Editing Kossuth County, Iowa

{{short description|County in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Kossuth County
 | state                = Iowa
 | ex image             = Kossuth County IA Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 240px
 | ex image cap         = [[Kossuth County Courthouse (Iowa)|Kossuth County Courthouse]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = January 15
 | founded year         = 1851
 | seat wl              = Algona
 | largest city wl      = Algona
 | named for            = [[Lajos Kossuth]]
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 974
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 973
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.6
 | area percentage      = 0.2
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 14828 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = 15
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = https://kossuthcounty.iowa.gov/
 | district             = 4th
}}

'''Kossuth County''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|s|uː|θ}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Iowa]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 14,828.<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/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Algona, Iowa|Algona]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>

==History==
Kossuth County was founded on January 15, 1851. It was named after [[Lajos Kossuth]], Regent-President of [[Hungarian State|Hungary]] who went into exile to America following the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848|war of independence]] of [[Kingdom of Hungary (1526–1867)|Hungary]] from the [[Habsburg Dynasty]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n176 177]}}</ref> The county was enlarged northward in 1857 by the inclusion of the former [[Bancroft County, Iowa|Bancroft County]]. [[Crocker County, Iowa|Crocker County]] was another county created out of the same area of Kossuth County as Bancroft County but was reverted due to not being larger than {{convert|432|sqmi|ha}}.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} Another attempt to create a new county called [[Larrabee County, Iowa|Larrabee County]] failed in 1914.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|974|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|973|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.6|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is Iowa's largest county by area.

===Major highways===
*[[File:US 18.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 18 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 18]]
*[[File:US 169.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 169 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 169]]
*[[File:Circle sign 9.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 9]]
*[[File:Elongated circle 15.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 15]]
*[[File:Elongated circle 17.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 17]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Martin County, Minnesota]] (north)
*[[Faribault County, Minnesota]] (north)
*[[Winnebago County, Iowa|Winnebago County]] (northeast)
*[[Hancock County, Iowa|Hancock County]] (southeast)
*[[Humboldt County, Iowa|Humboldt County]] (south)
*[[Palo Alto County, Iowa|Palo Alto County]] (southwest)
*[[Emmet County, Iowa|Emmet County]] (northwest)

===National protected area===
* [[Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 416
|1870= 3351
|1880= 6178
|1890= 13120
|1900= 22720
|1910= 21971
|1920= 25082
|1930= 25452
|1940= 26630
|1950= 26241
|1960= 25314
|1970= 22937
|1980= 21891
|1990= 18591
|2000= 17163
|2010= 15543
|2020= 14828
|estyear=2023
|estimate=14396
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19109.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 18, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607070341/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19109.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}
[[File:KossuthCountyIowaPop2020.png|thumb|right|Population of Kossuth County from US census data]]

===2020 census===
[[File:KossuthCountyIA2022PopPyr.png|thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Kossuth County from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 14,828 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|14828|972.976730|sqmi|km2}}. 96.53% of the population reported being of one race. There were 7,216 housing units, of which 6,438 were occupied.<ref name=cen2020/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Kossuth County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kossuth County, Iowa|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Kossuth%20County,%20Iowa&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|13,758
|92.8%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|71
|0.47%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|9
|0.06%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|71
|0.47%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|3
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|313
|2.11%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|603
|4.1%
|}

===2010 census===
The 2010 census recorded a population of 15,543 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|15543|973.01|sqmi|km2}}. There were 7,486 housing units, of which 6,697 were occupied.<ref name="USCB">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016010401/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |url-status=live|title=Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] American FactFinder|access-date=August 15, 2022}}</ref>

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 17,163 people, 6,974 households, and 4,791 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|18|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 7,605 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 98.76% [[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]], 0.35% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.29% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.81%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

Of the 6,974 households, 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 28.70% of households were one person and 15.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 25.80% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 20.10% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median household income was $34,562 and the median family income was $41,159. Males had a median income of $30,191 versus $20,184 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,598. About 7.50% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

===Census-designated places===
For use by the [[United States Census Bureau]] in population analysis, some of the rural population of Kossuth County has been grouped together as a [[Census-designated place]].
*[[Irvington, Iowa|Irvington]]
*[[Sexton, Iowa|Sexton]]
*[[St. Benedict, Iowa|St. Benedict]]
*[[St. Joseph, Iowa|St. Joseph]]

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

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2020 Census)
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 1
|'''†''' '''[[Algona, Iowa|Algona]]'''
| City
| 5,487
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 2
|'''[[Bancroft, Iowa|Bancroft]]'''
| City
| 699
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 3
|'''[[Swea City, Iowa|Swea City]]'''
| City
| 566
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 4
|'''[[Titonka, Iowa|Titonka]]'''
| City
| 511
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 5
|'''[[Whittemore, Iowa|Whittemore]]'''
| City
| 497
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 6
|'''[[Burt, Iowa|Burt]]'''
| City
| 418
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 7
|'''[[Wesley, Iowa|Wesley]]'''
| City
| 391
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 8
|'''[[Fenton, Iowa|Fenton]]'''
| City
| 271
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 9
|'''[[Lakota, Iowa|Lakota]]'''
| City
| 267
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 10
|'''[[Lu Verne, Iowa|Lu Verne]]''' (''partially in [[Humboldt County, Iowa|Humboldt County]]'')
| City
| 228 (258 total)
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 11
|'''[[Lone Rock, Iowa|Lone Rock]]'''
| City
| 146
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 12
|'''[[Ledyard, Iowa|Ledyard]]'''
| City
| 121
|- style=background-color:#F0FFF0
| 13
|'''[[St. Joseph, Iowa|St. Joseph]]'''
| CDP
| 51
|- style=background-color:#F0FFF0
| 14
|'''[[Sexton, Iowa|Sexton]]'''
| CDP
| 46
|- style=background-color:#F0FFF0
| 15
|'''[[Irvington, Iowa|Irvington]]'''
| CDP
| 36
|- style=background-color:#F0FFF0
| 16
|'''[[St. Benedict, Iowa|St. Benedict]]'''
| CDP
| 31
|- style=background-color:#FFFACD
| 17
|'''[[West Bend, Iowa|West Bend]]''' (''mostly in [[Palo Alto County, Iowa|Palo Alto County]]'')
| City
| 19 (791 total)
|}

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Algona, Iowa|Algona]] (County seat)
*[[Bancroft, Iowa|Bancroft]]
*[[Burt, Iowa|Burt]]
*[[Fenton, Iowa|Fenton]]
*[[Lakota, Iowa|Lakota]]
*[[Ledyard, Iowa|Ledyard]]
*[[Lone Rock, Iowa|Lone Rock]]
*[[Lu Verne, Iowa|Lu Verne]]
*[[Swea City, Iowa|Swea City]]
*[[Titonka, Iowa|Titonka]]
*[[Wesley, Iowa|Wesley]]
*[[West Bend, Iowa|West Bend]]
*[[Whittemore, Iowa|Whittemore]]
{{div col end}}

===Villages and Hamlets===
*[[German Valley, Iowa|German Valley]]

==Government==

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Buffalo Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Buffalo]]
* [[Burt Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Burt]]
* [[Cresco Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Cresco]]
* [[Eagle Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Eagle]]
* [[Fenton Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Fenton]]
* [[Garfield Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Garfield]]
* [[German Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|German]]
* [[Grant Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Grant]]
* [[Greenwood Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Greenwood]]
* [[Harrison Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Harrison]]
* [[Hebron Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Hebron]]
* [[Irvington Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Irvington]]
* [[Ledyard Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Ledyard]]
* [[Lincoln Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Lincoln]]
* [[Lotts Creek Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Lotts Creek]]
* [[Lu Verne Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Lu Verne]]
* [[Plum Creek Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Plum Creek]]
* [[Portland Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Portland]]
* [[Prairie Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Prairie]]
* [[Ramsey Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Ramsey]]
* [[Riverdale Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Riverdale]]
* [[Seneca Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Seneca]]
* [[Sherman Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Sherman]]
* [[Springfield Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Springfield]]
* [[Swea Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Swea]]
* [[Union Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Union]]
* [[Wesley Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Wesley]]
* [[Whittemore Township, Kossuth County, Iowa|Whittemore]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Kossuth County, Iowa|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,983|2,284|130|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,275|2,696|119|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,653|2,543|411|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,937|3,850|136|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|4,329|4,625|146|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,042|4,132|84|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,612|3,960|306|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,477|4,031|997|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,464|3,660|1,935|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,938|5,088|81|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,872|4,838|104|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,568|3,810|884|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,653|5,190|203|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,841|4,393|124|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,350|4,392|347|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,776|6,893|5|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,278|5,806|0|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|6,680|5,514|10|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|7,765|4,330|10|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|4,186|6,039|128|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|4,918|5,488|27|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|5,639|6,502|24|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,569|8,071|223|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,075|6,925|148|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,878|4,736|72|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,806|1,369|3,572|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,018|1,682|69|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,647|1,748|44|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|857|1,813|1,916|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,612|1,826|44|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,001|1,352|59|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,122|1,777|52|Iowa}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Republican|2,930|1,861|68|Iowa}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref name=2020KossuthCoSDMap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st19_ia/schooldistrict_maps/c19109_kossuth/DC20SD_C19109.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kossuth County, IA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-08-25}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st19_ia/schooldistrict_maps/c19109_kossuth/DC20SD_C19109_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Algona Community School District]]
* [[North Union Community School District]]
* [[North Iowa Community School District]]
* [[North Kossuth Community School District]]
* [[Twin Rivers Community School District]]
* [[West Bend-Mallard Community School District]]

Former school districts:
* [[Corwith-Wesley Community School District]],<ref name=KossuthCo2010SDmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st19_ia/c19109_kossuth/DC10SD_C19109_001.pdf|title=SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Kossuth County, IA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-08-25}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st19_ia/c19109_kossuth/DC10SD_C19109_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> dissolved on July 1, 2015.<ref name=Mergerlist>{{cite web|url=https://educate.iowa.gov:443/media/7294/download?inline|title=Reorganization and Dissolution Action Since 1965-66|publisher=[[Iowa Department of Education]]|access-date=2024-08-25}}</ref>
* [[Lu Verne Community School District]],<ref name=2020KossuthCoSDMap/> consolidated into Algona CSD on July 1, 2023.<ref name=Mergerlist/>
* [[Sentral Community School District]],<ref name=KossuthCo2010SDmap/> consolidated into North Union CSD on July 1, 2014.<ref name=Mergerlist/>
* [[Titonka Consolidated School District]],<ref name=KossuthCo2010SDmap/> consolidated into Algona CSD on July 1, 2014.<ref name=Mergerlist/>

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

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

==External links==
{{Commons}}
<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
*[http://www.co.kossuth.ia.us County website]
*<!-- [http://www.nsk.k12.ia.us/ North Sentral Kossuth] schools Structure of school districts in the county is not clear, but there appear to be more than one. -->

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Kossuth County, Iowa
| North     = [[Martin County, Minnesota]] and [[Faribault County, Minnesota]]
| Northeast = [[Winnebago County, Iowa|Winnebago County]]
| East      =
| Southeast = [[Hancock County, Iowa|Hancock County]]
| South     = [[Humboldt County, Iowa|Humboldt County]]
| Southwest = [[Palo Alto County, Iowa|Palo Alto County]]
| West      =
| Northwest = [[Emmet County, Iowa|Emmet County]]
}}
{{Kossuth County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|43|12|18|N|94|12|20|W|region:US-IA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

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