Winneshiek County, Iowa

Winneshiek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,056.[1] The county seat is Decorah.[2]

Winneshiek County
U.S. county
Courthouse and Civil War Monument located in Decorah
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°17′00″N 91°52′00″W
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1847
Named forChief Winneshiek
SeatDecorah
Largest cityDecorah
Area
 • Total690 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Land690 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.04%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total21,056
 • Estimate 
(2018)
20,029
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitehttp://www.winneshiekcounty.org/

History

A largely rural and agricultural county, Winneshiek County has a rich cultural history from Czech, Slovak, English, Irish, German, Swiss, and Norwegian immigrants that have settled within its boundaries.

The county was originally settled in 1848 in present-day Bloomfield Township (near Castalia, Iowa) and in Washington Township (near Fort Atkinson, Iowa). It was organized in 1847, and named after a chief of the Winnebago tribe.

In 1980, Winneshiek County reported a population of 21,842. Like much of Iowa during the 1980s it witnessed a population loss, dropping to 20,847 according to the 1990 United States Census. However, during the 1990s the county experienced some mild growth and was able to rise above the 21,000 mark once again.

Government and elected officials

As of 2010, the Winneshiek County government had a total of 785 employees and staff.

Politics

Like all Iowa counties, Winneshiek is governed by an elected partisan Board of Supervisors. Winneshiek County's Board of Supervisors has five members elected by single-member districts of equal population. Other elected officials are the county attorney, auditor, sheriff and treasurer. The offices for the supervisors and county officers are located in the County Courthouse at the county seat.

Political Culture
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[3]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 51.7% 6,235 46.6% 5,617 1.8% 212
2016 47.0% 5,344 46.2% 5,254 6.7% 764
2012 41.7% 4,622 56.4% 6,256 1.9% 206
2008 37.9% 4,273 60.5% 6,829 1.6% 182
2004 49.4% 5,324 49.7% 5,354 1.0% 106
2000 49.4% 4,647 46.1% 4,339 4.6% 431
1996 40.3% 3,532 47.0% 4,122 12.7% 1,116
1992 34.6% 3,331 39.4% 3,791 26.0% 2,502
1988 48.1% 4,194 50.9% 4,443 1.0% 88
1984 58.0% 5,277 40.9% 3,724 1.1% 104
1980 54.1% 5,033 34.4% 3,201 11.5% 1,070
1976 52.1% 4,765 45.5% 4,158 2.5% 226
1972 56.2% 5,877 42.1% 4,401 1.7% 174
1968 60.1% 5,600 36.1% 3,364 3.8% 355
1964 40.4% 3,941 59.6% 5,811 0.1% 7
1960 54.5% 5,737 45.5% 4,786 0.1% 7
1956 59.2% 6,192 40.6% 4,251 0.2% 17
1952 66.6% 7,154 33.2% 3,560 0.2% 22
1948 47.5% 4,594 50.8% 4,905 1.7% 164
1944 53.8% 5,318 46.1% 4,557 0.2% 18
1940 53.4% 6,208 46.5% 5,405 0.2% 24
1936 40.2% 4,489 53.5% 5,980 6.4% 712
1932 32.4% 3,348 66.0% 6,823 1.6% 162
1928 52.5% 5,084 46.8% 4,535 0.8% 73
1924 44.0% 4,154 16.0% 1,510 40.1% 3,786
1920 76.0% 6,684 22.0% 1,933 2.1% 180
1916 57.9% 2,876 39.4% 1,956 2.8% 138
1912 15.6% 802 41.0% 2,105 43.3% 2,223
1908 56.8% 2,767 41.2% 2,008 2.0% 97
1904 69.0% 3,383 29.9% 1,467 1.1% 56
1900 64.7% 3,486 34.1% 1,835 1.2% 65
1896 61.8% 3,422 36.7% 2,033 1.6% 87

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 690 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 690 square miles (1,800 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.04%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1850546—
186013,9422,453.5%
187023,57069.1%
188023,9381.6%
189022,528−5.9%
190023,7315.3%
191021,729−8.4%
192022,0911.7%
193021,630−2.1%
194022,2632.9%
195021,639−2.8%
196021,6510.1%
197021,7580.5%
198021,8760.5%
199020,847−4.7%
200021,3102.2%
201021,056−1.2%
2018 (est.)20,029[5]−4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2018[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 21,056 in the county, with a population density of 30.5332/sq mi (11.7889/km2). There were 8,721 housing units, of which 7,997 were occupied.[10]

2000 census
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Winneshiek County

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 21,310 people, 7,734 households, and 5,189 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km2). There were 8,208 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.85% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.3% were of German, 31.7% Norwegian, 5.5% Irish and 5.1% Czech ancestry.

There were 7,734 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 16.7% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,908, and the median income for a family was $45,966. Males had a median income of $29,278 versus $21,240 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,047. About 5.1% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

Ghost towns

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Winneshiek County.[12]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 † Decorah City 8,127
2 Calmar City 978
3 Ossian City 845
4 Spillville City 367
5 Fort Atkinson City 349
6 Ridgeway City 315
7 Castalia City 173
8 Burr Oak CDP 166
9 Jackson Junction City 58

Education

The following school districts have their administrative headquarters in the county:[13]

North Winneshiek Community School District was in the county until it merged with Decorah CSD on July 1, 2018.[14]

The following school districts have their administrative headquarters outside of the county but serve sections of Winneshiek County:[13]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  10. "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. https://www.census.gov/2010census/
  13. "Comprehensive Plan" (PDF). Winneshiek County. December 2016. p. 90. Retrieved 2020-04-06. - (PDF p. 91/512) See "Figure 8: School Districts in Winneshiek County" in section "Public Schools"
  14. "Iowa Educational Directory 2019-2020 School Year" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. p. 175. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-04-05. Retrieved 2020-04-05. (PDF p. 177/186) - From section "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66"

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