Taylor County, Iowa

Founding: 1851 (declared in 1847)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: Zachary Taylor, U.S. president
Seat: Bedford (1853–)

Land area: 532 square miles

Population (2020): 5,896

Population (historic): 3,590 (1860); 15,635 (1880); 18,784 (1900); 14,859 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1850–1900

Subdivisions: Eight cities; one CDP; 17 townships

National Register listings: Seven

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,269 (40.9%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 38.2%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 2.9%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 8%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,878
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,686
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.4 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,159
Average farm size (1920): 134.4 acres
Sources of settlement: Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York
_________________________________________________________________________________

Bedford

Namesake: Unknown

Founding: 1853 (platting as Grove); 1855 (post office); 1866 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 1,508

Population (historic): 720 (1870); 1,643 (1890); 1,883 (1910); 2,100 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1853–1880; 1890s; 1910–1940; 1990s; 2010s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 366 (48%)
_________________________________________________________________________________



View and filter the data. Or see a larger map.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Outstanding Buildings

1. Lewis Rock Farm (c. 1890). 1478 130th Road. Nodaway. Stick.