Cass County is a county in Iowa, United States, in the southwestern part of the state along the Nishnabotna River valley. It had a population of 13,127 at the 2020 census and covers 565 square miles (1,460 km2) centred near 41°20′N 94°56′W.
Atlantic is the county seat, and its postal code is 50022. The county contains eight incorporated cities, two unincorporated communities, and sixteen civil townships. Cass County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Cass County
Ten named places appear on current maps of Cass County: eight incorporated cities and two small unincorporated communities. Atlantic, the county seat, holds nearly two-thirds of the county’s population; the rest are small farm towns spread along the county’s rail lines and highways.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | City · seat | 6,792 | 50022 |
| Griswold | City | 994 | 51535 |
| Anita | City | 963 | 50020 |
| Massena | City | 359 | 50853 |
| Lewis | City | 357 | 51544 |
| Cumberland | City | 251 | 50843 |
| Marne | City | 110 | 51552 |
| Wiota | City | 91 | 50274 |
| Lorah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lyman | Unincorp. | — | — |
Griswold sits on the county’s southeastern edge near the Montgomery County line and is sometimes confused with the unincorporated place of the same root name elsewhere in the state; the Griswold in this table is the incorporated city in Cass County. Lewis, the county’s original seat before Atlantic took over in 1869, lies a few miles south of Atlantic on the East Nishnabotna River.
Townships
Cass County is divided into sixteen civil townships, which handle rural road maintenance and elections. Verified 2020 population figures at the township level were not available at publication time, so populations are omitted below rather than estimated.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Grove | — | — |
| Benton | — | — |
| Brighton | — | — |
| Cass | — | — |
| Edna | — | — |
| Franklin | — | — |
| Grant | — | — |
| Grove | — | — |
| Lincoln | — | — |
| Massena | — | Massena |
| Noble | — | — |
| Pleasant | — | — |
| Pymosa | — | — |
| Union | — | — |
| Victoria | — | — |
| Washington | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 50022 — Atlantic
- 51535 — Griswold
- 50020 — Anita
- 51544 — Lewis
- 50853 — Massena
- 50843 — Cumberland
- 50274 — Wiota
- 51552 — Marne
Lorah and Lyman have no post office of their own; mail there is handled through the ZIP code of the nearest incorporated city.
Geography
Cass County lies in the loess-hill country of southwestern Iowa, drained by the West Nishnabotna and East Nishnabotna rivers, which run roughly north to south across the county. The land is rolling farmland, cut by the two river valleys and their smaller tributary creeks, and is used mostly for corn and soybean production. The county has a total area of 565 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 564 square miles is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) is water.
Cass County borders Audubon County to the north, Adair County to the east, Adams County to the southeast, Montgomery County to the southwest, Pottawattamie County to the west, and Shelby County to the northwest. See Audubon County, Adair County, Adams County, Montgomery County, Pottawattamie County, and Shelby County.
Demographics
Cass County had a population of 13,127 at the 2020 census. Atlantic, the county seat, is by far the largest place with 6,792 residents, followed by Griswold with 994. Iowa’s statewide median household income is the Iowa median of $71,433; Cass County, a mostly rural agricultural county, typically runs below that figure. With 564 square miles of land, the county’s overall population density works out to roughly 23 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county economy, with corn, soybeans and hog production dominating the farmland outside Atlantic. Atlantic serves as the county’s retail, medical and government hub, anchored by Cass County Memorial Hospital and the county courthouse. The Cass County Fair, held each summer in Atlantic, is the county’s largest annual community event.
History
Cass County was organized in 1851 and named for Lewis Cass, a Michigan senator and the unsuccessful Democratic presidential nominee in 1848. The area’s first settlers of European descent were Mormons fleeing religious persecution in Illinois, who established the community of Indiantown in 1846 while en route west. Lewis served as the original county seat before it was moved to Atlantic in 1869, after Atlantic became a stop on the Rock Island Railroad line.
Getting There
US Highway 6 and Iowa Highway 83 both run through Atlantic, and Interstate 80 is reachable a short drive to the north via Adair County.
- Omaha, Nebraska — about 60 miles west
- Des Moines — about 75 miles east
- Council Bluffs — about 55 miles west
- Creston — about 35 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cass County, Iowa?
It is in southwestern Iowa, centred near 41°20′N 94°56′W, about 60 miles east of Omaha, Nebraska.
What is the population of Cass County?
Cass County had a population of 13,127 at the 2020 census.
How big is Cass County?
The county covers 565 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 564 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Cass County?
Atlantic is the county seat.
How many towns are in Cass County?
Eight incorporated cities and two unincorporated communities are recognized in Cass County.
What ZIP codes are in Cass County?
ZIP codes include 50022 (Atlantic), 51535 (Griswold), 50020 (Anita), 51544 (Lewis), 50853 (Massena), 50843 (Cumberland), 50274 (Wiota) and 51552 (Marne).
Why is Cass County named Cass?
It was named for Lewis Cass, a Michigan senator and the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in 1848.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Iowa.