Muscatine County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 TheMuscatine County Courthouse in Muscatine | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIowa | |
| Coordinates:41°28′52″N91°07′11″W / 41.481111111111°N 91.119722222222°W /41.481111111111; -91.119722222222 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | December 7, 1836 |
| Named after | Mascouten tribe |
| Seat | Muscatine |
| Largest city | Muscatine |
| Area | |
• Total | 449 sq mi (1,160 km2) |
| • Land | 437 sq mi (1,130 km2) |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (31 km2) 2.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 43,235 |
• Estimate (2024) | 42,132 |
| • Density | 98.9/sq mi (38.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | muscatinecountyiowa.gov |
| |
Muscatine County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofIowa. As of the2020 census, the population was 43,235.[2] Thecounty seat isMuscatine.[3] The southeastern border is formed by the Mississippi River. Muscatine County comprises the Muscatine, IAMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in theDavenport-Moline, IA-ILCombined Statistical Area.
Muscatine County was formed in December 1836 as a part ofWisconsin Territory, partitioned fromDes Moines County, which had been organized two years previously.[4] One history suggests that the county was named forMuscatine Island in theMississippi River. The island lies opposite Muscatine County and was believed to be named after theMascouten tribe, Algonquian-speakingNative Americans who lived in the area before being driven west by settler encroachment and other tribes.[5]
ColonelGeorge Davenport ofIllinois sent three representatives into the territory in 1833 to establish a trade post. They were the first European Americans to settle there. In the same year, James W. Casey and John Vanatta came to the area. They opened a supply depot forsteamboats on June 1, 1833, and named it Casey's Woodpile (since steamboats used wood as fuel). Muscatine County became part ofIowa Territory on July 4, 1838, when it was established by partitioning the area fromWisconsin Territory.[4] The first public land sale was held in November 1838. One year later, officials began construction of the first courthouse and associated jail. A second jail, known as the"Old Jail", was built in 1857.[6]
The first courthouse was destroyed by fire on December 23, 1864. By 1866 a replacement stood on the same site. Thepresent courthouse opened on September 26, 1907.[7]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 449 square miles (1,160 km2), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.6%) is water.[8]
U.S. Highway 6 – enters fromCedar County, west ofWilton, runs south two miles, then continues west and west-northwest to the northwest corner of the county, exiting intoJohnson County.
U.S. Highway 61 – enters fromLouisa County, southwest ofFruitland. Runs northeast through the county, passingMuscatine, before turning east to enterScott County atBlue Grass.
Iowa Highway 22 – begins at an intersection with Iowa 70, three miles east ofNichols. Runs east and southeast to an intersection with US 61, west of Muscatine.
Iowa Highway 38 – begins at an intersection with US 6, three miles south of Wilton. Runs south to an intersection with US 61, north of Muscatine.
Iowa Highway 70 – enters from Louisa County at the southwest corner of Muscatine County. Runs north, northeast and east to Cedar County, passing Nichols andWest Liberty.
Iowa Highway 92 - enters Muscatine County (and state of Iowa), running northwest across the historicNorbert F. Beckey Bridge into central Muscatine. Runs southwest along theMississippi River to intersection with US 61, southwest of Muscatine.[9]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 5,731 | — | |
| 1860 | 16,444 | 186.9% | |
| 1870 | 21,688 | 31.9% | |
| 1880 | 23,170 | 6.8% | |
| 1890 | 24,504 | 5.8% | |
| 1900 | 28,242 | 15.3% | |
| 1910 | 29,505 | 4.5% | |
| 1920 | 29,042 | −1.6% | |
| 1930 | 29,385 | 1.2% | |
| 1940 | 31,296 | 6.5% | |
| 1950 | 32,148 | 2.7% | |
| 1960 | 33,840 | 5.3% | |
| 1970 | 37,181 | 9.9% | |
| 1980 | 40,436 | 8.8% | |
| 1990 | 39,907 | −1.3% | |
| 2000 | 41,722 | 4.5% | |
| 2010 | 42,745 | 2.5% | |
| 2020 | 43,235 | 1.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 42,132 | [10] | −2.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[15] | |||
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 32,633 | 75.48% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,086 | 2.51% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 58 | 0.13% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 404 | 0.93% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 104 | 0.24% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 1,181 | 2.73% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7,769 | 17.97% |
| Total | 43,235 | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 43,235, a population density of96.5/sq mi (37.3/km2), and 92.12% of residents reported being of one race. There were 18,366 housing units, of which 16,908 were occupied.[17]
The median age was 39.5 years; 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.1 males age 18 and over.[17]
58.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 41.8% lived in rural areas.[18]
There were 16,908 households in the county, of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 49.5% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]
Among the 18,366 housing units, 7.9% were vacant. Owner-occupied units made up 72.3% of occupied housing units and renter-occupied units made up 27.7%; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[17]
The racial makeup of the county was 80.0% White, 2.6% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.0% some other race, and 7.9% two or more races, while Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 18.0% of the population, with the detailed breakdown shown in the table below.[19]
As of the2010 census recorded a population of 42,745 in the county, with a population density of99.7/sq mi (38.5/km2). There were 17,910 housing units, of which 16,412 were occupied.[20]
As of the2000 census, there were 41,722 people, 15,847 households, and 11,283 families residing in the county. The population density was 95 inhabitants per square mile (37/km2). There were 16,786 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.72%White, 0.70%Black orAfrican American, 0.31%Native American, 0.83%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 6.05% fromother races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 11.92% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 15,847 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% weremarried couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,803, and the median income for a family was $48,373. Males had a median income of $36,329 versus $24,793 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,625. About 6.30% of families and 8.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 10.70% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.
The population ranking of the table is based on the2020 census of Muscatine County.[2]
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | †Muscatine | City | 23,797 |
| 2 | West Liberty | City | 3,858 |
| 3 | Wilton (partially inCedar County) | City | 2,924 |
| 4 | Durant (mostly inScott and Cedar Counties) | City | 1,871 |
| 5 | Blue Grass (mostly in Scott County) | City | 1,666 |
| 6 | Walcott (partially in Scott County) | City | 1,551 |
| 7 | Fruitland | City | 963 |
| 8 | Conesville | City | 352 |
| 9 | Nichols | City | 340 |
| 10 | Atalissa | City | 296 |
| 11 | Stockton | City | 176 |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 3,627 | 55.02% | 2,863 | 43.43% | 102 | 1.55% |
| 1900 | 3,905 | 54.92% | 3,021 | 42.49% | 184 | 2.59% |
| 1904 | 4,036 | 57.04% | 2,555 | 36.11% | 485 | 6.85% |
| 1908 | 3,525 | 49.43% | 3,038 | 42.60% | 568 | 7.97% |
| 1912 | 789 | 11.10% | 2,679 | 37.68% | 3,642 | 51.22% |
| 1916 | 3,929 | 54.25% | 2,694 | 37.20% | 619 | 8.55% |
| 1920 | 8,115 | 70.30% | 2,293 | 19.86% | 1,136 | 9.84% |
| 1924 | 7,731 | 64.87% | 1,963 | 16.47% | 2,223 | 18.65% |
| 1928 | 8,604 | 67.45% | 4,055 | 31.79% | 98 | 0.77% |
| 1932 | 6,160 | 47.69% | 6,423 | 49.73% | 334 | 2.59% |
| 1936 | 6,332 | 47.56% | 6,593 | 49.52% | 388 | 2.91% |
| 1940 | 8,543 | 59.24% | 5,825 | 40.39% | 53 | 0.37% |
| 1944 | 7,104 | 59.38% | 4,801 | 40.13% | 58 | 0.48% |
| 1948 | 6,003 | 51.68% | 5,466 | 47.06% | 146 | 1.26% |
| 1952 | 9,361 | 61.60% | 5,772 | 37.98% | 63 | 0.41% |
| 1956 | 8,552 | 59.81% | 5,718 | 39.99% | 28 | 0.20% |
| 1960 | 8,555 | 58.21% | 6,135 | 41.74% | 8 | 0.05% |
| 1964 | 5,547 | 40.86% | 8,020 | 59.07% | 10 | 0.07% |
| 1968 | 7,361 | 57.18% | 4,726 | 36.71% | 787 | 6.11% |
| 1972 | 8,436 | 61.84% | 4,917 | 36.04% | 289 | 2.12% |
| 1976 | 7,697 | 53.10% | 6,567 | 45.30% | 232 | 1.60% |
| 1980 | 7,829 | 51.69% | 5,597 | 36.96% | 1,719 | 11.35% |
| 1984 | 9,069 | 59.79% | 5,986 | 39.46% | 113 | 0.74% |
| 1988 | 6,904 | 48.96% | 7,059 | 50.06% | 139 | 0.99% |
| 1992 | 6,087 | 36.09% | 7,089 | 42.04% | 3,688 | 21.87% |
| 1996 | 5,858 | 38.07% | 7,674 | 49.88% | 1,854 | 12.05% |
| 2000 | 7,483 | 46.55% | 8,058 | 50.12% | 535 | 3.33% |
| 2004 | 9,020 | 48.19% | 9,542 | 50.98% | 155 | 0.83% |
| 2008 | 7,929 | 41.47% | 10,920 | 57.11% | 271 | 1.42% |
| 2012 | 8,168 | 41.12% | 11,323 | 57.00% | 374 | 1.88% |
| 2016 | 9,584 | 49.32% | 8,368 | 43.06% | 1,482 | 7.63% |
| 2020 | 10,823 | 52.36% | 9,372 | 45.34% | 476 | 2.30% |
| 2024 | 11,152 | 56.46% | 8,212 | 41.58% | 388 | 1.96% |
School districts include:[22]
Places adjacent to Muscatine County, Iowa | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofMuscatine County, Iowa,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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41°28′52″N91°07′11″W / 41.48111°N 91.11972°W /41.48111; -91.11972
