Clinton County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIowa | |
 Iowa's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:41°53′34″N90°31′39″W / 41.892777777778°N 90.5275°W /41.892777777778; -90.5275 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | 1837 |
| Named after | DeWitt Clinton |
| Seat | Clinton |
| Largest city | Clinton |
| Area | |
• Total | 710 sq mi (1,800 km2) |
| • Land | 695 sq mi (1,800 km2) |
| • Water | 15 sq mi (40 km2) 2.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 46,460 |
• Estimate (2023) | 46,158 |
| • Density | 65/sq mi (25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Clinton County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofIowa. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 46,460.[1] Itscounty seat isClinton.[2] Its name is in honor of the seventhGovernor of New York State,DeWitt Clinton. Clinton County comprises the Clinton, IowaMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theDavenport–Moline–Clinton, Muscatine, Iowa–Illinois Combined Statistical Area.
Clinton County was formed on December 21, 1837. It was named forDeWitt Clinton,[3] aGovernor of New York and most ardent advocate for the construction of theErie Canal. The cities ofDeWitt and Clinton were also named after him.
In 1835, Elijah Buell built a log cabin for himself and his family and was thus the first settler of the region. In 1854, the first newspaper was issued. In 1858, theLyons Female College for girls opened its doors; the tuition was set atUS$175 per student.[4]
The county has used three courthouses in its history. The structure currently in use was constructed in Romanesque style and opened in 1897.[5]
Clinton county was first settled in 1836, by Mr. Bourne, who located upon Sec. 1, T. 80, R. 4, East. The county was surveyed in 1837, by the Messrs. Burtz. The Surveyor General's office was then atCincinnati, Ohio. In 1840, the county was organized by Sheriff Bourne. In 1841, R. R. Bed ford and others formed a little settlement at De Witt, and during the same year Messrs. Wheeler and Evans erected a log court-house. In stepping from the past to the present, we quote the language of one of the "oldest inhabitants." He says: "Clinton County was originally settled by the poorest class of people on God's earth; and it is with great pleasure that I have witnessed their progress, slow but sure, and now find the most of them very comfortably situated."
The population of this County in 1840, was 821; in 1850, 2822; in 1854, 7000; and in 1856, 11,000. The population of Lyons in 1850, was 453. In 1856 the population increased to 2700.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 710 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 695 square miles (1,800 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (2.1%) is water.[6] It includes the easternmost point in the state of Iowa, on theMississippi River in Elk River township in the northeast section of the county.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 821 | — | |
| 1850 | 2,822 | 243.7% | |
| 1860 | 18,938 | 571.1% | |
| 1870 | 35,357 | 86.7% | |
| 1880 | 36,763 | 4.0% | |
| 1890 | 41,199 | 12.1% | |
| 1900 | 43,832 | 6.4% | |
| 1910 | 45,394 | 3.6% | |
| 1920 | 43,371 | −4.5% | |
| 1930 | 44,377 | 2.3% | |
| 1940 | 44,722 | 0.8% | |
| 1950 | 49,664 | 11.1% | |
| 1960 | 55,060 | 10.9% | |
| 1970 | 56,749 | 3.1% | |
| 1980 | 57,122 | 0.7% | |
| 1990 | 51,040 | −10.6% | |
| 2000 | 50,149 | −1.7% | |
| 2010 | 49,116 | −2.1% | |
| 2020 | 46,460 | −5.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 46,158 | [7] | −0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[12] | |||
The 2020 census recorded a population of 46,460 in the county, with a population density of66.851/sq mi (25.8111/km2). 94.95% of the population reported being of one race. There were 21,517 housing units of which 19,483 were occupied.[1]
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 41,226 | 88.73% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,392 | 3% |
| Native American (NH) | 103 | 0.22% |
| Asian (NH) | 252 | 0.54% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 10 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,938 | 4.2% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 1,539 | 3.31% |
The 2010 census recorded a population of 49,116 in the county, with a population density of70.67/sq mi (27.286/km2). There were 21,733 housing units, of which 20,223 were occupied.[14]
As of thecensus[15] of 2000, there were 50,149 people, 20,105 households, and 13,671 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 72 people per square mile (28 people/km2). There were 21,585 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.87%White, 1.89%Black orAfrican American, 0.24%Native American, 0.56%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.34% fromother races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.25% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 20,105 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% weremarried couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,423, and the median income for a family was $46,450. Males had a median income of $35,049 versus $21,333 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,724. About 7.70% of families and 10.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.
Clinton County is divided into thesetownships:
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2020 United States census of Clinton County.[1]†county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clinton† | City | 24,469 |
| 2 | DeWitt | City | 5,514 |
| 3 | Camanche | City | 4,570 |
| 4 | Wheatland | City | 775 |
| 5 | Grand Mound | City | 615 |
| 6 | Delmar | City | 542 |
| 7 | Lost Nation | City | 434 |
| 8 | Charlotte | City | 389 |
| 9 | Calamus | City | 356 |
| 10 | Low Moor | City | 250 |
| 11 | Goose Lake | City | 239 |
| 12 | Welton | City | 121 |
| 13 | Andover | City | 109 |
| 14 | Toronto | City | 102 |
Similar to many other counties in Iowa, Clinton County was reliably Democratic fromMichael Dukakis's win in 1988 until 2016, whenDonald Trump flipped many counties in Iowa. He improved on his results in 2020 and improved even more in 2024. Despite this, at the local level Clinton County voters are more divided, supporting Democrat Mike Zimmer over Republican Katie Whittington in the 2025 state senate election.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 13,964 | 58.48% | 9,472 | 39.67% | 442 | 1.85% |
| 2020 | 13,361 | 54.12% | 10,812 | 43.80% | 514 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | 11,276 | 48.88% | 10,095 | 43.76% | 1,696 | 7.35% |
| 2012 | 9,432 | 37.73% | 15,141 | 60.56% | 427 | 1.71% |
| 2008 | 9,324 | 37.72% | 15,018 | 60.75% | 380 | 1.54% |
| 2004 | 10,666 | 43.21% | 13,813 | 55.96% | 205 | 0.83% |
| 2000 | 9,229 | 41.61% | 12,276 | 55.35% | 675 | 3.04% |
| 1996 | 7,624 | 35.30% | 11,481 | 53.17% | 2,490 | 11.53% |
| 1992 | 8,746 | 35.04% | 11,683 | 46.81% | 4,531 | 18.15% |
| 1988 | 10,243 | 44.53% | 12,549 | 54.56% | 210 | 0.91% |
| 1984 | 13,914 | 54.77% | 11,240 | 44.25% | 250 | 0.98% |
| 1980 | 13,025 | 51.66% | 9,698 | 38.47% | 2,488 | 9.87% |
| 1976 | 12,401 | 50.55% | 11,746 | 47.88% | 387 | 1.58% |
| 1972 | 12,768 | 55.60% | 9,895 | 43.09% | 301 | 1.31% |
| 1968 | 11,513 | 51.92% | 9,515 | 42.91% | 1,147 | 5.17% |
| 1964 | 8,219 | 36.48% | 14,267 | 63.32% | 47 | 0.21% |
| 1960 | 13,797 | 56.71% | 10,508 | 43.19% | 25 | 0.10% |
| 1956 | 14,765 | 63.62% | 8,394 | 36.17% | 49 | 0.21% |
| 1952 | 15,372 | 65.73% | 7,975 | 34.10% | 38 | 0.16% |
| 1948 | 9,859 | 52.82% | 8,534 | 45.72% | 272 | 1.46% |
| 1944 | 11,533 | 58.77% | 8,028 | 40.91% | 63 | 0.32% |
| 1940 | 12,177 | 54.17% | 10,251 | 45.60% | 50 | 0.22% |
| 1936 | 10,016 | 43.47% | 12,269 | 53.25% | 757 | 3.29% |
| 1932 | 9,085 | 41.52% | 12,587 | 57.53% | 208 | 0.95% |
| 1928 | 12,295 | 58.57% | 8,643 | 41.17% | 54 | 0.26% |
| 1924 | 10,359 | 52.68% | 3,811 | 19.38% | 5,495 | 27.94% |
| 1920 | 11,746 | 66.98% | 3,153 | 17.98% | 2,637 | 15.04% |
| 1916 | 5,576 | 56.61% | 3,903 | 39.62% | 371 | 3.77% |
| 1912 | 1,890 | 20.58% | 3,633 | 39.55% | 3,662 | 39.87% |
| 1908 | 4,836 | 48.68% | 4,821 | 48.53% | 277 | 2.79% |
| 1904 | 5,265 | 53.23% | 4,074 | 41.19% | 552 | 5.58% |
| 1900 | 5,344 | 51.19% | 4,758 | 45.58% | 337 | 3.23% |
| 1896 | 5,584 | 54.02% | 4,590 | 44.40% | 163 | 1.58% |
Places adjacent to Clinton County, Iowa | |
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Municipalities and communities ofClinton County, Iowa,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
41°53′34″N90°31′39″W / 41.89278°N 90.52750°W /41.89278; -90.52750
