County GIS · State lines · October 20, 2026
Iowa–Minnesota Border Counties: Parcel Maps on Both Sides
All 20 counties on the Iowa–Minnesota line, with seats, 2023 populations and a link to each official parcel map, plus what changes at the state line.
Looking for the counties on the Iowa–Minnesota border and their parcel maps? According to the Census Bureau's county adjacency file, 11 Iowa counties touch 9 Minnesota counties along the line. Each one keeps its own property records and its own parcel viewer, so land near the line often means checking two counties in two states.
Below you will find every county on both sides of the line, who borders whom, and what changes when you cross from one records office to the other.
Iowa–Minnesota border at a glance
- Counties on the line: 20 (11 in Iowa, 9 in Minnesota)
- With a verified public parcel viewer in our directory: 20 of 20
- Residents, 2023 estimates: about 131,634 on the Iowa side and 185,404 on the Minnesota side
- Most populous on each side: Winneshiek County, IA (19,815) and Mower County, MN (40,058)
- Largest by land area: Kossuth County, IA (973 sq mi) and Fillmore County, MN (861 sq mi)
Iowa counties on the line
| County | Seat | Land (sq mi) | 2023 pop. | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allamakee County | Waukon | 639 | 14,074 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Dickinson County | Spirit Lake | 381 | 18,056 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Emmet County | Estherville | 396 | 9,229 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Howard County | Cresco | 473 | 9,376 | CAMAvision Maps |
| Kossuth County | Algona | 973 | 14,396 | CAMAvision Maps |
| Lyon County | Rock Rapids | 588 | 12,324 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Mitchell County | Osage | 469 | 10,518 | CAMAvision Maps |
| Osceola County | Sibley | 399 | 5,978 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Winnebago County | Forest City | 400 | 10,571 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Winneshiek County | Decorah | 690 | 19,815 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Worth County | Northwood | 400 | 7,297 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
Minnesota counties on the line
| County | Seat | Land (sq mi) | 2023 pop. | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faribault County | Blue Earth | 712 | 13,873 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Fillmore County | Preston | 861 | 21,522 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Freeborn County | Albert Lea | 707 | 30,515 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Houston County | Caledonia | 552 | 18,582 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Jackson County | Jackson | 703 | 9,919 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Martin County | Fairmont | 712 | 19,657 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Mower County | Austin | 711 | 40,058 | ArcGIS Map Viewer |
| Nobles County | Worthington | 715 | 21,727 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Rock County | Luverne | 482 | 9,551 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
Which counties face each other
Here is who borders whom across the line, based on the Census Bureau adjacency file:
- Allamakee County, IA borders Houston County, MN
- Dickinson County, IA borders Jackson County, MN
- Emmet County, IA borders Jackson County, MN, Martin County, MN
- Howard County, IA borders Fillmore County, MN, Mower County, MN
- Kossuth County, IA borders Faribault County, MN, Martin County, MN
- Lyon County, IA borders Nobles County, MN, Rock County, MN
- Mitchell County, IA borders Mower County, MN
- Osceola County, IA borders Jackson County, MN, Nobles County, MN
- Winnebago County, IA borders Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN
- Winneshiek County, IA borders Fillmore County, MN, Houston County, MN
- Worth County, IA borders Freeborn County, MN, Mower County, MN
What changes when you cross the line
- Different viewers. On the Iowa side the official maps run on: Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) (8); CAMAvision Maps (3). On the Minnesota side: Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) (8); ArcGIS Map Viewer (1). Search boxes, parcel ID formats and the details shown in pop-ups will differ.
- Different records offices. Deeds, plats and tax bills are kept by the county where the parcel sits.
- Different rules. Zoning, septic permits and property tax are set locally and by each state, so check with the county on the side where you plan to build or buy.
Researching a tract that crosses the line
- Find the parcel in both counties' viewers. Each side will show only its own piece, with its own parcel number.
- Pull the recorded deed from each county's register or recorder, since each county records only the land inside its own boundary.
- Expect two tax bills, one from each county, and check each state's rules for homestead or farm exemptions.
- For a sale, a fence or a building permit, hire a licensed surveyor familiar with the line; tax-map lines are drawings, not surveys.
A quick way to check which side a spot is on
Open the Platbookmapper Land Map, search the nearest county, and tap the spot. The land report shows which county it falls in, along with flood zone, elevation, soil and wetlands, and links to that county's parcel map.
Related guides
More: Iowa counties · Minnesota counties
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file, used for which counties share the line.
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files, 2020 county land area.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2023 (July 1, 2023 estimates)
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 20, 2026) for each county's official parcel viewer.
- County seats: Wikidata (county seat property), cross-checked against Census place names.