Mahaska County, Iowa

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county Mahaska County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,190.<ref name=cen2020>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Oskaloosa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mahaska County comprises the Oskaloosa, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

File:Mahaska.jpg

Mahaska, from Fulton's Red Men of Iowa (1882)

Mahaska County was formed in February 1843. The county has been self-governing since February 5, 1844. It was named after Chief Mahaska of the Iowa people. The county was the first in Iowa to have a sheriff and a justice of peace.<ref name=MC>Mahaska County Template:Webarchive</ref>

The first courthouse was completed in January 1846. When a larger structure was required, the second courthouse was constructed in 1885–86, first being used on February 27, 1886. The first school, a small log cabin one-half mile (ca. 2 km) east of Oskaloosa, was opened on September 16, 1844, and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church opened as the first church in 1846.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 2, 1850, the first edition of the Iowa Herald was issued (today the Oskaloosa Herald). The first tracks of the Des Moines Valley Railroad were laid through the county in 1864.<ref name=MC/>

Coal mining was once a major industry in Mahaska County.<ref>Map of Historic Coal Mines in Mahaska County Template:Dead link, Mahaska 4-H Tech Team, May 2006.</ref> During the 19th century, Muchakinock, about Template:Convert south of Oskaloosa, was probably the largest and most prosperous coal camp in Iowa. Template:Clear left

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.4%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Jasper County (northwest)
Poweshiek County (north)
Keokuk County (east)
Wapello County (southeast)
Monroe County (southwest)
Marion County (west)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

File:MahaskaCountyIowaPop2020.png

Population of Mahaska County from US census data

2020 census

File:MahaskaCountyIA2022PopPyr.png

2022 US Census population pyramid for Mahaska County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 22,190 in the county, with a population density of Template:Pop density. 96.02% of the population reported being of one race. 90.01% were non-Hispanic White, 1.78% were Black, 2.16% were Hispanic, 0.18% were Native American, 1.14% were Asian, 0.07% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.66% were some other race or more than one race. There were 9,680 housing units, of which 8,799 were occupied.<ref name=cen2020/>

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 22,381 in the county, with a population density of Template:Pop density. There were 9,766 housing units, of which 8,975 were occupied.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the census<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 22,335 people, 8,880 households, and 6,144 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 9,551 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 97.20% White, 0.64% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,880 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,314, and the median income for a family was $43,557. Males had a median income of $32,618 versus $23,192 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,232. About 7.50% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Mahaska County.<ref name=cen2020/>

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Oskaloosa	City	11,558
2	New Sharon	City	1,262
3	Eddyville (partially in Monroe and Wapello Counties)	City	970
4	Fremont	City	708
5	University Park	City	487
6	Beacon	City	445
7	Leighton	City	158
8	Rose Hill	City	157
9	Barnes City (partially in Poweshiek County)	City	156
10	Keomah Village	City	110

Politics

References

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External links

Template:Commons

Mahaska County website

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Template:Mahaska County, Iowa Template:Iowa Template:Authority control Template:Coord