Mahaska County, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mahaska County
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The courthouse in Oskaloosa, built 1886, is on the NRHP. The architect was Henry C. Koch.
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Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
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 Iowa's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | February 17, 1843 |
| Named for | Chief Mahaska |
| Seat | Oskaloosa |
| Largest city | Oskaloosa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 573 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
| • Land | 571 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
| • Water | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) 0.4% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,190 |
| • Density | 38.73/sq mi (14.952/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Mahaska County is a county located in the state of Iowa. In 2020, about 22,190 people lived here. The main city and county seat is Oskaloosa.
Mahaska County is part of the Oskaloosa, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area. This means Oskaloosa is a central city for the smaller towns around it.
Contents
History of Mahaska County
Mahaska County was created in February 1843. It became a self-governing county on February 5, 1844. This means it could make its own local rules. The county was named after Chief Mahaska of the Iowa tribe. It was the first county in Iowa to have a sheriff and a justice of peace. These are important roles for keeping law and order.
The first courthouse in Mahaska County was finished in January 1846. A courthouse is where important county business and legal matters happen. Later, a bigger courthouse was built between 1885 and 1886. It started being used on February 27, 1886.
The first school in the county opened on September 16, 1844. It was a small log cabin located near Oskaloosa. The first church, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, opened in 1846. On July 2, 1850, the first newspaper, the Iowa Herald, was printed. Today, it is known as the Oskaloosa Herald. The first train tracks were laid through the county in 1864. This helped people and goods travel more easily.
Coal mining was once a very important industry in Mahaska County. In the 1800s, a place called Muchakinock was a large and successful coal mining town in Iowa. It was about 5 miles (8 km) south of Oskaloosa.
Geography of Mahaska County
Mahaska County covers about 573 square miles (1,484 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 571 square miles (1,479 square kilometers), is land. The rest is water, which makes up about 0.4% of the total area.
Main Roads in Mahaska County
These are the most important highways that run through Mahaska County:
U.S. Highway 63
Iowa Highway 23
Iowa Highway 92
Iowa Highway 163
Iowa Highway 146
Iowa Highway 149
Counties Next to Mahaska County
Mahaska County shares borders with these other counties:
- Jasper County (to the northwest)
- Poweshiek County (to the north)
- Keokuk County (to the east)
- Wapello County (to the southeast)
- Monroe County (to the southwest)
- Marion County (to the west)
Population of Mahaska County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 5,989 | — | |
| 1860 | 14,816 | 147.4% | |
| 1870 | 22,508 | 51.9% | |
| 1880 | 25,202 | 12.0% | |
| 1890 | 28,805 | 14.3% | |
| 1900 | 34,273 | 19.0% | |
| 1910 | 29,860 | −12.9% | |
| 1920 | 26,270 | −12.0% | |
| 1930 | 25,804 | −1.8% | |
| 1940 | 26,485 | 2.6% | |
| 1950 | 24,672 | −6.8% | |
| 1960 | 23,602 | −4.3% | |
| 1970 | 22,177 | −6.0% | |
| 1980 | 22,867 | 3.1% | |
| 1990 | 21,532 | −5.8% | |
| 2000 | 22,335 | 3.7% | |
| 2010 | 22,381 | 0.2% | |
| 2020 | 22,190 | −0.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 21,874 | −2.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018 |
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What the 2020 Census Showed
The 2020 census counted 22,190 people living in Mahaska County. This means there were about 39 people for every square mile. Most people reported being of one race. The county is home to people from many different backgrounds. There were 9,680 homes in the county, and 8,799 of them were lived in.
What the 2010 Census Showed
In 2010, the census recorded 22,381 people in Mahaska County. There were about 39 people per square mile. At that time, there were 9,766 homes, and 8,975 of them were occupied.
Communities in Mahaska County
Mahaska County has several cities and smaller communities.
Cities
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller towns or areas that are not officially organized as cities.
- Cedar
- Hopewell
- Indianapolis
- Lacey
- Lakonta
Townships
Townships are smaller divisions of the county, often used for local government and land organization.
- Adams
- Black Oak
- Cedar
- East Des Moines
- Garfield
- Harrison
- Jefferson
- Lincoln
- Madison
- Monroe
- Pleasant Grove
- Prairie
- Richland
- Scott
- Spring Creek
- Union
- West Des Moines
- White Oak
Cities by Population Size
This table shows the cities in Mahaska County, ranked by how many people lived there in 2020.
† 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 |
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Mahaska para niños
