Howard County, Iowa
Howard County, Iowa, has 9,415 residents (July 2025 estimate). Its county seat is Cresco. It uses Central Time and covers 473 sq mi (1,226 km²) of land.
- Resident population, July 2025
- 9,415
- Land area
- 473 sq mi (1,226 km²)
- County seat or government
- Cresco
- Time zone
- Central TimeUTC-06:00 in January; UTC-05:00 in July
- Median household income
- $67,446 ± $7,862
- Median home value
- $147,800 ± $14,899
- Median rent, with utilities
- $713 ± $28
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77.4% ± 1.2 points
- County type
- County
- Metro or micro area
- Outside any metro or micro areaNext to: Austin, MN micro area and Rochester, MN metro area
- Water area
- 0.36 sq mi (0.93 km²)
- State
- Iowa
- County code (FIPS)
- 19089
- Coordinates (central point)
- 43.365312, -92.321908
These coordinates mark a central point for the area, not a street address. Income, home value, rent and homes lived in by their owners: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, ± margin at 90% confidence; checked on October 13, 2026.
Time zones in Howard County
| Time zone | Local time and UTC offset | Next clock change |
|---|---|---|
| Central TimeAmerica/Chicago | UTC-06:00 in January; UTC-05:00 in July. Enable JavaScript for the live clock. | Enable JavaScript for upcoming changes. |
Near a time-zone line, check where you are with the time-zone finder. Your phone’s setting can differ.
ZIP Code areas, largest first
- 521365,840 people
- 504661,972 people
- 521321,759 people
- 506281,423 people
- 521551,110 people
- 52154592 people
- 50603555 people
- 52163333 people
- 52134223 people
9 ZIP Code areas overlap Howard County. People counts are 2020–2024 estimates for each whole ZIP area. Mailing ZIPs can differ; check an address with USPS ZIP Code Lookup.
Official county information
We don’t have a website for this county yet. The US government’s local-office directory ↗ lists its offices. A geographic lookup cannot determine eligibility, tax liability or a court obligation.
Townships in Howard County, largest first
- Vernon Springs Township4,454 people
- Afton Township860 people
- Jamestown Township772 people
- New Oregon Township735 people
- Forest City Township606 people
- Albion Township480 people
- Howard Township354 people
- Saratoga Township325 people
- Paris Township297 people
- Chester Township252 people
- Oak Dale Township157 people
- Howard Center Township153 people
People counts are American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. All townships in Iowa, by county
School districts in Howard County, largest first
- Howard-Winneshiek Community School District8,927 people
- New Hampton Community School District7,042 people
- Turkey Valley Community School District2,811 people
- Riceville Community School District2,526 people
Districts with land in the county; a district can cross county lines. People counts are American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. A district boundary doesn’t decide which school a student attends.
Cities, towns and communities, largest first
These areas overlap the mapped boundary; an overlap does not mean that every address belongs to both.
- Cresco, Iowa (city)3,908 people
- Riceville, Iowa (city)823 people
- Elma, Iowa (city)659 people
- Lime Springs, Iowa (city)442 people
- Protivin, Iowa (city)312 people
- Chester, Iowa (city)150 people
Bordering areas, nearest first
Distances are straight lines between map points.
- Chickasaw County, Iowa21 mi south
- Mitchell County, Iowa23 mi west
- Winneshiek County, Iowa24 mi east
- Fillmore County, Minnesota25 mi northeast
- Mower County, Minnesota30 mi northwest
- Floyd County, Iowa32 mi southwest
Before using this answer on a form
Use a precise point for address-level questions. A device accuracy circle can cross a boundary; confirm tax, voting or jury details with the responsible office.
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