Jefferson County, Iowa

Founding: 1839
Parent counties: Henry and unorganized territory

Namesake: Thomas Jefferson, U.S. president
Seat: Fairfield (1839–)

Land area: 436 square miles

Population (2020): 15,663

Population (historic): 9,904 (1850); 17,839 (1870); 15,184 (1890); 15,951 (1910); 16,241 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1870; 1890s; 1910s; 1950s; 1970s; 2000s

Subdivisions: Eight cities; 12 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,249 (29.5%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 52.9%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 3.4%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 12.4%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 5.8%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,035
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,842
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.5 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,960
Average farm size (1920): 98.1 acres
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Sweden, and Germany
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Fairfield

Namesake: A traditional name

Founding: 1839 (platting); 1839 (post office); 1875 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 9,416

Population (historic): 909 (1850); 2,226 (1870); 3,391 (1890); 4,970 (1910); 6,619 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1839–1990
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,194 (27.7%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. House (1918). 1401 Hemlock Road. Black Hawk. Craftsman.
2. Sarah Lawson Farm (c. 1905). 2613 State Route 1. Cedar. Queen Anne/Classical Revival.
3. William Ball House (c. 1876/1890). 1008 North B Street. Center. Italianate/Eastlake.
4. Bernhart Henn House (1858). 804 Robert Wallace Drive. Center. Greek Revival.
5. John Hopkirk House (c. 1845). 3284 218th Road. Lockhart.

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