Greene County is a county in Iowa, United States, on the upper Raccoon River in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 8,771 at the 2020 census and covers 571 square miles (1,480 km2) centred near 42°02′N 94°24′W.
Jefferson is the county seat, and its postal code is 50129. The county has eight incorporated cities and towns plus five unincorporated communities, split across 16 civil townships. Greene County observes Central time and carries FIPS county code 37.
Towns & Villages in Greene County
Thirteen named places appear on the map of Greene County: eight incorporated cities and towns and five unincorporated communities. Jefferson, the seat, is home to well over half the county’s population; the rest are small rail-era towns and farm-service hamlets. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | City · seat | Jefferson | 4,182 | 50129 |
| Grand Junction | City | Junction | 725 | 50107 |
| Scranton | City | Scranton | 511 | 51462 |
| Churdan | City | — | 365 | 50050 |
| Paton | City | Paton | 221 | 50217 |
| Rippey | City | — | 220 | 50235 |
| Ralston | City | — | 81 | — |
| Dana | City | — | 38 | 50064 |
| Adaza | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cooper | Unincorp. | — | — | 50059 |
| Farlin | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Green Brier | Unincorp. | Greenbrier | — | — |
| Winkelmans | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Townships
Greene County has 16 civil townships. Population figures at the township level are not published in a verified source for this page, so the table below lists confirmed names and their principal settlement only.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | — | Jefferson |
| Junction | — | Grand Junction |
| Scranton | — | Scranton |
| Paton | — | Paton |
| Greenbrier | — | Green Brier |
| Bristol | — | — |
| Cedar | — | — |
| Dawson | — | — |
| Franklin | — | — |
| Grant | — | — |
| Hardin | — | — |
| Highland | — | — |
| Jackson | — | — |
| Kendrick | — | — |
| Washington | — | — |
| Willow | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 50129 — Jefferson
- 50107 — Grand Junction
- 51462 — Scranton
- 50050 — Churdan
- 50217 — Paton
- 50235 — Rippey
- 50064 — Dana
- 50059 — Cooper
Ralston and the unincorporated communities of Adaza, Farlin, Green Brier and Winkelmans have no ZIP code of their own and are served by a neighboring post office town.
Geography
Greene County sits on the rolling till plains of west-central Iowa, drained by the Raccoon River, which crosses the county from northwest to southeast and gives Jefferson its riverside setting. Most of the land is row-crop farmland, with the river corridor providing the county’s main stretch of woodland and public parkland.
Greene County borders Calhoun County to the northwest, Webster County to the north, Boone County to the east, Dallas County to the southeast, Guthrie County to the south, and Carroll County to the west.
Demographics
Greene County had 8,771 residents at the 2020 census. Jefferson, with 4,182 people, and Grand Junction, with 725, are the two largest communities, together holding more than half the county’s population. Median household income runs below the Iowa median of $71,433, typical of a small farm-economy county of this size. With 570 square miles of land, the county’s overall population density is roughly 15 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the local economy, with corn and soybean production and related grain and livestock services anchoring the county outside Jefferson. Jefferson serves as the county’s retail, health-care and government hub, and its 1878 clock tower, the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, is a local landmark on the town square.
History
Greene County was organized on January 15, 1851, and named for General Nathanael Greene, a Revolutionary War hero. The county became fully self-governing by 1854, and Jefferson was established as its seat during the county’s early settlement along the Raccoon River.
Getting There
U.S. Route 30 crosses the county through Jefferson and Grand Junction, and State Highway 4 runs north–south through Jefferson.
- Boone — 25 miles east
- Fort Dodge — 30 miles north
- Ames — 35 miles southeast
- Des Moines — 55 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Des Moines International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Greene County, Iowa?
It is in west-central Iowa, on the Raccoon River, about 55 miles northwest of Des Moines.
What is the population of Greene County?
8,771 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Greene County?
571 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 570 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Greene County?
Jefferson, the largest city in the county.
How many towns are in Greene County?
Eight incorporated cities and towns, plus five unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Greene County?
Eight ZIP codes, led by 50129 for Jefferson; see the ZIP Codes section above.
What is Greene County named after?
Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene, not the county’s early settlers.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Iowa.