Hardin County is a county in Iowa, United States, on the Iowa River in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 16,878 at the 2020 census and covers 569 square miles (1,470 km2) of land, centred near 42°22′26″N 93°14′41″W.
Eldora is the county seat, and its postal code is 50627. The county has 12 incorporated cities and about 18 unincorporated communities spread across 15 civil townships, and it observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Hardin County
Hardin County has 30 named places on the map: 12 incorporated cities and roughly 18 unincorporated communities and crossroads. Iowa Falls, in the northeast, is the largest place; Eldora, the county seat, sits near the geographic center. The table marks each place’s type — City for an incorporated city, City · seat for the county seat, and Unincorp. for an unincorporated community — along with its home township where verified.
Ackley straddles the Hardin–Franklin county line; the population and ZIP code below cover only the Hardin County portion.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Falls | City | — | 5,106 | 50126 |
| Eldora | City · seat | Eldora | 2,663 | 50627 |
| Ackley | City | — | 1,599 | 50601 |
| Hubbard | City | — | 860 | 50122 |
| Alden | City | Alden | 763 | 50006 |
| Radcliffe | City | — | 555 | 50230 |
| Union | City | Union | 399 | 50258 |
| Steamboat Rock | City | — | 264 | 50672 |
| New Providence | City | Providence | 236 | 50206 |
| Whitten | City | — | 100 | 50269 |
| Buckeye | City | Buckeye | 86 | 50043 |
| Owasa | City | — | 34 | — |
| Abbott | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Berlin | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cleves | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cottage | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Eagle City | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Garden City | Unincorp. | — | — | 50102 |
| Gifford | Unincorp. | — | — | 50259 |
| Hughes | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Iowa Falls Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lawn Hill | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Macy | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Quebec | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Racine | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Robertson | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rough Woods Hill | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sherman | Unincorp. | Sherman | — | — |
| Wilke | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Xenia | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Townships
Hardin County is divided into 15 civil townships. Verified 2020 population is not published at township level, so the counts below are omitted rather than estimated; the table lists each township and its main settlement where one exists.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Alden | — | Alden |
| Buckeye | — | Buckeye |
| Clay | — | — |
| Concord | — | — |
| Eldora | — | Eldora |
| Ellis | — | — |
| Etna | — | — |
| Grant | — | — |
| Hardin | — | — |
| Jackson | — | — |
| Pleasant | — | — |
| Providence | — | New Providence |
| Sherman | — | Sherman |
| Tipton | — | — |
| Union | — | Union |
ZIP Codes
- 50126 — Iowa Falls
- 50627 — Eldora
- 50601 — Ackley
- 50006 — Alden
- 50122 — Hubbard
- 50230 — Radcliffe
- 50258 — Union
- 50672 — Steamboat Rock
- 50206 — New Providence
- 50269 — Whitten
- 50043 — Buckeye
- 50102 — Garden City (also serves nearby rural addresses)
- 50259 — Gifford (also serves nearby rural addresses)
Owasa and the county’s unincorporated communities have no post office of their own; residents use the ZIP code of the nearest town listed above.
Geography
Hardin County lies in the Iowa River valley, where the river cuts a wooded, bluff-lined channel through otherwise flat glacial till plain — the scenery around Iowa Falls has long earned it the local nickname “the Scenic City.” Of the county’s 570 square miles, 569 are land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) are water.
Hardin County borders Franklin County to the north, Butler County to the northeast, Grundy County to the east, Marshall County to the southeast, Story County to the southwest, Hamilton County to the west, and Wright County to the northwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 16,878 residents in Hardin County, for a density of about 30 people per square mile. Iowa Falls (5,106) and Eldora (2,663) are the two largest communities and together hold nearly half the county’s population. A verified 2023-level county median household income was not available for this update; the Iowa median household income is $71,433, and Hardin County’s rural, agriculture-based economy has historically trailed that figure.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — corn and soybeans, with hog and cattle operations — anchors the county’s economy, alongside grain handling and farm-input businesses in Iowa Falls and Eldora. Iowa Falls is home to Ellsworth Community College, part of the Iowa Valley Community College District, which draws students from across north-central Iowa. Iowa Falls’ Scenic City Empire Days and Eldora’s county fair are among the county’s best-attended annual events.
History
Hardin County was organized in 1851 and named for Colonel John J. Hardin of Illinois, who was killed at the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican–American War. The current Hardin County courthouse in Eldora was built in 1892 and opened on September 19, 1893. The county’s Iowa River bluffs and rolling farmland later drew film crews for the 1996 movie Twister, which used locations in Hardin and Story counties.
Getting There
U.S. Route 20 crosses the county east–west through Iowa Falls, and U.S. Route 65 runs north–south through the eastern part of the county; Iowa 57 and Iowa 175 connect the smaller towns.
- Waterloo — about 40 miles east
- Ames and Iowa State University — about 35 miles south
- Fort Dodge — about 45 miles west
- Des Moines — about 75 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Waterloo Regional Airport; Des Moines International Airport offers a wider range of flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hardin County, Iowa?
It is in north-central Iowa, on the Iowa River, between Waterloo and Fort Dodge.
What is the population of Hardin County?
16,878 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Hardin County?
569 square miles (1,470 km2) of land, plus 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Hardin County?
Eldora is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hardin County?
12 incorporated cities, the largest being Iowa Falls, plus roughly 18 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Hardin County?
Thirteen ZIP codes serve the county, led by 50126 (Iowa Falls) and 50627 (Eldora); see the ZIP Codes section above for the full list.
Was Hardin County a filming location for Twister?
Yes — the Iowa River valley around Iowa Falls was used as a filming location for the 1996 movie Twister, along with sites in neighboring Story County.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Iowa.