Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Founding: 1855 (declared in 1851)
Parent county: Unorganized territory
Namesake: The Battle of Cerro Gordo, fought during the Mexican–American War
Seat: Livonia (1857–1858); Mason City (1858–)
Land area: 568 square miles
Population (2020): 43,127
Population (historic): 940 (1860); 11,461 (1880); 20,672 (1900); 38,476 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1960
Subdivisions: Ten cities; two CDPs; 16 townships
National Register listings: 47
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 7,112 (31.8%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 55.7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 4%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 2.9%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,214
Average outbuilding value (1930): $3,133
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.7 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,944
Average farm size (1920): 141.4 acres
Sources of settlement: Wisconsin, Germany, New York, Illinois, and Iowa
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Mason City

 
Namesake: Uncertain—likely a local resident
Founding: 1853 (platting); 1857 (post office); 1870 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 28,079
Population (historic): 1,183 (1870); 4,007 (1890); 11,230 (1910); 23,304 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1853–1960
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 4,640 (33.9%)
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