Kossuth County, Iowa

Kossuth County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,828. The county seat is Algona.

History
Kossuth County was founded on January 15, 1851. It was named after Lajos Kossuth, Regent-President of Hungary who went into exile to America following the war of independence of Hungary from the Habsburg Dynasty. The county was enlarged northward in 1857 by the inclusion of the former Bancroft County. Crocker County was another county created out of the same area of Kossuth County as Bancroft County but was reverted due to not being larger than 432 sqmi. Another attempt to create a new county called Larrabee County failed in 1914.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 974 sqmi, of which 973 sqmi is land and 1.6 sqmi (0.2%) is water. It is Iowa's largest county by area.

Major highways

 * US 18.svg U.S. Highway 18
 * US 169.svg U.S. Highway 169
 * Circle sign 9.svg Iowa Highway 9
 * Elongated circle 15.svg Iowa Highway 15
 * Elongated circle 17.svg Iowa Highway 17

Adjacent counties

 * Martin County, Minnesota (north)
 * Faribault County, Minnesota (north)
 * Winnebago County (northeast)
 * Hancock County (southeast)
 * Humboldt County (south)
 * Palo Alto County (southwest)
 * Emmet County (northwest)

National protected area

 * Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge

2020 census
The 2020 census recorded a population of 14,828 in the county, with a population density of. 96.53% of the population reported being of one race. There were 7,216 housing units, of which 6,438 were occupied.

2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 15,543 in the county, with a population density of. There were 7,486 housing units, of which 6,697 were occupied.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 17,163 people, 6,974 households, and 4,791 families in the county. The population density was 18 /mi2. There were 7,605 housing units at an average density of 8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.76% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.81%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 6,974 households, 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 28.70% of households were one person and 15.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 25.80% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 20.10% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median household income was $34,562 and the median family income was $41,159. Males had a median income of $30,191 versus $20,184 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,598. About 7.50% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Census-designated places
For use by the United States Census Bureau in population analysis, some of the rural population of Kossuth County has been grouped together as a Census-designated place.
 * Irvington
 * Sexton
 * St. Benedict
 * St. Joseph

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

† county seat

Cities

 * Algona (County seat)
 * Bancroft
 * Burt
 * Fenton
 * Lakota
 * Ledyard
 * Lone Rock
 * Lu Verne
 * Swea City
 * Titonka
 * Wesley
 * West Bend
 * Whittemore

Villages and Hamlets

 * German Valley

Townships

 * Buffalo
 * Burt
 * Cresco
 * Eagle
 * Fenton
 * Garfield
 * German
 * Grant
 * Greenwood
 * Harrison
 * Hebron
 * Irvington
 * Ledyard
 * Lincoln
 * Lotts Creek
 * Lu Verne
 * Plum Creek
 * Portland
 * Prairie
 * Ramsey
 * Riverdale
 * Seneca
 * Sherman
 * Springfield
 * Swea
 * Union
 * Wesley
 * Whittemore