city, seat (1856) of Hamilton county, central Iowa, U.S., on the Boone River, 17 miles (27 km) east of Fort Dodge. It was settled in 1850 by Wilson Brewer and was known as Newcastle until 1856, when it became the county seat and was renamed Webster City, possibly for Webster county (from which Hamilton county was created) or for the owner of a stagecoach line between Belmont, Wisconsin, and Fort Dodge. Webster City was the first municipality in Iowa to adopt the council-manager form of government (1915).

The city is both a rail junction and trading centre. Manufactures include washing machines and dryers, processed meat products, fertilizers and chemicals, and metal castings. It has a centre for Iowa Central Community College (founded 1966), and Country Relics Little Village and Homestead, about 10 miles (16 km) south, is a reproduction of a midwestern town at the turn of the 20th century. Brushy Creek State Recreation Area is about 10 miles (16 km) southwest. Inc. 1874. Pop. (1990) 7,894; (2000) 8,176.