County population in 2014: 22,370 (56% urban, 44% rural); it was 22,335 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 3,865 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,519 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 6,310 Renter-occupied apartments: 2,591 (it was 2,570 in 2000)
% of renters here:
29%
State:
28%
Land area: 571 sq. mi.
Water area: 2.5 sq. mi.
Population density: 39 people per square mile (low).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Mahaska County: 78.8 (low, U.S. average is 100)
Estimated median household income in 2013: $48,055 ($37,314 in 1999)
This county:
$48055
Iowa:
$52229
Median contract rent in 2013 for apartments: $478 (lower quartile is $354, upper quartile is $568)
This county:
$478
State:
$554
Estimated median house or condo value in 2013: $103,011 (it was $69,100 in 2000)
Mahaska:
$103,011
Iowa:
$126,900
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $67,015 - $159,796 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $966 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $374
Institutionalized population: 215
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 1
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 14
Burglaries: 27
Thefts: 44
Auto thefts: 10
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 0
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 18
Burglaries: 126
Thefts: 52
Auto thefts: 8
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2013: $1,559 (1.5%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2013: $1,378 (1.4%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2013: 15.3%
(13.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 46.9% for Black residents, 53.0% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 59.6% for other race residents, 51.2% for two or more races residents)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2013: 15.1%
Mahaska County:
15.1%
Iowa:
12.7%
(13.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 45.3% for Black residents, 48.9% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 64.4% for other race residents, 46.5% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2013: 39 years old
(Males: 38 years old, Females: 40 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 40 years old, Black residents: 30 years old, American Indian residents: 12 years old, Asian residents: 38 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 25 years old, Other race residents: 11 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Mahaska County is $417 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $531 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $636 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Mahaska County: Wheling (A), Copper Spring (B), Star (C), Fairmont (D), Dunreath (E), Howell Station Campground Lake Red Rock (F), Wallashuck Campground Lake Red Rock (G), North Overlook Campground (H), English Settlement (I), Caloma (J), Flagler (K), Marion County Historical Village (L), Tracy (M), Otley (N), Columbia Fire Department (O), Clay Township Fire and Rescue (P), Indiana Township Fire Department (Q), Red Rock Visitor Center (R), Pella Police Department (S), Vermeer Museum and Global Pavilion (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Mahaska County include: Tracey Church (A), Zion Church (B), Eden Church (C), Fair View Church (D), Saint Josephs Church (E), Saint Paul Church (F), Belinda Church (G), Olive Chapel (H), Concord Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Asbury Cemetery (1), Overton Cemetery (2), Bethel Cemetery (3), Pleasant Hill Cemetery (4), Pleasant Ridge Cemetery (5), Brecke Ridge Cemetery (6), Porter Grove Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: Spires Lake (A), Waller Lake (B), Thomas Lake (C), Knoxville Pond (D), Roberts Creek (E), Lake Red Rock (F). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Ballard Creek (A), Brush Creek (B), Teter Creek (C), Butcher Creek (D), Calhoun Creek (E), Campetine Creek (F), Carruthers Creek (G), Coon Creek (H), Sugar Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Mahaska County include: Governor William Stone Historical Marker (1), Designer of the Iowa Flag Historical Marker (2), The Dragoon Trail in Marion County Historical Marker (3), Centennial Elm Planted in 1876 Historical Marker (4), 1865 Memorial for "40 Boys" Historical Marker (5), Memorial for President George Washington Historical Marker (6), Marion County Park (7), Paul Todd Wildlife Area (8), Wilcox Wildlife Area (9). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 1,000 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 82.6% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 16.5%
Number of foreign born residents: 350 (31% naturalized citizens)
Mahaska County:
1.6%
Whole state:
3.1%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 149
1990 to 1994: 19
1985 to 1989: 55
1980 to 1984: 49
1975 to 1979: 16
1970 to 1974: 20
1970 to 1974: 7
1965 to 1969: 35
Mean travel time to work (commute): 18.9 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 62.1%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 7,382
One, attached: 68
Two: 334
3 or 4: 375
5 to 9: 286
10 to 19: 143
20 or more: 238
Mobile homes: 704
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 21
Housing units in Mahaska County with a mortgage: 2,800 (158 second mortgage, 214 home equity loan, 13 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 1,950
Here:
0.0% with mortgage
State:
62.8% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Mahaska County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Mainline Protestant
4,497
20
Evangelical Protestant
4,039
26
Catholic
1,040
1
Other
355
2
None
12,450
-
Mahaska County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 4
Mahaska County:
1.80 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.14 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 1
Here:
0.45 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:
0.23 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 1
This county:
0.45 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:
0.43 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 14
Mahaska County:
6.29 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:
5.55 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 8
This county:
3.60 / 10,000 pop.
State:
8.01 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Mahaska County:
7.4%
Iowa:
7.8%
Adult obesity rate:
Mahaska County:
27.7%
State:
27.3%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
16.5%
State:
14.5%
Agriculture in Mahaska County:
Average size of farms: 315 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $127,275 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $241.51 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 0.19% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 57.96% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $112,953 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 70.32% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $92,229 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 80.82% Average age of principal farm operators: 55 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 11.93 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 1.57% Corn for grain: 116121 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 100829 harvested acres Vegetables: 42 harvested acres
Tornado activity:
Mahaska County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Iowa state average. It is 3785855.9 times below overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused 14 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 5/30/2008, a category 2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado injured 10 people and caused $1 million in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Mahaska County-area historical earthquake activity is near Iowa state average. It is 82% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW, Depth: 8.9 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 321.0 miles away from Mahaska County center On 6/10/1987 at 23:48:54, a magnitude 5.1 (4.9 MB, 4.4 MS, 4.6 MS, 5.1 LG) earthquake occurred 305.4 miles away from the county center On 9/26/1990 at 13:18:51, a magnitude 5.0 (4.7 MB, 4.8 LG, 5.0 LG, Depth: 7.7 mi) earthquake occurred 332.0 miles away from the county center On 6/28/2004 at 06:10:52, a magnitude 4.2 (4.0 MB, 4.2 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 194.5 miles away from the county center On 6/18/2002 at 17:37:15, a magnitude 5.0 (4.3 MB, 4.6 MW, 5.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 346.7 miles away from Mahaska County center On 4/18/2008 at 15:14:16, a magnitude 4.8 (4.5 MB, 4.8 MW, 4.6 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 321.6 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
IowaSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, Incident Period: June 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1930): July 29, 2010, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1930, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
IowaSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: May 25, 2008 to August 13, 2008, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1763): May 27, 2008, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1763, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
IowaSevere Winter Storm, Incident Period: December 10, 2007 to December 11, 2007, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1737): January 4, 2008, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1737, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
IowaSevere Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: August 17, 2007 to September 5, 2007, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1727): September 14, 2007, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1727, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
IowaSevere Winter Storms, Incident Period: February 23, 2007 to March 2, 2007, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1688): March 14, 2007, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1688, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
IowaHurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3239): September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3239, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
IowaSevere Weather, Tornadoes and Flooding, Incident Period: June 13, 1998 to July 15, 1998, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1230): July 2, 1998, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1230, Natural disaster type: Tornado, Flood
IowaSevere Snow Storms, Incident Period: October 26, 1997 to October 28, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1191): November 20, 1997, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1191, Natural disaster type: Storm, Snow
IowaFlooding, Incident Period: May 8, 1996 to May 28, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1121): June 24, 1996, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1121, Natural disaster type: Flood
IowaFlooding, Severe Storm, Incident Period: April 13, 1993 to October 1, 1993, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-996): July 9, 1993, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-996, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
4 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Mahaska County (14) is near the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 13 Emergencies Declared: 1
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 10, Storms: 8, Tornadoes: 3, Winter Storms: 2, Hurricane: 1, Snow: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (7%)
Transportation occupations (7%)
Office and administrative support occupations (5%)
Office and administrative support occupations (25%)
Education, training, and library occupations (10%)
Sales and related occupations (10%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (7%)
Personal care and service occupations (7%)
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (7%)
Management occupations (7%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Vietnam (17%)
Mexico (13%)
Korea (10%)
Canada (7%)
Japan (6%)
Taiwan (5%)
United Kingdom (5%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Mahaska County (%):
Dutch (25%)
German (19%)
United States or American (12%)
English (10%)
Irish (9%)
Swedish (2%)
Norwegian (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 8,256 (77%)
Carpooled: 1,362 (13%)
Bus or trolley bus: 16 (0%)
Bicycle: 30 (0%)
Walked: 275 (3%)
Other means: 91 (1%)
Worked at home: 630 (6%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in Mahaska County, Iowa in 2000:
291 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
217 people in nursing homes
40 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
20 people in other nonhousehold living situations
9 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
People in group quarters in Mahaska County, Iowa in 2010:
351 people in college/university student housing
199 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
40 people in residential treatment centers for adults
30 people in group homes intended for adults
16 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
13 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
10 people in other noninstitutional facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $51,391.
5.88% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($32,188 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.88%
Iowa average:
5.75%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.11% relocated from other counties in Iowa ($22,902 average AGI)
1.77% relocated from other states ($9,287 average AGI)
Mahaska County:
1.77%
Iowa average:
2.41%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
5.86% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($36,650 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.86%
Iowa average:
5.94%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.29% relocated to other counties in Iowa ($25,732 average AGI)
1.57% relocated to other states ($10,918 average AGI)
Mahaska County:
1.57%
Iowa average:
2.60%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Mahaska County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 4,015 (3,480 aged, 535 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 283 (5%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Mahaska County, Iowa in 1999 - 2014:
Atherosclerotic heart disease (363)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (258)
Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (242)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (156)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (129)
Generalized and unspecified atherosclerosis (109)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (97)
Pneumonia, unspecified (87)
Unspecified dementia (73)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 6%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 4.5 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 6342.630 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 220.730 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 61309.07
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1171.530 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 898.770 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 8.94
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 22.83 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 67.07
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 13.41
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 135.2. This is more than state average.
Household type by relationship:
Households: 21,722
In family households: 18,205 (4,614 male householders, 1,430 female householders)
4,883 spouses, 6,159 children (5,585 natural, 216 adopted, 358 stepchildren), 247 grandchildren, 108 brothers or sisters, 107 parents, 119 other relatives, 469 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 3,517 (1,410 male householders (1,129 living alone)), 1,521 female householders (1,331 living alone)), 586 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 659 (215 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 2,993 2-persons, 1,194 3-persons, 1,046 4-persons, 535 5-persons, 195 6-persons, 81 7-or-more-persons.
4,353 married couples with children.
1,077 single-parent households (296 men, 781 women).
96.6% of residents of Mahaska County speak English at home.
1.4% of residents speak Spanish at home (56% speak English very well, 12% speak English well, 31% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).
1.3% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (65% speak English very well, 21% speak English well, 14% speak English not well).
0.7% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (51% speak English very well, 21% speak English well, 21% speak English not well, 8% don't speak English at all).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (100% speak English very well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $120,999,000 ($5451 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $1,388,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $52,725,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $25,499,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $12,201,000 Federal grants: $25,627,000 Federal procurement contracts: $952,000 ($10,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $3,994,000 ($28,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $639,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $8,929,000 Federal Government insurance: $47,745,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,460
Here:
65 per 1000 residents
State:
66 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,104
Here:
49 per 1000 residents
State:
48 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +116
Here:
+5 per 1000 residents
State:
+10 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -412
Here:
-18 per 1000 residents
State:
-14 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Mahaska County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 2.42 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.1
State:
6.3
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.4
State:
4.2
Year house built
2005 or later: 132
2000 to 2004: 619
1990 to 1999: 1,044
1980 to 1989: 779
1970 to 1979: 1,957
1960 to 1969: 888
1950 to 1959: 908
1940 to 1949: 549
1939 or earlier: 2,858
Rooms in houses/apartments in Mahaska County, Iowa
58% of Mahaska County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 53% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 63% lived in Iowa.
Mahaska County:
58.3%
State average:
57.7%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 18080
Northeast: 232
Midwest: 2151
South: 586
West: 853
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $59,200
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Mahaska County
Click here to upload your Mahaska County photos (outside city limits)
38.0 years
38.0 years
(50.3%)
(49.7%)
, Dallas County 
, Guthrie County 
, Lorain County, Ohio 
, Keokuk County 
.
