Floyd County is a county in Iowa, United States, on the state’s rolling north-central plains along the Cedar River. It had a population of 15,627 at the 2020 census and covers 501 square miles (1,300 km2) centred near 43°03′N 92°47′W.
Charles City is the county seat, and its postal code is 50616. The county has seven incorporated cities, twelve civil townships, and a handful of unincorporated communities. Floyd County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Floyd County
Floyd County has seven incorporated cities — all classed as cities under Iowa law, none as towns — plus several unincorporated places and one census-designated community. Population figures below are the 2020 census counts; unincorporated places show — where no separate census count exists.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City | City · seat | Saint Charles | 7,396 | 50616 |
| Nora Springs | City | Union | 1,369 | 50458 |
| Rockford | City | Rockford | 758 | 50468 |
| Rudd | City | Rudd | 358 | 50471 |
| Floyd | City | Floyd | 313 | 50435 |
| Marble Rock | City | Rock Grove | 271 | 50653 |
| Colwell | City | Saint Charles | 55 | 50620 |
| Roseville | CDP | Saint Charles | — | 50616 |
| Nora Junction | Unincorp. | Union | — | 50458 |
| Midway | Unincorp. | Cedar | — | 50616 |
| Oakwood | Unincorp. | Rockford | — | 50468 |
| Powersville | Unincorp. | Niles | — | 50435 |
Nilesville, Aureola, Carrville, Floyd Crossing, Howardville, and the Greenfield Park manufactured-home court appear on older county maps as rural crossroads and platted settlements within Niles, Cedar, and Rock Grove townships; none carries its own post office today, and residents there use the ZIP of the nearest incorporated town.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Charles | — | Charles City, Colwell, Roseville |
| Union | — | Nora Springs, Nora Junction |
| Rockford | — | Rockford, Oakwood |
| Rock Grove | — | Marble Rock |
| Rudd | — | Rudd |
| Floyd | — | Floyd |
| Niles | — | Powersville, Nilesville |
| Cedar | — | Midway |
| Pleasant Grove | — | rural, no platted town |
| Riverton | — | rural, no platted town |
| Scott | — | rural, no platted town |
| Ulster | — | rural, no platted town |
ZIP Codes
- 50616 — Charles City (also serves Colwell and Roseville)
- 50458 — Nora Springs (also serves Nora Junction)
- 50468 — Rockford (also serves Oakwood)
- 50471 — Rudd
- 50435 — Floyd (also serves Powersville)
- 50653 — Marble Rock
Charles City’s 50616 ZIP is the county’s dominant delivery area, covering roughly six in ten residents. Rural crossroads without their own post office use whichever of these six ZIPs is nearest.
Geography
Floyd County lies on gently rolling till plains typical of north-central Iowa, drained north to south by the Cedar River, which passes through Charles City and Nora Springs. Winnebago Creek and the Little Cedar River are the other principal waterways. Farmland covers most of the county outside its towns, with the Cedar River corridor cutting the only significant relief.
Floyd County borders Mitchell County to the north, Chickasaw County to the east, Butler County to the south, and Cerro Gordo County to the west, with Howard County and Bremer County touching its northeast and southeast corners.
Demographics
Floyd County had 15,627 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 31 people per square mile. Charles City is the largest community with 7,396 residents, followed by Nora Springs at 1,369. The county’s population has declined steadily since peaking near 21,500 in 1950. Median household income in Floyd County runs below the Iowa median of $71,433, consistent with a rural county whose population has been shrinking for decades.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing and agriculture anchor the county’s economy. Charles City built its early growth on 19th- and 20th-century farm-machinery plants, and Cambrex operates a pharmaceutical-ingredients manufacturing facility there today. Row-crop and livestock farming dominate outside the towns. Floyd County Medical Center serves Charles City, and the county fairgrounds there host the Floyd County Fair each summer.
History
Floyd County was created by the Iowa territorial legislature on January 15, 1851, and organized on September 4, 1854. It is named for Sergeant Charles Floyd of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, who died in 1804 near present-day Sioux City, Iowa — the expedition’s only fatality. Charles City, the county seat, grew around 19th-century grain and lumber mills on the Cedar River and later became a farm-machinery manufacturing center.
Getting There
U.S. Highways 18 and 218 cross the county, along with Iowa Highways 14 and 27, meeting at Charles City.
- Waterloo — 40 miles southeast
- Mason City — 20 miles west
- Cedar Falls — 38 miles southeast
- Rochester, Minnesota — 65 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Mason City Municipal Airport, about 20 miles west of Charles City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Floyd County, Iowa?
It is in north-central Iowa, on the Cedar River between Mason City and Waterloo.
What is the population of Floyd County?
15,627 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Floyd County?
501 square miles (1,300 km2), including 0.8 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Floyd County?
Charles City is the county seat.
How many towns are in Floyd County?
Seven incorporated cities, plus several unincorporated communities across its twelve townships.
What ZIP codes are in Floyd County?
50616 (Charles City), 50458 (Nora Springs), 50468 (Rockford), 50471 (Rudd), 50435 (Floyd), and 50653 (Marble Rock).
What river runs through Floyd County?
The Cedar River, which flows through Charles City and Nora Springs on its way south toward Cedar Falls and Waterloo.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Iowa.