Pocahontas County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 ThePocahontas County Courthouse in Pocahontas | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIowa | |
| Coordinates:42°44′03″N94°40′42″W / 42.734033°N 94.678279°W /42.734033; -94.678279 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | January 15, 1851 (created) May 11, 1859 (organized) |
| Named after | Pocahontas |
| Seat | Pocahontas |
| Largest city | Pocahontas |
| Area | |
• Total | 578.657 sq mi (1,498.71 km2) |
| • Land | 577.241 sq mi (1,495.05 km2) |
| • Water | 1.416 sq mi (3.67 km2) 0.24% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,078 |
• Estimate (2024) | 7,006 |
| • Density | 12.26/sq mi (4.734/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 712 |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | pocahontascounty.iowa.gov |
| |
Pocahontas County is acounty in theU.S. state ofIowa. As of the2020 census the population was 7,078,[2] and was estimated to be 7,006 in 2024,[3] making it theninth-least populous county in Iowa. Thecounty seat and the largest city isPocahontas.[4]
Pocahontas county was formed on January 15, 1851 and organized on May 11, 1859.[5] The county is named in honor ofPocahontas, the famous Native American woman fromJamestown, Virginia. A colossal statue of her stands in the City of Pocahontas.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 578.657 square miles (1,498.71 km2), of which 577.241 square miles (1,495.05 km2) is land and 1.416 square miles (3.67 km2) (0.24%) is water.[6] It is the 34th-largest county in Iowa by total area.[7]
| 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% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 7,006 | [8] | −1.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[3] | |||
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,383 | 90.18% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 66 | 0.93% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 10 | 0.14% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 29 | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 23 | 0.32% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 24 | 0.34% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 189 | 2.67% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 354 | 5.00% |
| Total | 7,078 | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 7,078, a population density of12.2/sq mi (4.7/km2), and 95.79% of residents reported being of one race.[14][15]
The median age was 45.3 years, 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 24.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.4 males age 18 and over.[14]
The racial makeup of the county was 91.3%White, 0.9%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, 0.3%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 4.2% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.0% of the population.[15]
Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 3,090 households in the county, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.2% were married-couple households, 21.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 3,666 housing units, of which 15.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.3% were owner-occupied and 21.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.9%.[14]
As of the2010 census recorded a population of 7,310 in the county, with a population density of12.7/sq mi (4.9/km2). There were 3,794 housing units, of which 3,233 were occupied.[17]
As of the2000 census, there were 8,662 people, 3,617 households, and 2,430 families residing in the county. Thepopulation 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 orAfrican American, 0.17%Native American, 0.17%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.30% fromother races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $17,006. About 6.60% of families and 9.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2020 census of Pocahontas County.
†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 inHumboldt County) | City | 217 (487 total) |
| 6 | Palmer | City | 138 |
| 7 | Havelock | City | 130 |
| 8 | Varina | City | 68 |
| 9 | Plover | City | 50 |
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 backingGeorge W. Bush in 2000 and 2004,John McCain in 2008, andMitt 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%, and did even better in 2024, earning more than 76% of the vote and winning by nearly 54%, both records for Pocahontas County for any candidate since the beginning of the 20th century.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 1,866 | 56.82% | 1,377 | 41.93% | 41 | 1.25% |
| 1900 | 2,176 | 61.84% | 1,287 | 36.57% | 56 | 1.59% |
| 1904 | 2,175 | 66.09% | 976 | 29.66% | 140 | 4.25% |
| 1908 | 1,857 | 57.42% | 1,315 | 40.66% | 62 | 1.92% |
| 1912 | 760 | 22.95% | 1,176 | 35.52% | 1,375 | 41.53% |
| 1916 | 1,808 | 51.29% | 1,658 | 47.04% | 59 | 1.67% |
| 1920 | 4,046 | 70.07% | 1,639 | 28.39% | 89 | 1.54% |
| 1924 | 2,537 | 39.65% | 819 | 12.80% | 3,042 | 47.55% |
| 1928 | 3,322 | 53.75% | 2,824 | 45.70% | 34 | 0.55% |
| 1932 | 1,800 | 28.48% | 4,245 | 67.16% | 276 | 4.37% |
| 1936 | 2,277 | 33.39% | 4,357 | 63.89% | 185 | 2.71% |
| 1940 | 2,985 | 41.92% | 4,118 | 57.83% | 18 | 0.25% |
| 1944 | 2,600 | 41.94% | 3,577 | 57.70% | 22 | 0.35% |
| 1948 | 2,397 | 39.61% | 3,500 | 57.84% | 154 | 2.55% |
| 1952 | 4,472 | 61.73% | 2,517 | 34.74% | 256 | 3.53% |
| 1956 | 3,606 | 52.89% | 3,201 | 46.95% | 11 | 0.16% |
| 1960 | 3,445 | 50.23% | 3,408 | 49.69% | 6 | 0.09% |
| 1964 | 2,079 | 34.24% | 3,988 | 65.68% | 5 | 0.08% |
| 1968 | 2,940 | 52.56% | 2,364 | 42.26% | 290 | 5.18% |
| 1972 | 3,138 | 57.19% | 2,241 | 40.84% | 108 | 1.97% |
| 1976 | 2,700 | 45.85% | 3,055 | 51.88% | 134 | 2.28% |
| 1980 | 3,194 | 56.17% | 1,959 | 34.45% | 533 | 9.37% |
| 1984 | 2,627 | 50.64% | 2,481 | 47.82% | 80 | 1.54% |
| 1988 | 1,871 | 40.22% | 2,722 | 58.51% | 59 | 1.27% |
| 1992 | 1,743 | 37.33% | 1,919 | 41.10% | 1,007 | 21.57% |
| 1996 | 1,707 | 40.50% | 1,981 | 47.00% | 527 | 12.50% |
| 2000 | 2,242 | 54.14% | 1,736 | 41.92% | 163 | 3.94% |
| 2004 | 2,441 | 56.60% | 1,822 | 42.24% | 50 | 1.16% |
| 2008 | 2,138 | 53.29% | 1,800 | 44.87% | 74 | 1.84% |
| 2012 | 2,396 | 59.42% | 1,523 | 37.77% | 113 | 2.80% |
| 2016 | 2,702 | 69.91% | 963 | 24.92% | 200 | 5.17% |
| 2020 | 2,826 | 73.92% | 933 | 24.40% | 64 | 1.67% |
| 2024 | 2,727 | 76.13% | 796 | 22.22% | 59 | 1.65% |
Places adjacent to Pocahontas County, Iowa | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofPocahontas County, Iowa,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated community | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
