Iowa County Resources
This entry was originally written by Carol L. Maki and Michael John Neill for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
For some counties there are two 'Date Formed' years listed. The first is the year the county was created; the second is the year it was fully organized if the date differs from the year of creation.
Under the heading 'Parent County/ies,' the name/s listed may be the county or counties from which the respective county was formed or it may be names by which the county was originally known. 'Unorganized' in this same column denotes that the county was formed from non-county lands. The county name in parentheses is the county to which the unorganized land may have been attached at that time. Counties listed with an asterisk (*) are those in which you may also find records concerning the county listed. It may have been 'attached' to those county/ies for some period of time.
Iowa county governments recorded few vital statistics earlier than 1880. Marriage record registration began in many areas with the organization of the county. It is estimated that between 1880 and 1921, only about fifty percent of the births and deaths were registered. Birth, marriage, death, and probate records are usually found in the office of the clerk of courts at the county seat. Land transactions are in the county recorder's office.
The FHL online catalog was used to compile most record state dates. Researchers are encouraged to contact the courthouse or local genealogical society in the county of interest.
| Map | County | County Address | Date Formed | Parent County(ies) | Birth | Marriage | Death | Land | Probate | Court |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C5 | Adair | 400 Public Sq., Greenfield 50849 | 1851 (1854) | Pottawattomie/ unorganized (Dallas/Mahaska/Monroe/Polk) *Cass | 1880 | 1854 | 1880 | 1854 | 1857 | 1887 |
| C6 | Adams | David and 9th, Corning 50841 | 1851 (1853) | Pottawattomie | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1853 | 1868 | 1857 |
| H1 | Allamakee | 110 Allamakee St., Waukon 52172 | 1847 (1849) | unorganized (Clayton) | 1880 | 1849 | 1880 | 1851 | 1854 | 1849 |
| F7 | Appanoose | 201 N. 12th St., Centerville 52544 | 1843 (1846) | unorganized (VanBuren)/ *Davis | 1880 | 1842 | 1880 | 1850 | 1846 | 1851 |
| C5 | Audubon | 318 Leroy, Ste. 4, Audubon 50025 | 1851 (1855) | Pottawattomie/ unorganized (Dallas/Mahaska/Monroe/Polk) *Cass | 1880 | 1856 | 1880 | 1853 | 1871 | 1855 |
| Bancroft | 1851 (abolished 1855) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/ *Boone | ||||||||
| G4 | Benton | P.O. Box 549, Vinton 52349 | 1837 (1846) | Dubuque/ *Jackson/ *Linn | 1880 | 1852 | 1880 | 1847 | 1856 | 1860 |
| G3 | Black Hawk | 316 E. 5th St., Waterloo 50703 | 1843 (1847; 1853) | Buchanan/ *Delaware/ *Benton | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1853 | 1853 | 1853 |
| E4 | Boone | 201 State St., Boone 50036 | 1846 (1849) | unorganized (Linn)/ *Polk | 1880 | 1848 | 1880 | 1849 | 1865 | 1867 |
| G2 | Bremer | 415. E. Bremer Ave., Waverly 50677 | 1851 (1853) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/ *Buchanan | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1852 | 1852 | 1853 |
| H3 | Buchanan | 210 5th Ave. NE , P.O. Box 317, Independence 50644 | 1837 | Dubuque/ *Delaware | 1880 | 1848 | 1880 | 1846? | 1851 | 1852 |
| C2 | Buena Vista | P.O. Box 220, Storm Lake 50588 | 1851 (1858) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/ *Woodbury | 1880 | 1877 | 1880 | 1869 | 1871 | 1877 |
| Buncombe | 1851 (changed to Lyon, 1861) | *Woodbury | ||||||||
| F3 | Butler | P.O. Box 325, Allison 50602 | 1851 (1854) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/ *Buchanen/ *Blackhawk | ca. 1874 | 1854 | 1880 | 1854 | 1864 | ? |
| D3 | Calhoun | 416 4th St., Rockwell City 50579 | 1851 (1855) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/ *Greene | 1880 | 1857 | 1880 | 1855 | 1873 | 1860? |
| C4 | Carroll | P.O. Box 867, Carroll 51401 | 1851 (1855) | Pottawattomie/ unorganized (Dallas/ Mahaska/ Monroe/ Polk)/ *Shelby/ *Guthrie | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1855 | 1856 | 1855? |
| C5 | Cass | 5th W. 7th St., Atlantic 50022 | 1851 (1853) | Pottawattomie | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1853 | 1864 | 1873? |
| J4 | Cedar | 400 Cedar St., Tipton 52772 | 1837 | Dubuque | 1880 | 1840 | 1880 | 1838 | 1839 | 1839 |
| F2 | Cerro Gordo | 220 N. Washington, Mason City 50401 | 1851 (1855) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Floyd | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1855 | 1857 | 1880 |
| B2 | Cherokee | 520 W. Main St., Cherokee 51012 | 1851 (1858) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ Woodbury | 1880 | 1866 | 1880 | 1856 | 1859 | 1872 |
| G2 | Chickasaw | Prospect St., New Hampton 50659 | 1851 (1853) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Fayette | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1851 | 1854 | 1853 |
| E6 | Clarke | 100 S. Main St., Osceola 50213 | 1846 (1851) | unorganized (Kishkekosh) | 1880 | 1852 | 1880 | 1849 | 1853 | 1854 |
| C2 | Clay | 215 W. 4th, Spencer 51301 | 1851 (1858) | unorganized (Deleware/ Polk) *Woodbury | 1880 | 1866 | 1880 | 1858 | 1870 | 1880? |
| H2 | Clayton | 111 High St., Elkader 52042 | 1837 | Dubuque | 1880 | 1865 | 1880 | 1839 | 1840 | 1850 |
| K4 | Clinton | 1900 N. 3rd, Clinton 52732 | 1837 (1841) | Dubuque/ *Scott | 1880 | 1840 | 1880 | 1840 | 1851 | 1859 |
| Cook | 1836 (eliminated 1838) | Des Moines/ *Muscatine | ||||||||
| B4 | Crawford | 1202 Broadway, Denison 51442 | 1851 (1855) | Pottawattomie Unorganized (Dallas/ Mahaska/ Monroe/ Polk)/ *Shelby | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1855 | 1867 | 1868 |
| Crocker | 1870 (abolished 1871) | Kossuth | ||||||||
| D5 | Dallas | 801 Court St., Adel 50003 | 1846 (1847) | unorganized (Mahashka)/ *Polk | 1880 | 1847 | 1880 | 1850 | 1851 | 1855 |
| G6 | Davis | Bloomfield 52537 | 1843 (1844) | unorganized (Van Buren) | 1880 | 1844 | 1880 | 1847 | 1844 | 1844 |
| E6 | Decatur | 207 N. Main St., Leon 50144 | 1846 (1850) | unorganized (Appanoose)/ *Davis | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1855 | 1855 | 1855? |
| H3 | Deleware | 301 E. Main/ P.O. Box 527, Manchester 52037 | 1837 (1841) | Dubuque | 1880 | 1874 | 1880 | 1851 | 1871 | 1871 |
| J6 | Des Moines | 513 N. Main St., Burlington | 1834 (Michigan Territory) | unorganized | 1880 | 1835 | 1880 | 1847 | 1853 | 1857 |
| C1 | Dickinson | 1802 Hill Ave., Spirit Lake 51360 | 1851 (1857) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk) *Woodbury | 1880 | 1871 | 1880 | 1861 | 1861 | 1880? |
| J3 | Dubuque | 720 Central Ave., Dubuque 52001 | 1834 (Michigan Territory) | unorganized | 1880 | 1835 | 1880 | 1834 | 1835 | 1834 |
| No death records 1917-41; no birth record June 1940- September 1941. | ||||||||||
| D1 | Emmet | 609 1st Ave. N., Estherville 51334 | 1851 (1859) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Boone/ *Webster | 1880 | 1876 | 1880 | 1876 | 1877 | 1859 |
| H2 | Fayette | Vine Street, West Union 52175 | 1837 (1850) | Dubuque/ *Clayton | 1880 | 1876 | ca 1860 | 1851 | 1859 | 1859 |
| F2 | Floyd | 101 S. Main St., Charles City 50616 | 1851 (1854) | unorganized (Deleware/ Polk)/ *Fayette/ *Chickasaw | 1880 | 1880 | ca 1860 | 1855 | 1855 | 1880? |
| Fox | 1851 (Changed to Calhoun, 1853) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk) | ||||||||
| F2 | Franklin | 12 First Ave. NW, Hampton 50441 | 1851 (1856) | unorganized (Deleware/ Polk)/ *Fayette/ *Chickasaw/ *Hardin | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1855 | 1855 | 1856 |
| B6 | Fremont | P.O. Box 610, Sidney 51652 | 1847 (1849) | unorganized (Appanoose) | 1880 | 1848 | 1880 | 1849 | 1880 | 1850 |
| D4 | Greene | 114 N., Chestnut, Jefferson 50129 | 1851 (1854) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Dallas | 1880 | 1854 | 1880 | 1854 | 1854 | 1889? |
| F3 | Grundy | 706 G. Ave., Grundy Center 50638 | 1851 (1856) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Buchanen/ *Blackhawk | 1880 | 1856 | 1880 | 1863 | 1869 | 1871 |
| D5 | Guthrie | 200 N. 5th St., Guthrie Center 50115 | 1851 (1851) | unorganized (Dallas) | 1880 | 1852 | 1872 | 1852 | 1859 | 1855 |
| Courthouse fire in 1963 | ||||||||||
| E3 | Hamilton | 5300 Superior St., Webster City 50595 | 1857 | Webster | 1880 | 1857 | 1880 | 1854 | 1865 | 1868 |
| E2 | Hancock | 855 State St., Garner 50438 | 1851 (1858) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Boone/ *Webster | 1880 | 1873 | 1880 | 1857 | 1876 | 1858 |
| F3 | Hardin | 1215 Edgington Ave., Eldora 50627 | 1851 (1853) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Marshall | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1849 | 1854 | 1853 |
| B4 | Harrison | 111 N. 2nd Ave., Logan 51546 | 1851 (1853) | Pottawattomie | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1853 | 1853 | 1853 |
| H6 | Henry | 100 E. Washington St., Mt. Pleasant 52641 | 1836 | Des Moines | 1880 | 1836 | 1880 | 1837 | 1837 | 1837 |
| Howard | 1816 (Became Missouri Territory) | St. Louis/ Washington/ unorganized (St. Charles) | ||||||||
| G1 | Howard | 137 N. Elm St., Cresco 52136 | 1851 (1855) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk) *Floyd | 1880 | 1875 | 1880 | 1855 | 1873 | 1873 |
| Humboldt (old) | 1851 (abolished 1855) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk) *Boone | ||||||||
| d2 | Humboldt (present) | 203 Main, P.O.Box 100, Dakota City 50529 | 1851* | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk) *Boone | 1880 | 1858 | 1880 | 1855 | 1859 | ? |
| *abolished 1855;recreated 1857 from Kossuth/Webster. | ||||||||||
| B3 | Ida | 401 Moorehead St., Ida Grove 51445 | 1851 (1859) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Woodbury | 1880 | 1868 | 1880 | 1856 | 1870 | 1875 |
| H5 | Iowa | P.O. Box 126, Marengo 52301 | 1843 (1845) | Keokuk/ *Johnson | 1880 | 1847 | 1880 | 1847 | 1848 | 1851 |
| K4 | Jackson | 201 W. Platt, Ste. 1, Maquoketa 52060 | 1837 | Dubuque | 1880 | 1847 | 1880 | 1838 | 1838 | 1839 |
| F5 | Jasper | P.O. Box 944, Newton 50208 | 1846 (1846) | unorganized (Mahaska) | 1880 | 1846 | 1880 | 1847 | 1846 | 1846 |
| H6 | Jefferson | P.O. Box 984, Fairfield 52556 | 1839(1839) | Henry | 1880 | 1839 | 1880 | 1838 | 1838 | 1840 |
| H5 | Johnson | 913 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City 52240 | 1837(1838) | Cook/ Dubuque/ Muscatine/ *Cedar | 1880 | 1839 | 1880 | 1839 | 1839 | 1839 |
| J4 | Jones | P.O. Box 109, Anamosa 52205 | 1837 (1839) | Dubuque/ *Jackson | 1880 | 1840 | 1880 | 1841 | 1844 | 1848 |
| G5 | Keokuk | 101 S. Main, Sigourney 52591 | 1837 (1844) | Dubuque/ unorganized/ *Cedar/ *Johnson/ *Washington | 1880 | 1844 | 1880 | 1844 | 1844 | 1844 |
| Kishkekush | 1843 (1845; changed to Monroe, 1846) | unorganized (Henry)/ *Jefferson/ *Wapello | ||||||||
| D1 | Kossuth | 114 W. State St., Algona 50511 | 1851 (1856) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Boone/ *Webster | 1880 | 1857 | 1880 | 1856 | 1856 | 1869? |
| H7 | Lee | 933 Ave. H, Ft. Madison 52627, and, Koekuk 52632 | 1836 | Des Moines | 1880 | 1837 | 1880 | 1830 | 1841 | 1849 |
| County has two courthouses. Call for their respective holdings. | ||||||||||
| H4 | Linn | 930 1st St. SW, Cedar Rapids 52401 | 1837 (1839) | Dubuque/ *Jackson | 1880 | 1840 | 1880 | 1841 | 1840 | 1840 |
| J6 | Louisa | 117 S. Main St., Wapello 52653 | 1856 | Des Moines | 1880 | 1842 | 1880 | 1839 | 1838 | 1839 |
| F6 | Lucas | 916 Braden Ave., Chariton 50049 | 1846 (1849) | unorganized (Kishkekosh) | 1880 | 1849 | 1880 | 1849 | 1850 | 1854 |
| A1 | Lyon | 206 S. 2nd Ave., Rock Rapids 51246 | 1851 (1872) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Woodbury | 1880 | 1872 | 1880 | 1862 | 1885 | 1874 |
| E5 | Madison | P.O. Box 152, Winterset 50273 | 1845 (1849) | unorganized (Mahaska) | 1880 | 1849 | 1880 | 1850 | 1852 | 1852 |
| G5 | Mahaska | 106 S. 1st St., Oskaloosa 52577 | 1843 (1844) | unorganized (Washington) | 1880 | 1844 | 1880 | 1845 | 1844 | 1844 |
| F5 | Marion | P.O. Box 497, Knoxville 50138 | 1845 | unorganized | 1880 | 1845 | 1880 | 1846 | 1845 | 1854 |
| F4 | Marshall | 1 E. Main St., Marshalltown 50158 | 1846 (1849) | unorganized (Linn)/ *Jasper | 1880 | 1850 | 1880 | 1850 | 1851 | 1854 |
| B6 | Mills | 418 Sharp St., Glenwood 51534 | 1851 | Pottawattomie | 1880 | 1880 | 1880 | 1853 | 1852 | 1888 |
| F1 | Mitchell | 508 State St., Osage 50461 | 1851 (1854) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Fayette/ *Chicksaw | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1854 | 1855? | 1855? |
| B4 | Monona | 610 Iowa Ave., Onawa 51040 | 1851 (1854) | Pottawattomie/ unorganized (Dallas/ Mahaska/ Monroe/ Polk) *Harrison | 1880 | 1856 | 1880 | 1858 | 1860 | 1861? |
| F6 | Monrow | 10 Benton Ave. E., Albia 52531 | 1843 (1845) | unorganized (Henry)/ *Jefferson/ *Wapello | 1880 | 1845 | 1880 | 1847 | 1848 | 1847 |
| C6 | Montgomery | 105 Coolbaugh St., Red Oak 51545 | 1851 (1853) | Pottawattomie/ *Adams | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1854 | 1868 | 1890? |
| J5 | Muscatine | 401 E. 3rd St., Muscatine 52761 | 1836 | Des Moines | 1880 | 1837 | 1880 | 1838 | 1838 | 1839 |
| B2 | O'Brian | 115 S. Hayes, Primghar 51245 | 1851 (1860) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Woodbury | 1880 | 1860 | 1880 | 1857 | 1880? | 1870 |
| B1 | Osceola | 300 7th St., Sibley 51249 | 1851 (1872) | unorganized (Deleware/ Polk)/ *Woodbury | 1880 | 1872 | 1880 | 1869 | 1872 | 1873 |
| C6 | Page | 112 E. Main St., Clarinda 51632 | 1847(1852) | unorganized (Appanoose) | 1880 | 1852 | 1880 | 1854 | 1857 | ? |
| D2 | Palo Alto | 1010 Broadway, Emmetsburg 50536 | 1851 (1858) | unorganized (Delaware/ Polk)/ *Boone/ *Webster | 1880 | 1860 | 1880 | 1858 | 1864 | 1870 |
| A2 | Plymouth | 215 4th Ave. S.E., Le Mars 51031 | 1851 (1858) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/*Woodbury | 1880 | 1860 | 1880 | 1856 | 1871 | 1869 |
| D2 | Pocahontas | 99 Court Sq., Pocahontas 50574 | 1851 (1859) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/*Boone/*Webster | 1880 | 1859 | 1880 | 1861 | 1867 | 1867 |
| E5 | Polk | 111 Court Ave., Des Moines 50309 | 1846 (1846) | unorganized (Mahaska) | 1880 | 1846 | 1880 | 1846 | 1846 | 1846 |
| B5 | Pottawattomie | 227 S. 6th St., Council Bluffs 51501 and Avoca 51521 | 1848 | unorganized (Dallas/Mahaska/Monroe/Polk) | 1880 | 1848 | 1880 | 1849 | 1846 | 1876 |
| County has two courthouses. Call for their respective holdings. | ||||||||||
| G5 | Poweshiek | 302 E. Main St., Montezuma 50171 | 1843 (1848) | Keokuk/*Iowa/*Johnson/ *Mahaska | 1880 | 1848 | 1880 | 1843 | 1849 | 1869 |
| D7 | Ringgold | 109 W. Madison, Mt. Ayr 50854 | 1847 (1855) | unorganized (Appanoose)/ *Taylor | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1855 | 1858 | 1855 |
| Risley | 1851 (abolished 1853) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk) | ||||||||
| C3 | Sac | 100 NW State St., Sac City 50583 | 1851 (1856) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/*Woodbury/ *Greene | 1880 | 1864 | 1880 | 1856 | 1857 | 1869 |
| K5 | Scott | 416 West 4th, Davenport 52801 | 1837 | Cook/Dubuque/Muscatine | 1880 | 1838 | 1880 | 1838 | 1838 | 1838 |
| C5 | Shelby | 612 Court St., Harlan 51537 | 1851 (1853) | Pottawattomie | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1854 | 1869 | 1869 |
| A2 | Sioux | 210 Central Ave. SW, Orange City 51041 | 1851 (1860) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/*Woodbury | 1880 | 1871 | 1880 | 1856 | 1870 | 1871 |
| Slaughter | 1838 (changed to Washington, 1839) | Henry/Louisa/Muscatine/unorganized | ||||||||
| E4 | Story | 900 6th St., Nevada 50201 | 1846 (1853) | unorganized (Linn)/ *Polk/*Boone | 1880 | 1854 | 1880 | 1853 | 1855 | 1865 |
| G4 | Tama | 100 W. High St., Toledo 52342 | 1843 (1853) | Benton/*Linn | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1853 | 1854 | 1850 |
| C7 | Taylor | 405 Jefferson St., Bedford 50833 | 1847 (1851) | unorganized (Appanoose) | 1880 | 1851 | 1880 | 1855 | 1859 | 1875? |
| D6 | Union | 300 N. Pine St., Creston 50801 | 1851 (1853) | Pottawattomie/ unorganized (Dallas/Mahaska/Monroe/Polk) | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1854 | 1854 | 1854 |
| H6 | Van Buren | P.O. Box 475, Keosauqua 52565 | 1836 | Des Moines | 1880 | 1837 | 1880 | 1837 | 1841 | 1837 |
| Wahkaw | 1851 (changed to Woodbury, 1853) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk) | ||||||||
| B6 | Wapello | 101 W. 4th St., Ottumwa 52501 | 1843 (1844) | unorganized (Henry)/ *Jefferson | 1880 | 1844 | 1880 | 1844 | 1844 | 1844 |
| E5 | Warren | 301 N. Buxton, Ste. 202, Indianola 50125 | 1846 (1849) | unorganized (Mahaska) | 1880 | 1849 | 1880 | 1849 | 1850 | 1849 |
| H5 | Washington | P.O. Box 889, Washington 52353 | 1838 | Henry/Louisa/Muscatine/unorganized | 1880 | 1839 | 1880 | 1839 | 1838 | 1868 |
| F6 | Wayne | P.O. Box 435, Corydon 50060 | 1846 (1851) | unorganized (Appannose)/ *Davis | 1880 | 1851 | 1880 | 1851 | 1851 | 1873 |
| D3 | Webster | 703 Central Ave., Fort Dodge 50501 | 1853 (1853) | Risley/Yell | 1880 | 1853 | 1880 | 1856 | 1855 | 1864 |
| E1 | Winnebago | 126 S. Clark St., Forest City 50436 | 1851 (1857) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/ *Boone/*Webster | 1880 | 1890 | 1880 | 1873 | 1858 | 1900? |
| H1 | Winneshiek | 201 West Main, Decorah 52101 | 1847 (1851) | unorganized (Clayton) | 1880 | 1851 | 1880 | 1851 | 1852 | 1851 |
| A3 | Woodbury | 620 Douglas St., Sioux City 51101 | 1851 (1853) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk) | 1880 | 1854 | 1880 | 1855 | 1856 | 1900? |
| F1 | Worth | 1000 Central Ave., Northwood 50459 | 1851 (1857) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/*Fayette/*Chickasaw/*Floyd/*Mitchell | 1880 | 1858 | 1880 | 1857 | 1897 | 1863 |
| E2 | Wright | 115 N. Main St., Clarion 50525 | 1851 (1855) | unorganized (Delaware/Polk)/*Boone/*Webster | 1880 | 1855 | 1880 | 1855 | 1855 | 1857 |
| Yell | 1851 (abolished 1853) | unorganized (Delaware, Polk) | ||||||||
