Howard County Map, Iowa

Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: June 10, 2026

Map of Howard County - Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. Howard County Map showing cities, highways, important places and water bodies. Get Where is Howard County located in the map, major cities in Howard county, population, areas, and places of interest.

About Howard County Map, Iowa: The map showing the county boundary, county seat, major cities, highways, water bodies and neighbouring counties.

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Map of Howard County, Iowa

Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It's county seat is Cresco. As per 2020 census, the population of Howard County is 9478 people and population density is square miles. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 473 sq mi (1,225 km2). Howard County was established on -17881.

Howard County Facts

Continent	North America
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County Seat	Cresco
Largest City/Town	Cresco
Established	January 15, 1851
Total Area	474 sq mi (1,228 sq km)
Land Area	473 sq mi (1,225 sq km)
Water Area	0.4 sq mi (1 sq km)
Population	9,469 (Census 2020)
Population Density	20.0 people per sq mi
Time Zone	Central Time Zone (CT)
Major Highways	U.S. Highway 63, Iowa Highway 9, Iowa Highway 139
Major Rivers	Upper Iowa River, Wapsipinicon River
Neighboring Counties	Fillmore County (MN), Mower County (MN), Winneshiek County, Chickasaw County, Floyd County, Mitchell County
Famous For	Cresco, agricultural heritage, Norman Borlaug, scenic Driftless Area landscapes
Top Attractions	Vernon Springs Park, Howard County Historical Society Museum, Hayden Prairie State Preserve, Beadle Park
Official Website	Official Website

About Howard County, Iowa

Howard County is located in northeastern Iowa and was established in 1851. The county seat and largest city is Cresco. The county lies within the scenic Driftless Area region, known for its rolling hills, streams, and fertile farmland. Howard County is also recognized as the childhood home of Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug, often called the father of the Green Revolution. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Cities and Towns in Howard County, Iowa

City/Town	Population (Census 2020)	Latitude & Longitude
Cresco (county seat)	3,888	43.3719°N, 92.1168°W
Riceville (part)	806	43.3638°N, 92.5552°W
Elma	505	43.2469°N, 92.4355°W
Lime Springs	473	43.4476°N, 92.2810°W
Protivin (part)	269	43.2199°N, 92.0918°W
Chester	139	43.4961°N, 92.3618°W

Best Golf Courses in Howard County, Iowa

Golf Course	Location	Latitude & Longitude
Cresco Country Club	Cresco	43.3806°N, 92.1247°W
Riceville Country Club	Riceville	43.3575°N, 92.5638°W
Meadowbrook Country Club	Lime Springs	43.4447°N, 92.2920°W

What are Major Roads and Highways in Howard County

Major highways connect the county to nearby regions and cities.

U.S. Highway 63 - major north-south route connecting Cresco with Rochester, Minnesota and Waterloo, Iowa
Iowa Highway 9 - east-west corridor linking Howard County with Decorah and Osage
Iowa Highway 139 - connects Cresco with Chester and the Minnesota state line

Neighboring Counties of Howard County

Fillmore County, Minnesota (north)
Mower County, Minnesota (northwest)
Winneshiek County (east)
Chickasaw County (south)
Floyd County (southwest)
Mitchell County (west)

What are Top Attractions in Howard County, Iowa

The county offers a mix of natural and cultural attractions.

Main Sight Name	City	Famous For
Howard County Historical Society Museum	Cresco	County history exhibits and pioneer artifacts
Vernon Springs Park	Cresco	Historic spring area, trails, and outdoor recreation
Hayden Prairie State Preserve	Near Elma	One of Iowa's last remaining native prairie preserves
Beadle Park	Cresco	Sports facilities, playgrounds, and community events
Cresco Theatre and Opera House	Cresco	Historic downtown entertainment venue
Norman Borlaug Heritage Sites	Cresco Area	Connections to the Nobel Peace Prize winner's early life
Lake Hendricks Recreation Area	Riceville Area	Fishing, boating, and camping
Wapsipinicon River Corridor	Countywide	Fishing, kayaking, and wildlife viewing
Lime Springs Historical District	Lime Springs	Historic architecture and local heritage
Chester Community Park	Chester	Outdoor recreation and family activities

Distance from Howard County to Nearby Cities

The following distances are measured by road (driving).

Cresco to Decorah (Winneshiek County), Iowa - 18 mi (29 km)
Cresco to Osage (Mitchell County), Iowa - 28 mi (45 km)
Cresco to New Hampton (Chickasaw County), Iowa - 24 mi (39 km)
Cresco to Charles City (Floyd County), Iowa - 34 mi (55 km)
Cresco to Rochester (Olmsted County), Minnesota - 46 mi (74 km)
Cresco to Austin (Mower County), Minnesota - 33 mi (53 km)
Cresco to Preston (Fillmore County), Minnesota - 20 mi (32 km)
Cresco to Mason City (Cerro Gordo County), Iowa - 56 mi (90 km)
Cresco to Waterloo (Black Hawk County), Iowa - 77 mi (124 km)
Cresco to Cedar Falls (Black Hawk County), Iowa - 79 mi (127 km)
Cresco to Dubuque (Dubuque County), Iowa - 98 mi (158 km)
Cresco to Cedar Rapids (Linn County), Iowa - 118 mi (190 km)
Cresco to La Crosse, Wisconsin - 74 mi (119 km)
Cresco to Minneapolis, Minnesota - 137 mi (220 km)
Cresco to Des Moines (Polk County), Iowa - 176 mi (283 km)

Nearest Airports

Nearest airport of Howard is Reagan Washington (DCA) Airport.

References

Explore Map of Iowa Counties

US Counties Map by State

Map of Howard County, Iowa