Decatur County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 TheDecatur County Courthouse in Leon | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIowa | |
| Coordinates:40°44′29″N93°46′51″W / 40.741388888889°N 93.780833333333°W /40.741388888889; -93.780833333333 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | January 13, 1846 (created) May 6, 1850 (organized)[1] |
| Named after | Stephen Decatur Jr. |
| Seat | Leon |
| Largest city | Lamoni |
| Area | |
• Total | 533 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
| • Land | 532 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
| • Water | 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,645 |
• Estimate (2024) | 7,656 |
| • Density | 14.4/sq mi (5.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
| |
Decatur County (/dɪˈkeɪtər/) is acounty located in theU.S. state ofIowa. As of the2020 census, the population was 7,645.[3] Thecounty seat isLeon.[4] This county is named forStephen Decatur Jr., a hero in theWar of 1812.[5]
Decatur County was organized in 1850 and named forStephen Decatur, a naval hero of theWar of 1812.The current courthouse was dedicated in 1908.[6]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 533 square miles (1,380 km2), of which 532 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 965 | — | |
| 1860 | 8,677 | 799.2% | |
| 1870 | 12,018 | 38.5% | |
| 1880 | 15,336 | 27.6% | |
| 1890 | 15,643 | 2.0% | |
| 1900 | 18,115 | 15.8% | |
| 1910 | 16,347 | −9.8% | |
| 1920 | 16,566 | 1.3% | |
| 1930 | 14,903 | −10.0% | |
| 1940 | 14,012 | −6.0% | |
| 1950 | 12,601 | −10.1% | |
| 1960 | 10,539 | −16.4% | |
| 1970 | 9,737 | −7.6% | |
| 1980 | 9,794 | 0.6% | |
| 1990 | 8,338 | −14.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,689 | 4.2% | |
| 2010 | 8,457 | −2.7% | |
| 2020 | 7,645 | −9.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 7,656 | [8] | 0.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[13] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 7,645, which produced a population density of14.3/sq mi (5.5/km2). The median age was 39.5 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.1 males age 18 and over.[14]
96.44% of residents reported being of one race. The racial makeup of the county was 92.6%White, 1.4%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Asian, 0.3%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 3.6% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.[15]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 7,010 | 91.7% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 97 | 1.26% |
| Native American (NH) | 17 | 0.22% |
| Asian (NH) | 39 | 0.51% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 21 | 0.27% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 250 | 3.3% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 211 | 2.8% |
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[17]
There were 2,986 households in the county, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.5% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 3,653 housing units, of which 2,986 were occupied, leaving an 18.3% vacancy rate. Among occupied housing units, 72.5% were owner-occupied and 27.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.4%.[14]
The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,457 in the county, with a population density of15.9/sq mi (6.1/km2). There were 3,834 housing units, of which 3,223 were occupied.[18]
At the 2000census,[19] there were 8,689 people, 3,337 households and 2,149 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 16 per square mile (6.2/km2). There were 3,833 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.46%White, 0.98%Black orAfrican American, 0.24%Native American, 0.63%Asian, 0.12%Pacific Islander, 0.46% fromother races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 3,337 households, of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% weremarried couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.60% were non-families. 30.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.
23.00% of the population were under the age of 18, 16.30% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.
Themedian household income was $27,343 and the median family income was $34,831. Males had a median income of $25,569 compared with $19,309 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,209. About 10.90% of families and 15.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those age 65 or over.
Decatur County is considered to be the poorest in Iowa, reporting that almost 20% of its residents live in poverty.[20]
Supervisors
Steve Fulkerson
Doug Tharp
Ward Graham
Treasurer
Janet Pierson
Attorney
Alan Wilson
Auditor
Charlene Hoover
Recorder
Erica Cook
Sheriff
Chris Lane
Assessor
Justin Cornett
Engineer
Justin Savage
Clerk of Court
Traci Tharp
Public Health Administrator
Shelley Bickel
Veterans Affairs Administrator
Samantha Schaff
Conservation Director
Kayla Clausen
Mental Health Director
Kathy Lerma
Decatur County is divided into thesetownships:
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2020 census of Decatur County.[3]
†county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamoni | City | 1,969 |
| 2 | †Leon | City | 1,822 |
| 3 | Grand River | City | 196 |
| 4 | Davis City | City | 179 |
| 5 | Van Wert | City | 178 |
| 6 | Decatur City | City | 175 |
| 7 | Garden Grove | City | 174 |
| 8 | Weldon (partially inClarke County) | City | 136 |
| 9 | Pleasanton | City | 32 |
| 10 | Le Roy | City | 11 |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 2,268 | 48.46% | 2,362 | 50.47% | 50 | 1.07% |
| 1900 | 2,415 | 53.21% | 2,058 | 45.34% | 66 | 1.45% |
| 1904 | 2,430 | 58.44% | 1,548 | 37.23% | 180 | 4.33% |
| 1908 | 2,149 | 52.53% | 1,809 | 44.22% | 133 | 3.25% |
| 1912 | 1,351 | 34.39% | 1,659 | 42.24% | 918 | 23.37% |
| 1916 | 1,962 | 47.45% | 2,111 | 51.05% | 62 | 1.50% |
| 1920 | 4,187 | 61.17% | 2,592 | 37.87% | 66 | 0.96% |
| 1924 | 3,221 | 47.13% | 1,693 | 24.77% | 1,921 | 28.11% |
| 1928 | 3,942 | 59.06% | 2,675 | 40.07% | 58 | 0.87% |
| 1932 | 2,148 | 36.84% | 3,591 | 61.60% | 91 | 1.56% |
| 1936 | 3,327 | 44.40% | 4,131 | 55.12% | 36 | 0.48% |
| 1940 | 3,494 | 46.91% | 3,938 | 52.87% | 16 | 0.21% |
| 1944 | 2,934 | 46.81% | 3,316 | 52.90% | 18 | 0.29% |
| 1948 | 2,547 | 43.89% | 3,172 | 54.66% | 84 | 1.45% |
| 1952 | 3,621 | 58.71% | 2,521 | 40.87% | 26 | 0.42% |
| 1956 | 2,912 | 50.86% | 2,806 | 49.01% | 7 | 0.12% |
| 1960 | 3,039 | 55.69% | 2,411 | 44.18% | 7 | 0.13% |
| 1964 | 1,542 | 31.57% | 3,331 | 68.19% | 12 | 0.25% |
| 1968 | 2,261 | 49.28% | 2,057 | 44.83% | 270 | 5.88% |
| 1972 | 2,638 | 57.44% | 1,880 | 40.93% | 75 | 1.63% |
| 1976 | 1,932 | 41.05% | 2,698 | 57.32% | 77 | 1.64% |
| 1980 | 2,212 | 47.67% | 2,048 | 44.14% | 380 | 8.19% |
| 1984 | 2,104 | 49.60% | 2,098 | 49.46% | 40 | 0.94% |
| 1988 | 1,406 | 38.76% | 2,192 | 60.44% | 29 | 0.80% |
| 1992 | 1,316 | 33.02% | 1,866 | 46.81% | 804 | 20.17% |
| 1996 | 1,287 | 35.52% | 1,846 | 50.95% | 490 | 13.52% |
| 2000 | 1,903 | 51.31% | 1,674 | 45.13% | 132 | 3.56% |
| 2004 | 2,088 | 52.06% | 1,859 | 46.35% | 64 | 1.60% |
| 2008 | 2,020 | 49.20% | 1,986 | 48.37% | 100 | 2.44% |
| 2012 | 1,947 | 50.80% | 1,791 | 46.73% | 95 | 2.48% |
| 2016 | 2,296 | 61.49% | 1,201 | 32.16% | 237 | 6.35% |
| 2020 | 2,615 | 68.74% | 1,120 | 29.44% | 69 | 1.81% |
| 2024 | 2,711 | 72.51% | 957 | 25.60% | 71 | 1.90% |
Places adjacent to Decatur County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofDecatur County, Iowa,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
40°44′29″N93°46′51″W / 40.74139°N 93.78083°W /40.74139; -93.78083
