Washta is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States.

[2] It is called "The Coldest Spot in Iowa", recording a temperature of −47 °F (−44 °C) without wind chill on January 12, 1912.

Washta's name dates back to 1868 when a local man named Whisman turned his farm into a trading post/mail stop for the freight train going from Correctionville, Iowa, to Cherokee, Iowa.

When asked what the name of his town would be, he recalled an interesting encounter with two Native Americans the year before: While Whisman was out hunting, the two came upon him, removed his gun, looked at it, and handed it back while saying, Wash-tay, Wash-tay, meaning "good".

Changing the pronunciation slightly, Whisman decided he would call the town Washta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.04 square miles (2.69 km2), all land.

There were 117 housing units at an average density of 115.8 per square mile (44.7/km2).

There were 123 housing units at an average density of 118.3 per square mile (45.7/km2).

30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.