Union County, Iowa

 

Founding: 1853 (declared in 1851)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: A traditional name
Seat: Afton (1855–1890); Creston (1890–)

Land area: 424 square miles

Population (2020): 12,138

Population (historic): 2,012 (1860); 14,980 (1880); 19,928 (1900); 17,435 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1900; 1910–1930; 1970s; 2000s

Subdivisions: Seven cities; 12 townships

National Register listings: Six

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 3,353 (16.1%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 51.9%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 2.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 3.5%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,912
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,856
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.4 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,631
Average farm size (1920): 136.4 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, New York, and Ireland
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Creston

Namesake: The city's elevated location

Founding: 1869 (platting); 1869 (post office); 1871 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 7,834

Population (historic): 411 (1870); 7,200 (1890); 6,924 (1910); 8,615 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1869–1900; 1910–1930; 1940s; 1960–1980; 2000s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,312 (34.6%)
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