# Pocahontas County, Iowa

Pocahontas County is a county located in Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 7,078, making it the state's ninth-least populous county. The county seat is Pocahontas. The county was formed in 1851. The county is named in honor of Pocahontas, the famous Native American woman from Jamestown, Virginia. A colossal statue of her stands in the city of Pocahontas.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 square miles (1,500 km$^2$), of which 577 square miles (1,490 km$^2$) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km$^2$) (0.2%) is water.

### Major highways

* Iowa Highway 3
* Iowa Highway 4
* Iowa Highway 7
* Iowa Highway 10
* Iowa Highway 15

### Adjacent counties

* Palo Alto County (north)
* Humboldt County (east)
* Webster County (southeast)
* Calhoun County (south)
* Buena Vista County (west)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 7,078 in the county, with a population density of 12.2213/sq mi (4.7187/km$^2$). 95.79% of the population reported being of one race. There were 3,666 housing units, of which 3,090 were occupied.
Pocahontas County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 6,383 | 90.2% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 66 | 0.9% |
| Native American (NH) | 10 | 0.14% |
| Asian (NH) | 29 | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 23 | 0.32% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 213 | 3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 354 | 5% |

### 2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,310 in the county, with a population density of 12.654/sq mi (4.886/km$^2$). There were 3,794 housing units, of which 3,233 were occupied.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,662 people, 3,617 households, and 2,430 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km$^2$). There were 3,988 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.49% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $17,006. About 6.60% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Fonda
* Gilmore City
* Havelock
* Laurens
* Palmer
* Plover
* Pocahontas
* Rolfe
* Varina

### Unincorporated communities

* Ware

### Townships

* Bellville
* Cedar
* Center
* Colfax
* Cummins
* Des Moines
* Dover
* Garfield
* Grant
* Lake
* Lincoln
* Lizard
* Marshall
* Powhatan
* Roosevelt
* Sherman
* Swan Lake

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 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 in Humboldt County) | City | 217 (487 total) |
| 6 | Palmer | City | 138 |
| 7 | Havelock | City | 130 |
| 8 | Varina | City | 68 |
| 9 | Plover | City | 50 |

## Politics

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 backing George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, John McCain in 2008, and Mitt 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.
United States presidential election results for Pocahontas County, Iowa :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,727 | 76.13% | 796 | 22.22% | 59 | 1.65% |
| 2020 | 2,826 | 73.92% | 933 | 24.40% | 64 | 1.67% |
| 2016 | 2,702 | 69.91% | 963 | 24.92% | 200 | 5.17% |
| 2012 | 2,396 | 59.42% | 1,523 | 37.77% | 113 | 2.80% |
| 2008 | 2,138 | 53.29% | 1,800 | 44.87% | 74 | 1.84% |
| 2004 | 2,441 | 56.60% | 1,822 | 42.24% | 50 | 1.16% |
| 2000 | 2,242 | 54.14% | 1,736 | 41.92% | 163 | 3.94% |
| 1996 | 1,707 | 40.50% | 1,981 | 47.00% | 527 | 12.50% |
| 1992 | 1,743 | 37.33% | 1,919 | 41.10% | 1,007 | 21.57% |
| 1988 | 1,871 | 40.22% | 2,722 | 58.51% | 59 | 1.27% |
| 1984 | 2,627 | 50.64% | 2,481 | 47.82% | 80 | 1.54% |
| 1980 | 3,194 | 56.17% | 1,959 | 34.45% | 533 | 9.37% |
| 1976 | 2,700 | 45.85% | 3,055 | 51.88% | 134 | 2.28% |
| 1972 | 3,138 | 57.19% | 2,241 | 40.84% | 108 | 1.97% |
| 1968 | 2,940 | 52.56% | 2,364 | 42.26% | 290 | 5.18% |
| 1964 | 2,079 | 34.24% | 3,988 | 65.68% | 5 | 0.08% |
| 1960 | 3,445 | 50.23% | 3,408 | 49.69% | 6 | 0.09% |
| 1956 | 3,606 | 52.89% | 3,201 | 46.95% | 11 | 0.16% |
| 1952 | 4,472 | 61.73% | 2,517 | 34.74% | 256 | 3.53% |
| 1948 | 2,397 | 39.61% | 3,500 | 57.84% | 154 | 2.55% |
| 1944 | 2,600 | 41.94% | 3,577 | 57.70% | 22 | 0.35% |
| 1940 | 2,985 | 41.92% | 4,118 | 57.83% | 18 | 0.25% |
| 1936 | 2,277 | 33.39% | 4,357 | 63.89% | 185 | 2.71% |
| 1932 | 1,800 | 28.48% | 4,245 | 67.16% | 276 | 4.37% |
| 1928 | 3,322 | 53.75% | 2,824 | 45.70% | 34 | 0.55% |
| 1924 | 2,537 | 39.65% | 819 | 12.80% | 3,042 | 47.55% |
| 1920 | 4,046 | 70.07% | 1,639 | 28.39% | 89 | 1.54% |
| 1916 | 1,808 | 51.29% | 1,658 | 47.04% | 59 | 1.67% |
| 1912 | 760 | 22.95% | 1,176 | 35.52% | 1,375 | 41.53% |
| 1908 | 1,857 | 57.42% | 1,315 | 40.66% | 62 | 1.92% |
| 1904 | 2,175 | 66.09% | 976 | 29.66% | 140 | 4.25% |
| 1900 | 2,176 | 61.84% | 1,287 | 36.57% | 56 | 1.59% |
| 1896 | 1,866 | 56.82% | 1,377 | 41.93% | 41 | 1.25% |