Mahaska County, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mahaska County
U.S. county
The courthouse in Oskaloosa, built 1886, is on the NRHP. The architect was Henry C. Koch.
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
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)
• 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 U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,190. The county seat is Oskaloosa.

Mahaska County comprises the Oskaloosa, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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 tribe. The county was the first in Iowa to have a sheriff and a justice of peace.

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. 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.

Coal mining was once a major industry in Mahaska County. During the 19th century, Muchakinock, about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Oskaloosa, was probably the largest and most prosperous coal camp in Iowa.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 square miles (1,480 km²), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) (0.4%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 63
• Iowa Highway 23
• Iowa Highway 92
• Iowa Highway 163
• Iowa Highway 146
• Iowa Highway 149

Transit

• List of intercity bus stops in Iowa

Adjacent counties

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

Demographics

Population of Mahaska County from US census data

2020 census

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 38.832/sq mi (14.993/km²). 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.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 22,381 in the county, with a population density of 39.2051/sq mi (15.1372/km²). There were 9,766 housing units, of which 8,975 were occupied.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Mahaska County.

† county seat

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Mahaska para niños