Adams County is a county in Iowa, United States, in the southwest part of the state along U.S. Highway 34. It had a population of 3,704 at the 2020 census, making it the least populous county in Iowa, and covers 423 square miles (1,100 km2) of land centred near 41°01′45″N 94°41′57″W.
Corning is the county seat, and its postal code is 50841. The county has 4 incorporated cities and 12 unincorporated communities across 12 civil townships. It observes Central Time and carries FIPS code 19003.
Towns & Villages in Adams County
Adams County has 4 incorporated cities and roughly a dozen small unincorporated communities scattered across its farmland. Only Corning, Carbon, Nodaway and Prescott are legally organized cities under Iowa law; the rest are place names on the map without their own municipal government (marked Unincorp. below).
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corning | City · seat | — | — | 50841 |
| Carbon | City | — | — | 50839 |
| Nodaway | City | Nodaway | — | 50857 |
| Prescott | City | Prescott | — | 50859 |
| Brooks | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Carl | Unincorp. | Carl | — | — |
| Dickieville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Iveyville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lincoln Center | Unincorp. | Lincoln | — | — |
| Mercer | Unincorp. | Mercer | — | — |
| Mount Etna | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Nevinville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Quincy | Unincorp. | Quincy | — | — |
| Strand | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Stringtown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Williamson | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Quincy, listed above, was the original county seat before it moved to Corning in 1872 — it is now just an unincorporated crossroads, not to be confused with any city of the same name elsewhere in Iowa.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Carl | — | Carl |
| Colony | — | — |
| Douglas | — | — |
| Grant | — | — |
| Jasper | — | — |
| Lincoln | — | Lincoln Center |
| Mercer | — | Mercer |
| Nodaway | — | Nodaway |
| Prescott | — | Prescott |
| Quincy | — | Quincy |
| Union | — | — |
| Washington | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 50841 — Corning (also serves the surrounding rural county seat area)
- 50839 — Carbon
- 50857 — Nodaway
- 50859 — Prescott
The unincorporated communities — Brooks, Carl, Dickieville, Iveyville, Lincoln Center, Mercer, Mount Etna, Nevinville, Quincy, Strand, Stringtown and Williamson — have no ZIP code of their own and are served by whichever of the four post offices above sits closest.
Geography
Adams County sits on the rolling farmland of Iowa’s southwestern drift plain, drained by the West Nodaway River and the Platte River, with no large natural lakes. Land is almost entirely row-crop and pasture, with 423 square miles of land against just 2.1 square miles of water.
The county borders Cass County to the northwest, Adair County to the northeast, Union County to the east, Taylor County to the south, and Montgomery County to the west.
Demographics
Adams County had 3,704 residents at the 2020 census. Corning, the county seat, is by far the largest place; Prescott is the next-largest incorporated city. Median household income in the county runs below the Iowa median of $71,433, consistent with its farm-dependent, sparsely populated economy. Population density works out to roughly 8.8 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Row-crop and livestock farming (corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs) anchors the county economy, supplemented by small-scale manufacturing and services centred in Corning. The Adams County Free Medical Clinic and the Corning Community School District are among the county’s larger local employers. The Adams County Fair, held annually in Corning, is the county’s signature community event.
History
Adams County was organized by the Iowa state legislature in 1851 and formally set off from Pottawattamie County on March 12, 1853. It was named for President John Adams, or possibly his son John Quincy Adams — sources disagree on which. The county’s original boundaries were reduced when Montgomery and Union counties were created out of its territory. Quincy served as the first county seat until it was moved to Corning in 1872, and the county’s population has been declining for decades, leaving it the least populous of Iowa’s 99 counties as of the 2020 census.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 34 runs east-west through the county, connecting Corning directly, and Iowa Highway 148 crosses it north-south.
- Creston, Iowa — 20 miles east
- Red Oak, Iowa — 25 miles west
- Council Bluffs, Iowa — 65 miles west
- Des Moines, Iowa — 85 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Des Moines International Airport, about 85 miles northeast of Corning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Adams County, Iowa?
It is in southwest Iowa, on U.S. Highway 34 between Creston and Red Oak.
What is the population of Adams County?
3,704 people at the 2020 census, the smallest of any Iowa county.
How big is Adams County?
423 square miles (1,100 km2) of land, plus 2.1 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Adams County?
Corning is the county seat and largest city.
How many towns are in Adams County?
Four incorporated cities — Corning, Carbon, Nodaway and Prescott — plus about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Adams County?
50841 (Corning), 50839 (Carbon), 50857 (Nodaway) and 50859 (Prescott).
Why is Adams County so sparsely populated?
It has always been a farming county with no large town or industry to anchor growth, and like much of rural Iowa it has lost population for decades.