Webster County, Iowa

Founding: 1853
Parent counties: Risley and Yell
Namesake: Daniel Webster, Massachusetts politician
Seat: Homer (1853–1856); Fort Dodge (1856–)
Land area: 716 square miles
Population (2020): 36,999
Population (historic): 2,504 (1860); 15,951 (1880); 31,757 (1900); 40,425 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1970
Subdivisions: 15 cities; one CDP; 24 townships
National Register listings: 17
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 5,686 (33.4%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 54.9%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 3.2%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.7%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.9%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,351
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,639

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.6 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,566
Average farm size (1920): 146.5 acres
Sources of settlement: Sweden, Norway, Illinois, Germany, Ireland, New York, and Wisconsin
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Fort Dodge

 
Namesake: Fort Dodge
Founding: 1850 (founding); 1854 (post office); 1869 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 24,871
Population (historic): 672 (1860); 3,586 (1880); 12,162 (1900); 21,895 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1850–1970; 2000s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 3,805 (34.1%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Frederick Scheerer Farm (c. 1885). 1876 230th Road. Elkhorn. Eastlake.