Howard County, Iowa

Founding: 1855 (declared in 1851)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: Tilghman Howard, Indiana politician
Seat: Vernon Springs (1856–1858, 1865–1867); Pike's Peak (1858–1865); Cresco (1867–)

Land area: 473 square miles

Population (2020): 9,469

Population (historic): 3,168 (1860); 10,837 (1880); 14,512 (1900); 13,082 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1900; 1910s; 1930s; 1990s

Subdivisions: Six cities; 12 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,906 (43.6%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 55%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 5.9%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 3.1%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,951
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,654
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,708
Average farm size (1920): 136.1 acres
Sources of settlement: New York, Wisconsin, Ireland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Norway
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Cresco

Namesake: The Latin word cresco ("I grow up")

Founding: 1866 (platting); 1866 (post office); 1868 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 3,888

Population (historic): 912 (1870); 2,018 (1890); 2,658 (1910); 3,069 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1866–1900; 1910s; 1930–1970; 1990s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 724 (40.5%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. William Connolly House (1897). 23555 90th Road. Vernon Springs. Queen Anne.

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