Kossuth County

Kossuth County, Iowa, has a population of approximately 14,900 people. The racial composition is about 97.1% White, 1.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Black or African American, and 0.8% from two or more races. The median age is around 46 years. Median household income stands at about $52,600, with a poverty rate of roughly 10.3%. The county covers an area of 973 square miles, making it the largest by area in Iowa. Population density is approximately 15.3 people per square mile.

As of the latest available data, Kossuth County, IA, has a median home value of approximately $95,000. There are around 7,200 housing units with an owner-occupancy rate of 77%. The median monthly mortgage cost is about $1,100, while the median gross rent is around $625. The housing vacancy rate stands at roughly 10%, and about 28% of the housing units were built before 1950. The average household size is approximately 2.3 persons. Housing values and costs can vary depending on the specific community within the county.

Kossuth County, IA, held its latest general elections on November 8, 2022. Key races included the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Iowa State Senate, and Iowa House of Representatives.

U.S. Senate: Incumbent Chuck Grassley (R) was re-elected with 65.8% of the vote, defeating Michael Franken (D) with 34.2%.

U.S. House (4th District): Incumbent Randy Feenstra (R) won with 67.1% against Ryan Melton (D) who garnered 32.9%.

Iowa State Senate (District 4): Incumbent Tim Kraayenbrink (R) was unopposed.

Iowa House of Representatives:

• District 8: Incumbent Terry Baxter (R) secured re-election with 72.4%. Challenger Susie Petersen (D) received 27.6%.
• District 9: David L. Anderson (R) ran unopposed.

Local county offices saw various incumbents and challengers, with outcomes reflecting strong Republican support in this region. Turnout was robust, indicating active civic participation.

(Note: The exact percentages and

As of the latest data, Kossuth County, IA, has an educational attainment level where 91.0% of residents aged 25 and older have completed high school. About 19.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Nationally, 88.5% of individuals have completed high school, and 32.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher. In comparison, Iowa statewide figures indicate that 91.3% have completed high school and 28.2% hold a bachelor’s degree or advanced degree. Thus, Kossuth County is slightly above the national average in high school graduation rates but lags in higher education attainment when compared to both state and national levels.

As of the latest available data, Kossuth County, IA, has a labor force participation rate of approximately 65.1%. The unemployment rate in the county is around 2.1%, lower than the national average of 3.8% and the Iowa state average of 3.6%.

Top industries in Kossuth County include Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Healthcare. Agriculture is particularly dominant, owing to the county's substantial farmland, contributing significantly to local employment. Manufacturing employs a considerable portion as well, driven by several key local factories and processing plants. Healthcare also provides numerous jobs, bolstered by local hospitals and clinics.

Nationally, the largest industries are Healthcare, Retail Trade, and Professional Services, while in Iowa, Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Retail Trade are the major sectors. Thus, Kossuth County's economic landscape heavily leans towards Agriculture and Manufacturing more than the national or state average distributions.

As of the most recent data, Kossuth County, IA has a median household income of approximately $59,000. This figure is lower than both the national median household income, which stands around $68,700, and the state-wide median in Iowa, approximately $61,600.

Kossuth County's median income is roughly 14% below the national average and 4% below the Iowa state average, highlighting a modest income disparity relative to broader benchmarks.

As of the latest reports, Kossuth County, Iowa has a relatively low crime rate compared to national averages. The overall crime rate is approximately 13.2 per 1,000 residents per year. Below is a short table summarizing the types of crimes recorded in Kossuth County:

Violent crimes include assault, robbery, and rape, while property crimes comprise burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. The most common type is larceny-theft.