Pocahontas County, Iowa

Pocahontas County
County
County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°44′04″N94°40′39″W / 42.734444444444°N 94.6775°W / 42.734444444444; -94.6775
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1851
Named for	Pocahontas
Seat	Pocahontas
Largest city	Pocahontas
Area
• Total	579 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Land	577 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Water	1.4 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,078
• Density	12/sq mi (4.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	pocahontascounty.iowa.gov

Pocahontas County is a county located in Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 7,078, making it the state's ninth-least populous county. ^[1] The county seat is Pocahontas. ^[2] The county was formed in 1851. ^[3]

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. ^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 square miles (1,500 km²), of which 577 square miles (1,490 km²) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) (0.2%) is water. ^[4]

Major highways

• Iowa Highway 3
• Iowa Highway 4
• Iowa Highway 7
• Iowa Highway 10
• Iowa Highway 15

Adjacent counties

• Palo Alto County (north)
• Humboldt County (east)
• Webster County (southeast)
• Calhoun County (south)
• Buena Vista County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	103		—
1870	1,446		1,303.9%
1880	3,713		156.8%
1890	9,553		157.3%
1900	15,339		60.6%
1910	14,808		−3.5%
1920	15,602		5.4%
1930	15,687		0.5%
1940	16,266		3.7%
1950	15,496		−4.7%
1960	14,234		−8.1%
1970	12,729		−10.6%
1980	11,369		−10.7%
1990	9,525		−16.2%
2000	8,662		−9.1%
2010	7,310		−15.6%
2020	7,078		−3.2%
2023 (est.)	6,976	[5]	−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8] 1990-2000 [9] 2010-2018 [10]

Population of Pocahontas County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 7,078 in the county, with a population density of 12.2213/sq mi (4.7187/km²). 95.79% of the population reported being of one race. There were 3,666 housing units, of which 3,090 were occupied. ^[1]

Pocahontas County Racial Composition ^[11]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	6,383	90.2%
Black or African American (NH)	66	0.9%
Native American (NH)	10	0.14%
Asian (NH)	29	0.41%
Pacific Islander (NH)	23	0.32%
Other/Mixed (NH)	213	3%
Hispanic or Latino	354	5%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,310 in the county, with a population density of 12.654/sq mi (4.886/km²). There were 3,794 housing units, of which 3,233 were occupied. ^[12]

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, 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

• Fonda
• Gilmore City
• Havelock
• Laurens
• Palmer
• Plover
• Pocahontas
• Rolfe
• Varina

Unincorporated communities

• Ware

Townships

• Bellville
• Cedar
• Center
• Colfax
• Cummins
• Des Moines
• Dover
• Garfield
• Grant
• Lake
• Lincoln
• Lizard
• Marshall
• Powhatan
• Roosevelt
• Sherman
• Swan Lake

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Pocahontas County. ^[1]

†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%, both records for Pocahontas County for any candidate since the beginning of the 20th century.

United States presidential election results for Pocahontas County, Iowa ^[14]

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

See also

• Iowa portal

• Pocahontas County Courthouse
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pocahontas County, Iowa
• Manson crater

References

1. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. History Archived October 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine , Pocahontas County Economic Development.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
9. "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 July 20, 2014.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pocahontas County, Iowa".
12. "Iowa:2010 Population & Housing Occupancy Status" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 15, 2022.

External links

• Pocahontas County Economic Development Commission
• "Pocahontas. II. A N. W. county of Iowa"  . The American Cyclopædia . 1879.
• The Pioneer History of Pocahontas County, Iowa (1902), a county history by Robert E. Flickinger

42°44′04″N94°40′39″W / 42.73444°N 94.67750°W / 42.73444; -94.67750