Iowa County is a county in Wisconsin, United States, along the upper Pecatonica River in the southwestern part of the state. It had a population of 23,709 at the 2020 census and covers 768 square miles (1,990 km2) — 763 square miles of land and 5.4 square miles of water — centred near 43°00′N 90°08′W.
Dodgeville is the county seat and largest city; its postal code is 53533. The county holds 2 cities, 12 villages and more than a dozen unincorporated communities spread across 14 towns (townships). Iowa County sits in the Central time zone and is part of the Madison, Wisconsin, metropolitan statistical area.
Towns & Villages in Iowa County
Iowa County has two incorporated cities — Dodgeville, the seat, and Mineral Point, its historic lead-mining twin — plus a dozen incorporated villages and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities. In the table below, “CDP” marks a census-designated place with no city or village government of its own, and “Unincorp.” marks a named community without any incorporated status. Blanchardville and Livingston straddle county lines; most of each village’s population lies in the neighboring county named in the notes below the table.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgeville | City · seat | Dodgeville | — | 53533 |
| Mineral Point | City | Mineral Point | — | 53565 |
| Arena | Village | Arena | — | 53503 |
| Avoca | Village | Wyoming | — | 53506 |
| Barneveld | Village | Brigham | — | 53507 |
| Blanchardville | Village | Eden | — | — |
| Cobb | Village | Linden | — | 53526 |
| Highland | Village | Highland | — | 53543 |
| Hollandale | Village | Wyoming | — | 53544 |
| Linden | Village | Linden | — | 53553 |
| Livingston | Village | Eden | 637* | — |
| Montfort | Village | Eden | — | — |
| Rewey | Village | Linden | — | 53580 |
| Ridgeway | Village | Ridgeway | — | 53582 |
| Clyde | Unincorp. | Clyde | — | — |
| Coon Rock | Unincorp. | Arena | — | — |
| Edmund | Unincorp. | Ridgeway | — | 53535 |
| Helena | Unincorp. | Arena | — | — |
| Hyde | Unincorp. | Ridgeway | — | — |
| Jonesdale | Unincorp. | Pulaski | — | — |
| Middlebury | Unincorp. | Waldwick | — | — |
| Mifflin | Unincorp. | Mifflin | — | — |
| Moscow | Unincorp. | Moscow | — | — |
| Pleasant Ridge | Unincorp. | Pulaski | — | — |
| Waldwick | Unincorp. | Waldwick | — | — |
| Wyoming | Unincorp. | Wyoming | — | — |
*Livingston straddles the Iowa–Grant county line; the great majority of its population and its post office lie on the Grant County side, so no Iowa County ZIP is listed for it here. Blanchardville likewise straddles the Iowa–Lafayette county line and takes its ZIP code (53516) from the Lafayette County side.
Townships
Iowa County is divided into 14 towns (New England-style civil townships), each named for its principal settlement or an early landmark. Per-town 2020 population breakdowns are not published at this level, so populations are omitted below.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Dodgeville | — | Dodgeville (city) |
| Mineral Point | — | Mineral Point (city) |
| Arena | — | Arena, Coon Rock, Helena |
| Brigham | — | Barneveld |
| Clyde | — | Clyde |
| Eden | — | Livingston, Montfort, Blanchardville (part) |
| Highland | — | Highland |
| Linden | — | Linden, Cobb, Rewey |
| Mifflin | — | Mifflin |
| Moscow | — | Moscow |
| Pulaski | — | Jonesdale, Pleasant Ridge |
| Ridgeway | — | Ridgeway, Edmund, Hyde |
| Waldwick | — | Waldwick, Middlebury |
| Wyoming | — | Avoca, Hollandale, Wyoming |
ZIP Codes
- 53533 — Dodgeville (also serves the Town of Dodgeville)
- 53595 — Dodgeville (secondary/unique ZIP)
- 53565 — Mineral Point
- 53503 — Arena (also serves Coon Rock and Helena)
- 53506 — Avoca
- 53507 — Barneveld
- 53526 — Cobb
- 53535 — Edmund (P.O. box ZIP)
- 53543 — Highland
- 53544 — Hollandale
- 53553 — Linden
- 53580 — Rewey
- 53582 — Ridgeway (also serves Hyde)
Blanchardville (53516), Livingston (53554) and Montfort (53569) share their ZIP codes with post offices on the neighboring-county side of the village, and Clyde, Jonesdale, Middlebury, Mifflin, Moscow, Pleasant Ridge and Waldwick have no post office of their own and use a nearby town’s ZIP.
Geography
Iowa County lies on the Military Ridge of the Driftless Area, the hilly, unglaciated corner of southwestern Wisconsin, so its terrain is steep-sided river valleys and ridgetop farmland rather than the flat plains found elsewhere in the state. The Pecatonica River rises in the county and drains most of it; the Wisconsin River forms part of the northern county line. The county is bordered by Richland County to the northwest, Sauk County to the northeast, Dane County to the east, Green County to the southeast, Lafayette County to the south, and Grant County to the west.
Bordering-county links: Richland County (northwest), Sauk County (northeast), Dane County (east), Green County (southeast), Lafayette County (south), and Grant County (west).
Demographics
Iowa County had 23,709 residents at the 2020 census. Its two largest communities are the cities of Dodgeville and Mineral Point, both former lead-mining towns that anchor the county’s east-west population corridor along U.S. 151. The county’s median household income runs below the Wisconsin median of $74,631, typical of a rural Driftless-area county with a farming and small-manufacturing base. Population density is roughly 31 people per square mile of land, well below the statewide average.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — dairy farming, beef cattle and row crops — remains the backbone of the county’s economy, supported by farm-implement dealers and feed and grain businesses in Dodgeville, Mineral Point and Barneveld. Dodgeville is home to the headquarters of outdoor-clothing retailer Lands’ End, one of the county’s largest private employers, and to Upland Hills Health, the county’s hospital system. Mineral Point’s 19th-century lead-mining and Cornish-immigrant heritage draws visitors to its historic downtown, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and to the annual Cornish Fest held there.
History
Iowa County organized in 1830 under the government of the Michigan Territory, before Wisconsin itself became a separate territory. It takes its name from the Iowa people, who along with the Sauk and other nations lived in the region before European-American settlement. Lead mining drew the county’s first wave of settlers in the 1820s and 1830s, and Mineral Point, one of the oldest towns in Wisconsin, hosted early territorial government business before Madison was chosen as the permanent capital.
Getting There
U.S. Highways 14, 18 and 151 cross the county, along with Wisconsin State Highways 23, 39, 78, 80, 130, 133 and 191; U.S. 18/151 links Dodgeville directly to Madison.
- Madison — 40 miles east
- Platteville — 25 miles southwest
- Richland Center — 25 miles northwest
- Monroe — 30 miles southeast
The Iowa County Airport (KMRJ) near Mineral Point serves general aviation; the nearest commercial airport is Dane County Regional Airport in Madison. Lamers Connect operates intercity bus service linking Dodgeville to Madison and Milwaukee, and separately to Dubuque, Iowa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Iowa County, Wisconsin?
It lies in the southwestern part of the state, in the Driftless Area between Madison and the Mississippi River, bordered by Richland, Sauk, Dane, Green, Lafayette and Grant counties.
What is the population of Iowa County?
23,709, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Iowa County?
768 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 763 square miles is land and 5.4 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Iowa County?
Dodgeville is the county seat.
How many towns and villages are in Iowa County?
Two cities (Dodgeville and Mineral Point), twelve villages and more than a dozen unincorporated communities, organized into 14 townships.
What ZIP codes are in Iowa County?
Thirteen, led by 53533 (Dodgeville) and 53565 (Mineral Point); see the ZIP Codes section above for the full list.
Why is it called Iowa County?
It is named for the Iowa people, who lived in the region before it was organized as a county in 1830.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Wisconsin.