Cresco, Iowa

Cresco is a city in Howard County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,888 at the 2020 census, down from 3,905 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howard County.

Cresco was platted in 1866, when the railroad was expanding into the area. "Cresco" is Latin for "I grow". Cresco was incorporated on June 6, 1868.

On October 20, 1980, The David Letterman Show was broadcast from Cresco, the winner of a competition to host the show.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 3.35 square miles (8.68 km²), all land.

Cresco experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with long, cold, snowy winters and very warm, humid summers.

As of the census of 2020, there were 3,888 people, 1,699 households, and 970 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,164.2 inhabitants per square mile (449.5/km²). There were 1,846 housing units at an average density of 552.7 per square mile (213.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.

Of the 1,699 households, 26.8% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 7.2% were cohabitating couples, 28.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 20.7% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 42.9% of all households were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 41.1 years. 25.8% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.3% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 and 44; 24.8% were from 45 and 64; and 20.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.