Iowa

Mahaska

22,190
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Mahaska

Mahaska, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 5,989. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 22,190.

Its recorded population peaked at 34,273 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 35 percent.

On the ground today, 49 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202022,190
201022,381
200022,335
199021,522
198022,867
197022,177
196023,602
195024,672
194026,485
193025,804
192026,270
191029,860
190034,273
189028,805
188025,202
187022,508
186014,816
18505,989
Source

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

Historic places in Mahaska

National Register of Historic Places listings in Mahaska, Iowa.

Spurgin Residence
Oskaloosa
Forest Cemetery Entrance
Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa City Hall
Oskaloosa
Lamberson, Jack, House
Oskaloosa
Voorhees, John K., House
Oskaloosa
Gibbs, E. H., House
Oskaloosa
Lincoln School
Oskaloosa
St. James Episcopal Church
Oskaloosa
Shoemake, John H., House
Oskaloosa
Smith-Johnson House
Oskaloosa
North Skunk River Bridge
New Sharon
Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn
Oskaloosa
Bellefountain Bridge
Tracy
Eveland Bridge
Oskaloosa
Vander Wilt Farmstead Historic District
Leighton
Paradise Block Historic District
Oskaloosa
Edmundson Park Historic District
Oskaloosa
Ulysses Simpson Grant Elementary School
Oskaloosa
Vermeer, Gary J. and Matilda, Farmstead
Pella
Oskaloosa City Park and Band Stand
Oskaloosa
Seeberger-Loring-Kilburn House
Oskaloosa
Stock Judging Pavilion
Oskaloosa
McMullin, Maj. James W., House
Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa City Square Commercial Historic District
Oskaloosa
Browse all Iowahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Iowa

Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

WashingtonWayneWebsterWinnebagoWinneshiekWoodburyWorthWrightAdairAdamsAllamakeeAppanooseAudubonBentonBlack HawkBooneBremerBuchananBuena VistaButler
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Mahaska County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Mahaska 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Mahaska County, Iowa report
Or see a real report first

Explore Iowa records

Iowahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Iowa›

Frequently asked about Mahaska

When does Mahaska first appear in the US census?
Mahaska, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 5,989.
What is the population of Mahaska?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Mahaska had a recorded population of 22,190.
When did Mahaska's population peak?
Mahaska's recorded population peaked at 34,273 in 1900.
How many historic places are in Mahaska?
49 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Mahaska, Iowa.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report