Cherokee County is a county in Iowa, United States, in the northwest part of the state along the Little Sioux River. It had a population of 11,658 at the 2020 census and covers 577 square miles (1,490 km2) centred near 42°44′N 95°37′W.
Cherokee is the county seat, and its postal code is 51012. The county has eight incorporated cities, two unincorporated communities, and sixteen civil townships. It sits in the Central Time Zone.
Towns & Villages in Cherokee County
Ten places are recognized in Cherokee County: eight incorporated cities and two unincorporated communities. Cherokee is the only city over 5,000 residents; the rest are small rural towns of a few hundred people or fewer.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee | City · seat | Cherokee | 5,199 | 51012 |
| Marcus | City | Marcus | 1,079 | 51035 |
| Aurelia | City | — | 968 | 51005 |
| Cleghorn | City | — | 240 | 51014 |
| Quimby | City | — | 249 | 51049 |
| Washta | City | — | 209 | 51061 |
| Meriden | City | — | 161 | 51037 |
| Larrabee | City | — | 123 | 51029 |
| Fielding | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mary Hill | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Townships
Cherokee County is divided into sixteen civil townships. Population figures below are not separately tabulated by the Census Bureau for this county’s townships, so only the two townships that share a name and seat with an incorporated city are listed with a known anchor settlement.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Cherokee | — | Cherokee |
| Marcus | — | Marcus |
| Afton | — | — |
| Amherst | — | — |
| Cedar | — | — |
| Diamond | — | — |
| Grand Meadow | — | — |
| Liberty | — | — |
| Pilot | — | — |
| Pitcher | — | — |
| Rock | — | — |
| Sheridan | — | — |
| Silver | — | — |
| Spring | — | — |
| Tilden | — | — |
| Willow | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 51012 — Cherokee
- 51035 — Marcus
- 51005 — Aurelia
- 51014 — Cleghorn
- 51049 — Quimby
- 51061 — Washta
- 51037 — Meriden
- 51029 — Larrabee
Fielding and Mary Hill are unincorporated and have no post office of their own; mail there is served by the nearest listed town’s ZIP code.
Geography
Cherokee County sits on the rolling loess-hill farmland typical of northwest Iowa’s Little Sioux River basin. The Little Sioux River runs southwest through the county past the city of Cherokee, and the West Fork Little Sioux River crosses the northern townships. Almost all of the county’s 577 square miles is land, with only about 0.2 square miles of water.
Cherokee County borders O’Brien County to the north, Buena Vista County to the east, Ida County to the south, Woodbury County to the southwest, and Plymouth County to the west.
Demographics
The county’s population was 11,658 at the 2020 census, down from a mid-20th-century peak of over 19,000. Cherokee (5,199) and Marcus (1,079) are the two largest communities and together hold more than half the county’s residents. Median household income figures specific to Cherokee County were not available in the sources checked for this update; statewide, the Iowa median is $71,433. With about 577 square miles of land, the county’s overall population density works out to roughly 20 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Cherokee County’s economy is built on row-crop and livestock agriculture across its loess-hill farmland, supplemented by the retail, healthcare, and light-manufacturing base of Cherokee, the county’s trade center. Cherokee is home to a state-operated mental health institute that has been one of the city’s largest employers for well over a century. Smaller towns such as Marcus and Aurelia serve as local grain-elevator and farm-service hubs for the surrounding countryside.
History
Cherokee County was organized on January 15, 1851, from previously unorganized territory, and takes its name from the Cherokee people, in keeping with a wave of Iowa counties named for Native American nations during that period. Cherokee, platted along the Little Sioux River, grew after rail lines reached it in the 1870s and became the county’s dominant town and seat of government. The county’s population rose through farm settlement into the mid-20th century before following the long decline common to Iowa’s rural counties as agriculture mechanized and consolidated.
Getting There
US Highway 59 runs north–south through the county past Cherokee, and Iowa Highway 3 crosses it east–west, linking Cherokee to the region’s other county seats.
- Storm Lake — about 20 miles east
- Le Mars — about 30 miles west
- Sioux City — about 45 miles southwest
- Spencer — about 35 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cherokee County, Iowa?
It is in the northwest part of Iowa, in the Little Sioux River basin, roughly 45 miles northeast of Sioux City.
What is the population of Cherokee County?
11,658 at the 2020 census.
How big is Cherokee County?
577 square miles (1,490 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Cherokee County?
Cherokee is the county seat.
How many towns are in Cherokee County?
Eight incorporated cities — Cherokee, Marcus, Aurelia, Quimby, Washta, Meriden, Cleghorn, and Larrabee — plus the unincorporated communities of Fielding and Mary Hill.
What ZIP codes are in Cherokee County?
51012 (Cherokee), 51035 (Marcus), 51005 (Aurelia), 51014 (Cleghorn), 51049 (Quimby), 51061 (Washta), 51037 (Meriden), and 51029 (Larrabee).
Why is it called Cherokee County?
It was named for the Cherokee people when the county was organized in 1851, part of a broader pattern of Iowa counties named for Native American nations.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Iowa.