[4] Pocahontas was first settled and surveyed in 1870 by Warrick and Buelah Price of Cleveland, Ohio.

[5] The city was named after Pocahontas, a Powhatan woman from Jamestown, Virginia.

Other geographical names in the county related to the colony at Jamestown are Rolfe, Powhatan Township and Varina.

Pocahontas's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 42.734476, -94.673017.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.02 square miles (5.23 km2), all land.

[8] Pocahontas lies at the northwestern margin (rim) of Manson crater, an impact structure buried by glacial till and outwash.

There were 954 housing units at an average density of 482.8 per square mile (186.4/km2).

39.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[5] Air transportation for the town is provided by Pocahontas Municipal Airport (FAA Identifier KPOH), located approximately one mile northeast of the city.

The airport has two runways, the first is designated 11/29, with a concrete surface 4100 x 60 ft (1250 x 18 m) and runway edge lights, the second is designated 18/36 with a turf surface 1998 x 135 ft (609 x 41 m) and is unlighted.