Ringgold County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 Ringgold County Courthouse in Mount Ayr | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIowa | |
 Iowa's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:40°43′56″N94°14′53″W / 40.732222222222°N 94.248055555556°W /40.732222222222; -94.248055555556 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | February 24, 1847 |
| Named after | Samuel Ringgold |
| Seat | Mount Ayr |
| Largest city | Mount Ayr |
| Area | |
• Total | 539 sq mi (1,400 km2) |
| • Land | 535 sq mi (1,390 km2) |
| • Water | 3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,663 |
• Estimate (2024)[1] | 4,608 |
| • Density | 8.6/sq mi (3.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Ringgold County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofIowa. As of the2020 census, the population was 4,663,[2] making it the Iowa county with the second-smallest population. Thecounty seat isMount Ayr.[3] The county is named afterMaj. Samuel Ringgold, a hero of theBattle of Palo Alto fought in May 1846, during theMexican–American War. It is one of the 26 Iowa counties with a name that is unique across the nation.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 539 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 535 square miles (1,390 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 2,923 | — | |
| 1870 | 5,691 | 94.7% | |
| 1880 | 12,085 | 112.4% | |
| 1890 | 13,556 | 12.2% | |
| 1900 | 15,325 | 13.0% | |
| 1910 | 12,904 | −15.8% | |
| 1920 | 12,919 | 0.1% | |
| 1930 | 11,966 | −7.4% | |
| 1940 | 11,137 | −6.9% | |
| 1950 | 9,528 | −14.4% | |
| 1960 | 7,910 | −17.0% | |
| 1970 | 6,373 | −19.4% | |
| 1980 | 6,112 | −4.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,420 | −11.3% | |
| 2000 | 5,469 | 0.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,131 | −6.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,663 | −9.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 4,608 | −1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2018[9][10] 2024[1] | |||
The 2020 census recorded a population of 4,663 in the county, with a population density of8.6265/sq mi (3.3307/km2). 96.68% of the population reported being of one race. 94.32% were non-Hispanic White, 0.06% were Black, 1.52% were Hispanic, 0.15% were Native American, 0.17% were Asian, 0.02% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 3.75% were some other race or more than one race. There were 2,672 housing units, of which 1,945 were occupied.[2]
The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,131 in the county, with a population density of9.5430/sq mi (3.6846/km2). There were 2,613 housing units, of which 2,047 were occupied.[11]
As of thecensus[12] of 2000, there were 5,469 people, 2,245 households, and 1,537 families in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 2,789 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 99.07%White, 0.11%Black orAfrican American, 0.22%Native American, 0.16%Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.24% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
Of the 2,245 households 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.60% of households were one person and 17.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.
The age distribution was 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 21.40% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.
The median household income was $29,110 and the median family income was $34,472. Males had a median income of $24,583 versus $20,606 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,023. About 9.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 16.40% of those age 65 or over.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2020 census of Ringgold County.[2]
†county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | †Mount Ayr | City | 1,623 |
| 2 | Diagonal | City | 344 |
| 3 | Kellerton | City | 243 |
| 4 | Sun Valley Lake | CDP | 187 |
| 5 | Tingley | City | 136 |
| 6 | Redding | City | 63 |
| 7 | Benton | City | 39 |
| 8 | Delphos | CDP | 26 |
| 9 | Maloy | City | 22 |
| 10 | Ellston | City | 19 |
| 11 | Beaconsfield | City | 15 |
| 12 | Clearfield (mostly inTaylor County) | City | 6 (278 total) |
| 13 | Shannon City (partially inUnion County) | City | 6 (73 total) |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 2,209 | 56.47% | 1,651 | 42.20% | 52 | 1.33% |
| 1900 | 2,319 | 62.19% | 1,311 | 35.16% | 99 | 2.65% |
| 1904 | 2,200 | 69.38% | 835 | 26.33% | 136 | 4.29% |
| 1908 | 1,940 | 61.94% | 1,092 | 34.87% | 100 | 3.19% |
| 1912 | 916 | 31.28% | 958 | 32.72% | 1,054 | 36.00% |
| 1916 | 1,733 | 55.46% | 1,351 | 43.23% | 41 | 1.31% |
| 1920 | 3,702 | 72.66% | 1,327 | 26.05% | 66 | 1.30% |
| 1924 | 3,147 | 60.68% | 882 | 17.01% | 1,157 | 22.31% |
| 1928 | 3,674 | 69.57% | 1,572 | 29.77% | 35 | 0.66% |
| 1932 | 2,082 | 45.04% | 2,480 | 53.64% | 61 | 1.32% |
| 1936 | 3,316 | 55.31% | 2,615 | 43.62% | 64 | 1.07% |
| 1940 | 3,507 | 59.50% | 2,374 | 40.28% | 13 | 0.22% |
| 1944 | 2,767 | 59.35% | 1,867 | 40.05% | 28 | 0.60% |
| 1948 | 2,487 | 55.77% | 1,922 | 43.10% | 50 | 1.12% |
| 1952 | 3,442 | 70.66% | 1,408 | 28.91% | 21 | 0.43% |
| 1956 | 2,713 | 60.42% | 1,775 | 39.53% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1960 | 2,538 | 58.74% | 1,781 | 41.22% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1964 | 1,571 | 40.91% | 2,260 | 58.85% | 9 | 0.23% |
| 1968 | 1,986 | 57.05% | 1,237 | 35.54% | 258 | 7.41% |
| 1972 | 2,264 | 68.54% | 1,003 | 30.37% | 36 | 1.09% |
| 1976 | 1,543 | 46.25% | 1,739 | 52.13% | 54 | 1.62% |
| 1980 | 1,884 | 57.95% | 1,150 | 35.37% | 217 | 6.67% |
| 1984 | 1,512 | 48.51% | 1,593 | 51.11% | 12 | 0.38% |
| 1988 | 1,110 | 40.64% | 1,609 | 58.92% | 12 | 0.44% |
| 1992 | 967 | 33.71% | 1,341 | 46.74% | 561 | 19.55% |
| 1996 | 967 | 35.29% | 1,439 | 52.52% | 334 | 12.19% |
| 2000 | 1,369 | 50.85% | 1,246 | 46.29% | 77 | 2.86% |
| 2004 | 1,466 | 52.77% | 1,286 | 46.29% | 26 | 0.94% |
| 2008 | 1,401 | 52.10% | 1,236 | 45.97% | 52 | 1.93% |
| 2012 | 1,368 | 52.64% | 1,186 | 45.63% | 45 | 1.73% |
| 2016 | 1,824 | 67.38% | 753 | 27.82% | 130 | 4.80% |
| 2020 | 1,968 | 72.51% | 709 | 26.12% | 37 | 1.36% |
| 2024 | 2,015 | 75.02% | 638 | 23.75% | 33 | 1.23% |
School districts include:[14]
Former school districts:[15]
Places adjacent to Ringgold County, Iowa | |
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Municipalities and communities ofRinggold County, Iowa,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Extinct Hamlet | ||
| Townships | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
40°43′56″N94°14′53″W / 40.73222°N 94.24806°W /40.73222; -94.24806
