[2] The county was named for William Harris Crawford,[3] U.S. senator from Georgia and United States Secretary of the Treasury.

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.

[4] After several adjustments and reorganizations, the present arrangement of Crawford County townships was completed in June 1872.

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 population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Crawford County.

However, although it gave two-thirds of its vote to Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020, it supported Democrat Barack Obama in 2008.