Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,896, making it the fourth-least populous county in Iowa. The county seat is Bedford. The county was formed in 1847 and named after General and President Zachary Taylor.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 535 square miles (1,390 km), of which 532 square miles (1,380 km) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km) (0.5%) is water.

A portion of Taylor County at one time was part of Missouri.

• Iowa Highway 2
• Iowa Highway 25
• Iowa Highway 148

• Adams County (north)
• Ringgold County (east)
• Worth County, Missouri (southeast)
• Nodaway County, Missouri (southwest)
• Page County (west)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	204		—
1860	3,590		1,659.8%
1870	6,989		94.7%
1880	15,635		123.7%
1890	16,384		4.8%
1900	18,784		14.6%
1910	16,312		−13.2%
1920	15,514		−4.9%
1930	14,859		−4.2%
1940	14,258		−4.0%
1950	12,420		−12.9%
1960	10,288		−17.2%
1970	8,790		−14.6%
1980	8,353		−5.0%
1990	7,114		−14.8%
2000	6,958		−2.2%
2010	6,317		−9.2%
2020	5,896		−6.7%
2023 (est.)	5,924		0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018

The 2020 census recorded a population of 5,896 in the county, with a population density of 10.9860/sq mi (4.2417/km). 95.76% of the population reported being of one race. There were 2,885 housing units, of which 2,506 were occupied.

Taylor County Racial Composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	5,304	90%
Black or African American (NH)	1	0.02%
Native American (NH)	13	0.22%
Asian (NH)	15	0.25%
Pacific Islander (NH)	1	0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH)	163	2.76%
Hispanic or Latino	399	6.76%

The 2010 census recorded a population of 6,317 in the county, with a population density of 11.8307/sq mi (4.5679/km). There were 3,107 housing units, of which 2,679 were occupied.

At the 2000 census there were 6,958 people, 2,824 households, and 1,911 families in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km). There were 3,199 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 97.71% White, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 3.81% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,824 households 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.80% of households were one person and 16.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.

The age distribution was 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.40% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median household income was $31,297 and the median family income was $37,194. Males had a median income of $26,631 versus $19,162 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,082. About 8.50% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.

• Athelstan

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

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Bedford	City	1,508
2	Lenox (partially in Adams County)	City	1,339 (1,339 total)
3	New Market	City	385
4	Clearfield (partially in Ringgold County)	City	272 (278 total)
5	Gravity	City	154
6	Blockton	City	125
7	Sharpsburg	City	72
8	Conway	City	17
9	Athelstan	CDP	6

United States presidential election results for Taylor County, Iowa

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,381	77.28%	666	21.62%	34	1.10%
2020	2,463	75.81%	746	22.96%	40	1.23%
2016	2,111	69.69%	758	25.02%	160	5.28%
2012	1,683	56.19%	1,262	42.14%	50	1.67%
2008	1,607	53.11%	1,347	44.51%	72	2.38%
2004	1,908	59.81%	1,252	39.25%	30	0.94%
2000	1,770	57.17%	1,247	40.28%	79	2.55%
1996	1,419	43.32%	1,458	44.51%	399	12.18%
1992	1,200	33.79%	1,430	40.27%	921	25.94%
1988	1,647	49.43%	1,671	50.15%	14	0.42%
1984	2,496	62.06%	1,499	37.27%	27	0.67%
1980	2,715	64.44%	1,226	29.10%	272	6.46%
1976	2,059	50.79%	1,947	48.03%	48	1.18%
1972	3,042	70.16%	1,247	28.76%	47	1.08%
1968	2,765	59.64%	1,501	32.38%	370	7.98%
1964	2,162	43.75%	2,780	56.25%	0	0.00%
1960	3,452	61.85%	2,126	38.09%	3	0.05%
1956	3,533	59.10%	2,436	40.75%	9	0.15%
1952	4,608	71.74%	1,784	27.78%	31	0.48%
1948	3,244	56.93%	2,402	42.16%	52	0.91%
1944	3,804	61.35%	2,376	38.32%	20	0.32%
1940	4,420	59.56%	2,976	40.10%	25	0.34%
1936	4,145	54.94%	3,337	44.23%	63	0.83%
1932	2,670	45.07%	3,159	53.33%	95	1.60%
1928	4,700	68.68%	2,074	30.31%	69	1.01%
1924	4,254	60.95%	1,138	16.30%	1,588	22.75%
1920	4,997	72.41%	1,757	25.46%	147	2.13%
1916	2,219	54.70%	1,775	43.75%	63	1.55%
1912	1,364	35.40%	1,372	35.61%	1,117	28.99%
1908	2,460	58.77%	1,585	37.86%	141	3.37%
1904	2,650	65.90%	1,060	26.36%	311	7.73%
1900	2,792	57.25%	1,984	40.68%	101	2.07%
1896	2,468	51.55%	2,293	47.89%	27	0.56%

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

• Taylor County

40°44′09″N 94°41′33″W / 40.73583°N 94.69250°W / 40.73583; -94.69250