Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,658. The county seat is Cherokee. The county was formed on January 15, 1851, from open territory. It was named after the Cherokee people.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 577 square miles (1,490 km), of which 577 square miles (1,490 km) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km) (0.03%) is water.

• U.S. Highway 59
• Iowa Highway 3
• Iowa Highway 7
• Iowa Highway 31
• Iowa Highway 143

• O'Brien County (north)
• Buena Vista County (east)
• Ida County (south)
• Woodbury County (southwest)
• Plymouth County (west)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	58		—
1870	1,967		3,291.4%
1880	8,240		318.9%
1890	15,659		90.0%
1900	16,570		5.8%
1910	16,741		1.0%
1920	17,760		6.1%
1930	18,737		5.5%
1940	19,258		2.8%
1950	19,052		−1.1%
1960	18,598		−2.4%
1970	17,269		−7.1%
1980	16,238		−6.0%
1990	14,098		−13.2%
2000	13,035		−7.5%
2010	12,072		−7.4%
2020	11,658		−3.4%
2023 (est.)	11,605		−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018

The 2020 census recorded a population of 11,658 in the county, with a population density of 20.2645/sq mi (7.8242/km). 96.59% of the population reported being of one race. 88.36% were non-Hispanic White, 0.75% were Black, 4.55% were Hispanic, 0.28% were Native American, 0.49% were Asian, 0.12% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 5.46% were some other race or more than one race. There were 5,558 housing units of which 5,008 were occupied.

The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,072 in the county, with a population density of 21.254/sq mi (8.206/km). There were 5,777 housing units, of which 5,207 were occupied.

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,035 people, 5,378 households, and 3,597 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km). There were 5,850 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 98.33% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,378 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,142, and the median income for a family was $42,897. Males had a median income of $29,612 versus $21,181 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,934. About 5.50% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cherokee County is divided into sixteen townships:

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Cherokee County.

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Cherokee	City	5,199
2	Marcus	City	1,079
3	Aurelia	City	968
4	Quimby	City	249
5	Washta	City	209
6	Cleghorn	City	240
7	Meriden	City	161
8	Larrabee	City	123

United States presidential election results for Cherokee County, Iowa

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,398	72.04%	1,611	26.39%	96	1.57%
2020	4,495	68.96%	1,936	29.70%	87	1.33%
2016	4,192	66.99%	1,679	26.83%	387	6.18%
2012	3,662	57.08%	2,634	41.06%	119	1.86%
2008	3,372	52.95%	2,890	45.38%	106	1.66%
2004	3,758	55.30%	2,988	43.97%	50	0.74%
2000	3,463	52.53%	2,845	43.16%	284	4.31%
1996	2,629	41.27%	2,853	44.79%	888	13.94%
1992	2,768	40.16%	2,590	37.57%	1,535	22.27%
1988	3,218	46.94%	3,574	52.14%	63	0.92%
1984	4,046	54.16%	3,349	44.83%	75	1.00%
1980	4,087	54.49%	2,719	36.25%	694	9.25%
1976	3,993	53.40%	3,358	44.91%	127	1.70%
1972	4,726	62.23%	2,780	36.61%	88	1.16%
1968	4,436	59.18%	2,705	36.09%	355	4.74%
1964	3,180	42.26%	4,336	57.62%	9	0.12%
1960	4,791	59.10%	3,309	40.82%	6	0.07%
1956	4,821	59.67%	3,254	40.28%	4	0.05%
1952	6,018	70.46%	2,502	29.29%	21	0.25%
1948	3,318	46.44%	3,739	52.34%	87	1.22%
1944	3,723	53.58%	3,197	46.01%	29	0.42%
1940	4,458	53.50%	3,855	46.27%	19	0.23%
1936	2,902	36.99%	4,716	60.11%	227	2.89%
1932	2,570	34.81%	4,701	63.68%	111	1.50%
1928	3,909	58.91%	2,701	40.71%	25	0.38%
1924	3,240	52.29%	904	14.59%	2,052	33.12%
1920	4,544	77.69%	1,211	20.70%	94	1.61%
1916	1,578	48.26%	1,646	50.34%	46	1.41%
1912	381	12.32%	930	30.08%	1,781	57.60%
1908	2,300	66.07%	1,084	31.14%	97	2.79%
1904	2,446	74.60%	688	20.98%	145	4.42%
1900	2,432	63.10%	1,253	32.51%	169	4.39%
1896	2,343	60.08%	1,464	37.54%	93	2.38%

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee County, Iowa

42°44′05″N 95°37′27″W / 42.73472°N 95.62417°W / 42.73472; -95.62417