In January 1851, the Iowa Legislature authorized the creation of 50 additional counties in the state. Due to its lack of inhabitants, the designated Crawford County area was attached to Shelby County for purposes of revenue, taxation, and judicial matters. In 1855 there were sufficient settlers, who petitioned for separation from Shelby. This was granted, and a county governing structure was established. The county as then designated did not include its present western townships. In 1865, four eastern townships of Monona County were separated from that county and incorporated into Crawford County's boundary. After several adjustments and reorganizations, the present arrangement of Crawford County townships was completed in June 1872.
Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 30 – runs ENE across bottom of county. Enters at Dunlap, exits to Carroll County at Westside.
U.S. Highway 59 – runs generally north–south through center of county, passing Schieswig and Denison. Its exit into Shelby County is five miles east of its entry from Ida County.
The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,096 in the county, with a population density of. There were 6,943 housing units, of which 6,413 were occupied.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,942 people, 6,441 households, and 4,489 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile. There were 6,958 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 93.10% White, 0.76% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.59% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 8.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 6,441 households out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couplesliving together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03. In the county, the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males. The median income for a household in the county was $33,922, and the median income for a family was $40,231. Males had a median income of $28,696 versus $19,798 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,851. About 6.90% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.
