point Republican margin in 2016. With this 41-point swing, Howard County voted Republican in a presidential election for the first time since [[1984 United States presidential election in Iowa|1984]], with Trump's 57.27% vote share marking the strongest Republican performance in the county since [[1952 United States presidential election in Iowa|1952]]. In [[2020 United States presidential election in Iowa|2020]], Trump further expanded his vote share to 63.07%, the best performance for any candidate in Howard County since [[Warren G. Harding]] a [[1920 United States presidential election in Iowa|century]] earlier. Trump improved yet again in 2024, taking more than 65% of the vote in the county.

{{PresHead|place=Howard County, Iowa|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 26, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>|source2=<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Iowa President Election Results |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/elections/results/race/2020-11-03-presidential-IA-0/ |access-date=February 3, 2021 |website=desmoinesregister.com}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,157|1,619|74|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,127|1,772|59|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,611|1,677|271|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|1,795|2,768|82|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,722|2,941|66|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|2,028|2,614|55|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|1,922|2,426|143|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,528|2,303|574|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,516|2,099|1,247|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,970|2,330|25|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,718|2,135|45|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,975|2,214|387|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,618|2,917|81|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,980|2,439|62|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,141|2,420|266|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,360|3,841|10|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,378|3,406|0|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,491|3,106|8|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,305|2,564|12|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,630|3,378|82|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,961|3,132|21|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,714|3,675|16|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,947|3,861|290|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,426|4,176|56|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,375|3,193|26|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,850|1,604|1,525|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,601|1,717|100|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,562|1,560|75|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|750|1,416|969|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,530|1,408|116|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,823|1,096|123|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,944|1,420|89|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,929|1,507|56|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1880|Republican|1,066|285|673|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1876|Republican|1,194|600|21|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1872|Republican|772|130|144|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1868|Republican|674|380|0|Iowa}}
{{PresFoot|1864|Republican|419|220|0|Iowa}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Iowa}}
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Iowa#Howard County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Iowa]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
*[http://www.howard-county.com/ Howard County Development Commission's website]
*[http://co.howard.ia.us/ Howard County Government Website]

{{Geographic Location
| Center    = Howard County, Iowa
| North     = [[Fillmore County, Minnesota]]
| Northeast =
| East      = [[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek County]]
| Southeast =
| South     = [[Chickasaw County, Iowa|Chickasaw County]]
| Southwest = [[Floyd County, Iowa|Floyd County]]
| West      = [[Mitchell County, Iowa|Mitchell County]]
| Northwest = [[Mower County, Minnesota]]
}}

{{Howard County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|43|21|27|N|92|18|56|W|region:US-IA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Howard County, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1851]]