Portsmouth is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States.

Portsmouth had its start in the year 1882 when the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway platted the town along its tracks.

[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.28 square miles (0.73 km2), all of it land.

There were 88 housing units at an average density of 297.9 per square mile (115.0/km2).

The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 0.5% African American, and 1.0% from two or more races.

33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

About 11.9% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 9.1% of those 65 or over.

The district serves the towns of Harlan, Defiance, Earling, Panama, Portsmouth and Westphalia, the unincorporated communities of Jacksonville and Corley, and the surrounding rural areas.