Osceola County, Iowa

Not to be confused with Osceola, Iowa.

Osceola County (/ˌɒsiˈoʊlə/ OSS-ee-OH-lə) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census the population was 6,192, making it the state's fifth-least populous county.^[1] It is named for Seminole war chief Osceola. The county seat is Sibley, named for H. H. Sibley of Minnesota.^[2]

Osceola County
County
Osceola County Courthouse, July 2014
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°22′40″N 95°37′40″W
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1871
Named after	Osceola
Seat	Sibley
Largest city	Sibley
Area
• Total	399 sq mi (1,030 km2)
• Land	399 sq mi (1,030 km2)
• Water	0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,192
• Density	16/sq mi (6.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	osceolacountyia.gov

History

Osceola County was formed in 1871. It was named after the eponymous chief of the Seminole.^[3] It is the smallest and most recent county in Iowa. In the same year the first settler arrived, Captain Eldred Huff, and laid his claim. On January 1, 1872, the county government conferred for the first time. The first courthouse, constructed of wood, was built in November of the following year and simultaneously served as the conference chamber, school and church. In September 1903, the second courthouse was finished and was wired for electricity in October 1915.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 399 square miles (1,030 km²), of which 399 square miles (1,030 km²) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (0.2%) is water.^[4] It is the third-smallest county in Iowa by land area and smallest by total area. The highest natural point in Iowa, Hawkeye Point at 1,670 feet (510 m), is located in Osceola County.^[5]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 59
• Iowa Highway 9
• Iowa Highway 60

Adjacent counties

• Nobles County, Minnesota (northwest)
• Jackson County, Minnesota (northeast)
• Dickinson County (east)
• O'Brien County (south)
• Lyon County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	2,219		—
1890	5,574		151.2%
1900	8,725		56.5%
1910	8,956		2.6%
1920	10,223		14.1%
1930	10,182		−0.4%
1940	10,607		4.2%
1950	10,181		−4.0%
1960	10,064		−1.1%
1970	8,555		−15.0%
1980	8,371		−2.2%
1990	7,267		−13.2%
2000	7,003		−3.6%
2010	6,462		−7.7%
2020	6,192		−4.2%
2023 (est.)	5,978	[6]	−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[11]

Population of Osceola County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 6,192 in the county, with a population density of 15.5701/sq mi (6.0117/km²). 94.95% of the population reported being of one race. There were 2,878 housing units, of which 2,599 were occupied.^[1]

Osceola County Racial Composition^[12]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	5,341	86.3%
Black or African American (NH)	28	0.5%
Native American (NH)	18	0.3%
Asian (NH)	21	0.34%
Pacific Islander (NH)	36	0.6%
Other/Mixed (NH)	145	2.34%
Hispanic or Latino	603	9.74%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 6,462 in the county, with a population density of 16.2048/sq mi (6.2567/km²). There were 2,990 housing units, of which 2,682 were occupied.^[13]

2000 census

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 7,003 people, 2,778 households, and 1,941 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km²). There were 3,012 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.04% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,778 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.00% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,274, and the median income for a family was $41,977. Males had a median income of $29,624 versus $20,522 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,463. About 6.00% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Ashton
• Harris
• Melvin
• Ocheyedan
• Sibley

Townships

• Allison
• Baker
• East Holman
• Fairview
• Gilman
• Goewey
• Harrison
• Horton
• Ocheyedan
• Viola
• West Holman
• Wilson

Unincorporated communities

• Allendorf
• Cloverdale
• May City

Population ranking

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

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Sibley	City	2,860
2	Ocheyedan	City	439
3	Ashton	City	436
4	Melvin	City	199
5	Harris	City	151

Politics

In presidential elections, Osceola County voters have cast their lot chiefly with Republican candidates for office, with the last Democrat to win the county being Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Osceola County, Iowa^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,623	81.23%	555	17.19%	51	1.58%
2020	2,690	80.83%	601	18.06%	37	1.11%
2016	2,531	78.77%	552	17.18%	130	4.05%
2012	2,230	69.82%	912	28.55%	52	1.63%
2008	2,027	64.78%	1,037	33.14%	65	2.08%
2004	2,295	70.27%	934	28.60%	37	1.13%
2000	2,064	67.38%	913	29.81%	86	2.81%
1996	1,736	56.90%	1,010	33.10%	305	10.00%
1992	1,756	48.78%	990	27.50%	854	23.72%
1988	1,951	59.77%	1,277	39.12%	36	1.10%
1984	2,285	65.98%	1,146	33.09%	32	0.92%
1980	2,177	62.45%	1,051	30.15%	258	7.40%
1976	1,955	58.52%	1,309	39.18%	77	2.30%
1972	2,262	62.56%	1,317	36.42%	37	1.02%
1968	2,516	61.34%	1,420	34.62%	166	4.05%
1964	1,798	41.80%	2,498	58.08%	5	0.12%
1960	2,965	62.00%	1,814	37.93%	3	0.06%
1956	2,986	62.57%	1,779	37.28%	7	0.15%
1952	3,573	71.73%	1,396	28.03%	12	0.24%
1948	1,772	44.99%	2,123	53.90%	44	1.12%
1944	2,100	55.29%	1,689	44.47%	9	0.24%
1940	2,425	51.14%	2,288	48.25%	29	0.61%
1936	1,539	34.56%	2,812	63.15%	102	2.29%
1932	1,190	31.08%	2,590	67.64%	49	1.28%
1928	2,085	56.69%	1,567	42.60%	26	0.71%
1924	1,876	50.42%	386	10.37%	1,459	39.21%
1920	2,717	76.73%	754	21.29%	70	1.98%
1916	1,258	58.05%	874	40.33%	35	1.62%
1912	520	26.56%	786	40.14%	652	33.30%
1908	1,000	55.34%	777	43.00%	30	1.66%
1904	1,179	67.37%	554	31.66%	17	0.97%
1900	1,106	56.89%	799	41.10%	39	2.01%
1896	1,094	57.91%	767	40.60%	28	1.48%

See also

• Iowa portal

• Osceola County Courthouse
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Osceola County, Iowa