Osceola County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census the population was 6,192, and was estimated to be 6,036 in 2024, making it the fifth-least populous county in Iowa. It is named for Seminole war chief Osceola. The county seat and the largest city is Sibley, named for H. H. Sibley of Minnesota.
Osceola County was created on January 15, 1851 and organized on January 1, 1872. It was named after the eponymous chief of the Seminole. It is the smallest and most recent county in Iowa. In the same year the first settler arrived, Captain Eldred Huff, and laid his claim. On January 1, 1872, the county government conferred for the first time. The first courthouse, constructed of wood, was built in November of the following year and simultaneously served as the conference chamber, school and church. In September 1903, the second courthouse was finished and was wired for electricity in October 1915.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.18%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Iowa by total area. The highest natural point in Iowa, Hawkeye Point at , is located in Osceola County.
As of the second quarter of 2025, the median home value in Osceola County was $139,287.
As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 2,634 estimated households in Osceola County with an average of 2.27 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $69,239. Approximately 16.0% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Osceola County has an estimated 63.0% employment rate, with 16.7% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 87.4% holding a high school diploma. There were 2,868 housing units at an average density of .
The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (89.8%), Spanish (9.2%), Indo-European (0.4%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.6%), and Other (0.0%).
The median age in the county was 43.1 years.
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 6,036 people, 2,634 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 2,868 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% White (83.7% NH White), 1.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 1.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 11.5% of the population.
As of the 2020 census, there were 6,192 people, 2,599 households, and 1,680 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 2,878 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.58% White, 0.48% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.58% Pacific Islander, 4.44% from some other races and 5.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.74% of the population.
The median age was 43.1 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.7 males age 18 and over.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 2,599 households in the county, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.7% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
Of the housing units, 9.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.1% were owner-occupied and 22.9% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.
As of the 2010 census, there were 6,462 people, 2,682 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 2,990 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.16% White, 0.28% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.10% from some other races and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.65% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, there were 7,003 people, 2,778 households, and 1,941 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 3,012 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.04% White, 0.11% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from some other races and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.78% of the population.
There were 2,778 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.00% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,274, and the median income for a family was $41,977. Males had a median income of $29,624 versus $20,522 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,463. About 6.00% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Osceola County.
â county seat
In presidential elections, Osceola County voters have cast their lot chiefly with Republican candidates for office, with the last Democrat to win the county being Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
School districts include: