Iowa

Hardin

16,878
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Hardin

Hardin, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 5,440. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,878.

Its recorded population peaked at 23,337 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 28 percent.

On the ground today, 35 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,878
201017,534
200018,812
199019,094
198021,776
197022,248
196022,533
195022,218
194022,530
193022,947
192023,337
191020,921
190022,794
189019,003
188017,807
187013,684
18605,440
Source

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

Historic places in Hardin

National Register of Historic Places listings in Hardin, Iowa.

Eldora Downtown Historic District
Eldora
New Providence School Gymnasium
New Providence
Union Cemetery Gardener's Cottage
Iowa Falls
Edgewood School of Domestic Arts
Iowa Falls
Alden Bridge
Alden
River Street Bridge
Iowa Falls
Washington Avenue Bridge
Iowa Falls
Metropolitan Opera House
Iowa Falls
McClanahan Block
Iowa Falls
St. Matthew's by the Bridge Episcopal Church
Iowa Falls
Folkert Mound Group
Steamboat Rock
Carnegie-Ellsworth Public Library
Iowa Falls
W. R. C. Hall
Iowa Falls
Sentinel Block
Iowa Falls
Hardin County Courthouse
Eldora
Slayton Farms-Round Barn
Iowa Falls
Iowa Falls Bridge
Iowa Falls
First Congregational Church
Eldora
Mills Tower Historic District
Iowa Falls
Steamboat Rock Consolidated Schools Building
Steamboat Rock
Hardin County Home Historic District
Eldora
Civilian Conservation Corps-Prisoner of War Recreation Hall
Eldora
Washington Avenue Commercial Historic District
Iowa Falls
Kurtz, Glenn and Nell, Lustron Home and Garage
Iowa Falls
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Everything a full report reveals about Hardin County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Hardin 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 Hardin

When does Hardin first appear in the US census?
Hardin, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 5,440.
What is the population of Hardin?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Hardin had a recorded population of 16,878.
When did Hardin's population peak?
Hardin's recorded population peaked at 23,337 in 1920.
How many historic places are in Hardin?
35 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hardin, Iowa.
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