Decatur County, Iowa

Decatur County
Decatur County
U.S. county
	Decatur County Courthouse
	Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
	Iowa's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 40°44′29″N 93°46′51″W / 40.741388888889°N 93.780833333333°W
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1846
Named for	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 km2) 0.3%
Population (2020)
• Total	7,645
• Density	14/sq mi (5.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.decaturcountyiowa.org

Decatur County (/dɪˈkeɪtər/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,645.^[1] The county seat is Leon.^[2] This county is named for Stephen Decatur Jr., a hero in the War of 1812.^[3]

History[]

Decatur County was organized in 1850 and named for Stephen Decatur, a naval hero of the War of 1812. The current courthouse was dedicated in 1908.^[4]

Geography[]

According to the U.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.^[5]

Soils of Decatur County

Major highways[]

Adjacent counties[]

Clarke County (north)
Wayne County (east)
Mercer County, Missouri (southeast)
Harrison County, Missouri (southwest)
Ringgold County (west)

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
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%
U.S. Decennial Census^[6] 1790-1960^[7] 1900-1990^[8] 1990-2000^[9] 2010-2018^[10]

Population of Decatur County from US census data

2010 census[]

The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,457 in the county, with a population density of 15.897/sq mi (6.138/km²). There were 3,834 housing units, of which 3,223 were occupied.^[11]

2000 census[]

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Decatur County

At the 2000 census,^[12] there were 8,689 people, 3,337 households and 2,149 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 per square mile (6/km²). There were 3,833 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.46% White, 0.98% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,337 households, of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married 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.

The median 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. The per capita income for the county was $14,209. About 10.90% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty 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.^[13]

County Officials[]

Supervisors
Bob Bell
Dan Christiansen
Jimmy Fulton

Treasurer
Kathy Martin

Attorney
Lisa Hynden-Jeanes

Auditor
Stephanie Daughton

Recorder
Gale Norman

Sheriff

Ben Boswell

Assesor
Justin Cornett

Engineer
Vacant

Clerk of Court
Traci Tharp

Public Health Administrator
Shelley Bickel

Veterans Affairs Administrator
Samantha Schaff

Conservation Director
Rich Erke

Mental Health Director
Kathy Lerma

Communities[]

Ancient Map of Decatur County, Iowa (1894)

Cities[]

Townships[]

Decatur County is divided into these townships:

Population ranking[]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Decatur County.^[1]

† 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 in Clarke County)	City	136
9	Pleasanton	City	32
10	Le Roy	City	11

Politics[]

show

Presidential Elections Results

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 102.
^ "County History". Dacatur County. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved May 8, 2011.^{[dead link]}
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^ Mike Kilen, "Headline: Who will win in Iowa's poorest county?", Des Moines Register, 6 June 2004 (subscription required)
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.

External links[]

Coordinates: 40°44′29″N 93°46′51″W / 40.74139°N 93.78083°W / 40.74139; -93.78083

[cen2020-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

[GR6-2] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.

[3] Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 102.

[4] "County History". Dacatur County. Retrieved 2020-07-08.

[GR1-5] "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.

[6] "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.

[7] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 16, 2014.

[8] "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.

[9] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.

[QF-10] "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2014.

[USCB-11] "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved May 8, 2011.^{[dead link]}

[GR2-12] "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

[13] Mike Kilen, "Headline: Who will win in Iowa's poorest county?", Des Moines Register, 6 June 2004 (subscription required)

[14] Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.

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[14]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	68.7% 2,615	29.4% 1,120	1.8% 69
2016	61.5% 2,296	32.2% 1,201	6.3% 237
2012	50.8% 1,947	46.7% 1,791	2.5% 95
2008	49.2% 2,020	48.4% 1,986	2.4% 100
2004	52.1% 2,088	46.4% 1,859	1.6% 64
2000	51.3% 1,903	45.1% 1,674	3.6% 132
1996	35.5% 1,287	51.0% 1,846	13.5% 490
1992	33.0% 1,316	46.8% 1,866	20.2% 804
1988	38.8% 1,406	60.4% 2,192	0.8% 29
1984	49.6% 2,104	49.5% 2,098	0.9% 40
1980	47.7% 2,212	44.1% 2,048	8.2% 380
1976	41.1% 1,932	57.3% 2,698	1.6% 77
1972	57.4% 2,638	40.9% 1,880	1.6% 75
1968	49.3% 2,261	44.8% 2,057	5.9% 270
1964	31.6% 1,542	68.2% 3,331	0.3% 12
1960	55.7% 3,039	44.2% 2,411	0.1% 7
1956	50.9% 2,912	49.0% 2,806	0.1% 7
1952	58.7% 3,621	40.9% 2,521	0.4% 26
1948	43.9% 2,547	54.7% 3,172	1.5% 84
1944	46.8% 2,934	52.9% 3,316	0.3% 18
1940	46.9% 3,494	52.9% 3,938	0.2% 16
1936	44.4% 3,327	55.1% 4,131	0.5% 36
1932	36.8% 2,148	61.6% 3,591	1.6% 91
1928	59.1% 3,942	40.1% 2,675	0.9% 58
1924	47.1% 3,221	24.8% 1,693	28.1% 1,921
1920	61.2% 4,187	37.9% 2,592	1.0% 66
1916	47.5% 1,962	51.1% 2,111	1.5% 62
1912	34.4% 1,351	42.2% 1,659	23.4% 918
1908	52.5% 2,149	44.2% 1,809	3.3% 133
1904	58.4% 2,430	37.2% 1,548	4.3% 180
1900	53.2% 2,415	45.3% 2,058	1.5% 66
1896	48.5% 2,268	50.5% 2,362	1.1% 50

show v t Municipalities and communities of Decatur County, Iowa, United States
County seat: Leon
Cities	Davis City Decatur City Garden Grove Grand River Lamoni Leon Le Roy Pleasanton Van Wert Weldon
Townships	Bloomington Burrell Center Decatur Eden Fayette Franklin Garden Grove Grand River Hamilton High Point Long Creek Morgan New Buda Richland Woodland
Unincorporated communities	High Point New Buda Terre Haute Tuskeego Woodland
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