Explore Iowa county boundaries, county seats and 2020 Census population counts, with a labeled map and a full alphabetical county list.
Iowa has 99 counties, from the Missouri River side of the state to the Mississippi River side. The Iowa county map below identifies county boundaries and names and provides context for Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Iowa City and other county seats. Population comparisons use the 2020 Census rather than mixing estimates from different years.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| State Name | Iowa |
| State Abbreviation | IA |
| Capital City | Des Moines |
| County-level Areas | 99 counties |
| Population (2020 Census) | 3,190,369 |
| Land Area (2020 Census) | 55,853.72 square miles |
Much of Iowa’s county pattern is regular, but boundaries along the state’s river edges are less uniform. Find a county name on the map or in the alphabetical list, then use the county-seat table to connect the county with a familiar city. A county seat is not necessarily the largest city in every county.
Population comparisons below use the April 1, 2020 Census. They are census counts, not current estimates. Using the same year makes the county comparisons consistent.
| County / Equivalent | County Seat / Government Center | Population — 2020 Census |
|---|---|---|
| Polk County | Des Moines | 492,401 |
| Linn County | Cedar Rapids | 230,299 |
| Scott County | Davenport | 174,669 |
| Johnson County | Iowa City | 152,854 |
| Black Hawk County | Waterloo | 131,144 |
| Woodbury County | Sioux City | 105,941 |
| Dallas County | Adel | 99,678 |
The complete alphabetical list below includes all 99 county-level areas, including the 92 not shown in this population table.
| Format | Download |
|---|---|
| PNG Map | Download Now |
| PDF Printable | Download Now |
| SVG Editable | Download Now |
| GIS Shapefile (ZIP) | Download Now |
❓ How many counties are in Iowa?
Iowa has 99 counties. All county-level areas are identified on this map.
❓ What is the capital of Iowa?
Des Moines is the state capital.
❓ Which county had the largest population in the 2020 Census?
Polk County had 492,401 residents in the 2020 Census. Its county seat or government center is Des Moines.
❓ What is the largest county in Iowa by land area?
Kossuth County has the greatest land area in the Census boundary dataset. Land area and population rankings measure different things.
❓ What county is Des Moines in?
Des Moines is Iowa’s capital and the county seat of Polk County.
❓ What county is Cedar Rapids in?
Cedar Rapids is the county seat of Linn County.
❓ What county is Davenport in?
Davenport is in Scott County and serves as its county seat.
❓ What county is Iowa City in?
Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County. The city name should not be confused with Iowa County, a separate county.
❓ How should I use this county map?
Use a county name or a known county seat to identify the area, then follow its boundary to neighboring counties. City limits and county boundaries are different. This reference map does not show property lines or road navigation.
Boundaries and county names are from U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, January 1, 2026 vintage. Population and state land-area figures use 2020 Census geography and counts. County seats and state geography were checked against Iowa county and county-seat directory. The 2020 population figures are not presented as current estimates.
