Clayton County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 Winter scene near Elkader | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIowa | |
| Coordinates:42°50′28″N91°19′25″W / 42.840985°N 91.323576°W /42.840985; -91.323576 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | December 21, 1837 |
| Named after | John M. Clayton |
| Seat | Elkader |
| Largest city | Guttenberg |
| Area | |
• Total | 792.631 sq mi (2,052.90 km2) |
| • Land | 778.464 sq mi (2,016.21 km2) |
| • Water | 14.167 sq mi (36.69 km2) 1.79% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,043 |
• Estimate (2024) | 16,931 |
| • Density | 21.893/sq mi (8.4530/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 563 |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | claytoncountyia.gov |
| |
Clayton County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofIowa. As of the2020 census, the population was 17,043,[2] and was estimated to be 16,931 in 2024.[3] Thecounty seat isElkader and the largest city isGuttenberg.[4]
The county was formed on December 21, 1837,[5] and was named in honor ofJohn M. Clayton,[6]United States Senator fromDelaware and laterSecretary of State under PresidentZachary Taylor.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 792.631 square miles (2,052.90 km2), of which 778.464 square miles (2,016.21 km2) is land and 14.167 square miles (36.69 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7] It is the 5th largest county in Iowa by total area.[8]
Clayton County is part of theDriftless Area, a region that completely missed being ice-covered during the lastice age. Streams have deeply carved valleys, while theMississippi River has spectacular bluffs.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3,873 | — | |
| 1860 | 20,728 | 435.2% | |
| 1870 | 27,771 | 34.0% | |
| 1880 | 28,829 | 3.8% | |
| 1890 | 26,733 | −7.3% | |
| 1900 | 27,750 | 3.8% | |
| 1910 | 25,576 | −7.8% | |
| 1920 | 25,032 | −2.1% | |
| 1930 | 24,559 | −1.9% | |
| 1940 | 24,334 | −0.9% | |
| 1950 | 22,522 | −7.4% | |
| 1960 | 21,962 | −2.5% | |
| 1970 | 20,606 | −6.2% | |
| 1980 | 21,098 | 2.4% | |
| 1990 | 19,054 | −9.7% | |
| 2000 | 18,678 | −2.0% | |
| 2010 | 18,129 | −2.9% | |
| 2020 | 17,043 | −6.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 16,931 | [9] | −0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[3] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 17,043 and a population density of21.5/sq mi (8.3/km2). The median age was 46.7 years; 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.5 males age 18 and over.[14]
The racial makeup of the county was 95.2%White, 0.9%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 2.5% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.0% of the population.[15]
There were 7,315 households in the county, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.5% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 8,758 housing units, of which 7,315 were occupied, 16.5% were vacant, 77.2% of the occupied units were owner-occupied, and 22.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.[14]
0.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 99.1% lived in rural areas.[16]
The 2010 census recorded a population of 18,130 in the county, with a population density of23.3/sq mi (9.0/km2). There were 8,999 housing units, of which 7,599 were occupied.[17]
As of thecensus[18] of 2000, there were 18,678 people, about 7,500 households, and 1 family residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 8,620 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.93%White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,375 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% weremarried couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,068, and the median income for a family was $40,199. Males had a median income of $27,165 versus $19,644 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,930. About 5.70% of families and 8.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.60% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.
Clayton County is divided into thesetownships:
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2020 census of Clayton County.
†county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) | Population (2024 Estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Postville (partially inAllamakee County) | City | 2,503 | 2,418 |
| 2 | Guttenberg | City | 1,817 | 1,804 |
| 3 | Monona | City | 1,471 | 1,462 |
| 4 | †Elkader | City | 1,209 | 1,192 |
| 5 | Strawberry Point | City | 1,155 | 1,141 |
| 6 | Edgewood (partially inDelaware County) | City | 909 | 908 |
| 7 | Garnavillo | City | 763 | 751 |
| 8 | McGregor | City | 742 | 725 |
| 9 | Marquette | City | 429 | 434 |
| 10 | Luana | City | 301 | 303 |
| 11 | Farmersburg | City | 271 | 264 |
| 12 | Volga | City | 203 | 200 |
| 13 | North Buena Vista | City | 109 | 107 |
| 14 | St. Olaf | City | 106 | 102 |
| 15 | Garber | City | 76 | 76 |
| 16 | Clayton | City | 45 | 45 |
| 17 | Osterdock | City | 43 | 45 |
| 18 | Elkport | City | 29 | 29 |
Clayton County leaned Republican for most of its history, though starting in 1988 it saw a Democratic trend which lasted through 2012. In 2016 the county saw a heavy shift toward the Republican Party, and since then it has voted Republican by increasing margins; both 2020 and 2024 saw the strongest Republican support in the county since the landslide victory ofDwight Eisenhower in 1952.[19]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 3,302 | 52.16% | 2,910 | 45.96% | 119 | 1.88% |
| 1900 | 3,366 | 53.07% | 2,884 | 45.47% | 92 | 1.45% |
| 1904 | 3,339 | 54.59% | 2,628 | 42.96% | 150 | 2.45% |
| 1908 | 2,773 | 47.04% | 3,026 | 51.33% | 96 | 1.63% |
| 1912 | 1,239 | 21.14% | 2,919 | 49.80% | 1,703 | 29.06% |
| 1916 | 3,347 | 57.54% | 2,379 | 40.90% | 91 | 1.56% |
| 1920 | 6,747 | 77.50% | 1,808 | 20.77% | 151 | 1.73% |
| 1924 | 4,168 | 41.48% | 1,556 | 15.48% | 4,325 | 43.04% |
| 1928 | 6,774 | 61.28% | 4,231 | 38.28% | 49 | 0.44% |
| 1932 | 3,725 | 33.46% | 7,347 | 65.99% | 62 | 0.56% |
| 1936 | 5,017 | 41.00% | 6,731 | 55.01% | 488 | 3.99% |
| 1940 | 7,443 | 59.86% | 4,973 | 40.00% | 18 | 0.14% |
| 1944 | 5,855 | 57.61% | 4,259 | 41.91% | 49 | 0.48% |
| 1948 | 5,151 | 50.94% | 4,857 | 48.04% | 103 | 1.02% |
| 1952 | 7,669 | 67.22% | 3,730 | 32.70% | 9 | 0.08% |
| 1956 | 6,529 | 59.76% | 4,384 | 40.12% | 13 | 0.12% |
| 1960 | 6,441 | 58.25% | 4,612 | 41.71% | 4 | 0.04% |
| 1964 | 3,923 | 41.08% | 5,624 | 58.89% | 3 | 0.03% |
| 1968 | 5,132 | 57.81% | 3,168 | 35.68% | 578 | 6.51% |
| 1972 | 5,447 | 60.20% | 3,366 | 37.20% | 235 | 2.60% |
| 1976 | 4,826 | 54.80% | 3,804 | 43.19% | 177 | 2.01% |
| 1980 | 5,115 | 55.56% | 3,297 | 35.81% | 794 | 8.62% |
| 1984 | 5,029 | 58.80% | 3,446 | 40.29% | 78 | 0.91% |
| 1988 | 3,839 | 46.58% | 4,320 | 52.41% | 83 | 1.01% |
| 1992 | 3,044 | 33.12% | 3,742 | 40.72% | 2,404 | 26.16% |
| 1996 | 2,944 | 35.93% | 4,284 | 52.28% | 966 | 11.79% |
| 2000 | 4,034 | 47.07% | 4,238 | 49.45% | 299 | 3.49% |
| 2004 | 4,312 | 47.03% | 4,736 | 51.66% | 120 | 1.31% |
| 2008 | 3,651 | 40.61% | 5,195 | 57.79% | 144 | 1.60% |
| 2012 | 4,164 | 45.57% | 4,806 | 52.59% | 168 | 1.84% |
| 2016 | 5,317 | 58.24% | 3,237 | 35.46% | 575 | 6.30% |
| 2020 | 6,106 | 63.64% | 3,340 | 34.81% | 148 | 1.54% |
| 2024 | 6,255 | 66.54% | 3,017 | 32.10% | 128 | 1.36% |
Places adjacent to Clayton County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofClayton County, Iowa,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
