Ida County, Iowa

Ida County
Ida County
County
	Ida County Courthouse
	Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
	Iowa's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 42°23′12″N 95°30′52″W / 42.386666666667°N 95.514444444444°W
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	January 15, 1851
Seat	Ida Grove
Largest city	Ida Grove
Area
• Total	432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
• Land	432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
• Water	0.5 sq mi (1 km2) 0.1%
Population (2020)
• Total	7,005
• Density	16/sq mi (6.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	idacounty.iowa.gov

Ida County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census the population was 7,005, making it the state's eighth-least populous county.^[1] The county seat is Ida Grove.^[2] The county was authorized by the Iowa Legislature in January 1851 as a packet of projected counties in unorganized territory of western Iowa. It was named after Ida Smith, the first child of European immigrants to be born in this region.^[3]

History

The Iowa Legislature authorized the formation of 49 counties in previously–unregulated western Iowa on January 15, 1851.^[4] This date is usually cited as the date of formation of Ida County; however, as there were no inhabitants of that area, no action was taken to form a county government.

On January 12, 1853, the Legislature authorized creation of Woodbury County, and included the proviso that the area of Ida County be included with Woodbury for revenue, election, and judicial purposes. In 1853 there were still no settlers in Ida County's lands.^[3]

The county's first permanent settlers (Comstock and Moorehead) arrived in 1856. In 1858 the county government was organized, with John Moorehead appointed County Judge. There were about 40 county residents at that time.^[3]

The county's only postoffice, as well as the first courthouse, was operated from Judge Moorehead's house.^[5]

The county's first dedicated school building was raised in 1861.^[3]

The county's first newspaper, Ida County Pioneer, was started in 1872. The first bank opened in 1876. Railroads arrived in Ida County in 1877, when the Maple Valley branch of the Chicago & North Western Railway was built. This resulted in a flood of settlers, and within five years, nearly all the available land had been purchased.^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 432 square miles (1,120 km²), of which 432 square miles (1,120 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) (0.1%) is water.^[6]

Major highways

U.S. Highway 20 – runs east–west through the northern part of the county, passing Holstein.
U.S. Highway 59 – runs generally north–south through the center of the county, passing Ida Grove. Its exit at south county line is five miles east of its entry point on north county line.
Iowa Highway 31 – cuts across the northwestern tip of Ida County, running southwest from Cherokee County to Woodbury County.
Iowa Highway 175 – runs east–west through the southern part of the county, passing Ida Grove.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	43		—
1870	226		425.6%
1880	4,382		1,838.9%
1890	10,705		144.3%
1900	12,327		15.2%
1910	11,296		−8.4%
1920	11,689		3.5%
1930	11,933		2.1%
1940	11,047		−7.4%
1950	10,697		−3.2%
1960	10,269		−4.0%
1970	9,283		−9.6%
1980	8,908		−4.0%
1990	8,365		−6.1%
2000	7,837		−6.3%
2010	7,089		−9.5%
2020	7,005		−1.2%
2023 (est.)	6,833	^[7]	−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census^[8] 1790-1960^[9] 1900-1990^[10] 1990-2000^[11] 2010-2018^[12] ^[13] 2020-2022^[12]

Population of Ida County from US census data

2020 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Ida County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 7,005 in the county, with a population density of 16.1990/sq mi (6.2545/km²). 97.32% of the population reported being of one race. 91.46% were non-Hispanic White, 0.44% were Black, 3.64% were Hispanic, 0.06% were Native American, 0.31% were Asian, 0.16% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 3.93% were some other race or more than one race. There were 3,352 housing units, of which 2,940 were occupied.^[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,089 in the county, with a population density of 16.4207/sq mi (6.3401/km²). There were 3,426 housing units, of which 3,052 were occupied.^[14]

2000 census

As of the census^[15] of 2000, there were 7,837 people, 3,213 households, and 2,184 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km²). There were 3,506 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.02% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,213 households, out of which 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 21.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,805, and the median income for a family was $43,179. Males had a median income of $29,002 versus $19,417 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,675. About 5.70% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

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

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Ida Grove	City	2,051
2	Holstein	City	1,501
3	Battle Creek	City	700
4	Galva	City	435
5	Arthur	City	222

Politics

United States presidential election results for Ida County, Iowa^[16]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	2,880	74.82%	917	23.82%	52	1.35%
2016	2,655	73.50%	792	21.93%	165	4.57%
2012	2,286	62.41%	1,321	36.06%	56	1.53%
2008	2,036	57.40%	1,454	40.99%	57	1.61%
2004	2,342	62.06%	1,415	37.49%	17	0.45%
2000	1,968	56.37%	1,411	40.42%	112	3.21%
1996	1,684	45.12%	1,589	42.58%	459	12.30%
1992	1,714	40.43%	1,449	34.18%	1,076	25.38%
1988	1,951	51.63%	1,787	47.29%	41	1.08%
1984	2,618	62.30%	1,559	37.10%	25	0.59%
1980	2,825	64.88%	1,235	28.36%	294	6.75%
1976	2,590	56.86%	1,868	41.01%	97	2.13%
1972	2,819	64.67%	1,490	34.18%	50	1.15%
1968	2,753	62.21%	1,463	33.06%	209	4.72%
1964	1,977	40.48%	2,905	59.48%	2	0.04%
1960	3,290	62.77%	1,949	37.19%	2	0.04%
1956	3,226	60.75%	2,083	39.23%	1	0.02%
1952	3,800	70.14%	1,603	29.59%	15	0.28%
1948	2,257	48.04%	2,365	50.34%	76	1.62%
1944	2,640	57.38%	1,943	42.23%	18	0.39%
1940	3,166	57.70%	2,306	42.03%	15	0.27%
1936	1,834	34.39%	3,397	63.70%	102	1.91%
1932	1,452	27.99%	3,661	70.58%	74	1.43%
1928	2,486	52.77%	2,172	46.10%	53	1.13%
1924	2,033	43.46%	685	14.64%	1,960	41.90%
1920	3,547	75.73%	1,090	23.27%	47	1.00%
1916	1,412	51.12%	1,244	45.04%	106	3.84%
1912	530	18.98%	1,087	38.93%	1,175	42.08%
1908	1,367	52.98%	1,181	45.78%	32	1.24%
1904	1,565	60.66%	940	36.43%	75	2.91%
1900	1,599	54.22%	1,304	44.22%	46	1.56%
1896	1,475	50.36%	1,421	48.51%	33	1.13%

Education

School districts include:^[17]

Former school districts:^[18]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Ida County History
^ IOWA - Consolidated Chronology of State and County Government. 50 counties were affected: 49 new counties were created, and Pottawattamie County was enlarged with a portion of Non-County Area 3 that had been attached to Mahaska County. See Iowa Acts 1850-51, chapter 9. Section 26 delineates the new Ida County.
^ John Moorehead was named Postmaster of Ida PO on July 21, 1857. See Ida County History.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". US Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/keyapahacountynebraska/PST045222. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). US Census Bureau – American FactFinder. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ida County, IA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022. - Text list
^ "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Ida County, IA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022. - Text list