Iowa

Cherokee

11,658
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Cherokee

Cherokee, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 58. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 11,658.

Its recorded population peaked at 19,258 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 39 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Mill Creek Culture Conflict – Northwest Iowa, and 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202011,658
201012,072
200013,035
199014,098
198016,238
197017,269
196018,598
195019,052
194019,258
193018,737
192017,760
191016,741
190016,570
189015,659
18808,240
18701,967
186058
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Cherokee

Military engagements that took place in Cherokee, Iowa.

Mill Creek Culture Conflict – Northwest Iowa
1200

Historic places in Cherokee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee, Iowa.

Lewis Hotel
Cherokee
Cherokee Sewer Site
Cherokee
Mill Creek Bridge
Cherokee
Gillette, Guy M. and Rose (Freeman), House
Cherokee
Seaman, Roy C. and Lena (Johnson), House
Cherokee
Cherokee Commercial Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Cherokee
Boughton, Lemuel C. and Mary (Vaughn), House
Cherokee
Cherokee Public Library
Cherokee
Illinois Central Railroad Yard-Cherokee
Cherokee
Phipps Site
Cherokee
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Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Cherokee County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Cherokee County, Iowa. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Cherokee

When does Cherokee first appear in the US census?
Cherokee, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 58.
What is the population of Cherokee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Cherokee had a recorded population of 11,658.
When did Cherokee's population peak?
Cherokee's recorded population peaked at 19,258 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Cherokee?
1 documented military engagement took place in Cherokee, including Mill Creek Culture Conflict – Northwest Iowa.
How many historic places are in Cherokee?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Cherokee, Iowa.
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