Chickasaw County, Iowa

Chickasaw County
County
Chickasaw County court house built in 1929
Chickasaw County court house built in 1929
Map of Iowa highlighting Chickasaw County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°03′36″N 92°19′08″W / 43.06°N 92.318888888889°W / 43.06; -92.318888888889
Country United States
State Iowa
FoundedJanuary 15, 1851
Named forChickasaw people
SeatNew Hampton
Largest cityNew Hampton
Area
 • Total
506 sq mi (1,310 km2)
 • Land504 sq mi (1,310 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
12,012
 • Density24/sq mi (9.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitechickasawcounty.iowa.gov

Chickasaw County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,012.[1] Its county seat is New Hampton.[2] The county was named for the southern Indian Nation whose chief was Bradford.

History

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Chickasaw County was founded in January 1851. It was named after the Chickasaw tribe, which lived in the Southern United States at the time.

The first nonindigenous settlers arrived in 1848 and the first county seat was from 1854 in Bradford, in the southwestern corner of the county. In the spring of 1857, the seat was moved to New Hampton, located near the geographic center, and was then called Chickasaw Center. The first county offices were housed in private houses and in the school building. The first courthouse, a wood-frame building, was erected in 1865. That building was enlarged in 1876, but a fire on March 26, 1880, destroyed it (townspeople managed to save the records).[3] A brick/stone replacement structure was completed in 1881, and included a soaring clock tower. This building was enlarged in 1905 and again in 1906, but by the twenties it again was too small. The present structure, featuring Bedford stone, was built in 1929 and put into use in 1930.

Geography

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According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 506 square miles (1,310 km2), of which 504 square miles (1,310 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

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Highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18604,336—
187010,180134.8%
188014,53442.8%
189015,0193.3%
190017,03713.4%
191015,375−9.8%
192015,4310.4%
193014,637−5.1%
194015,2274.0%
195015,2280.0%
196015,034−1.3%
197014,969−0.4%
198015,4373.1%
199013,295−13.9%
200013,095−1.5%
201012,439−5.0%
202012,012−3.4%
2023 (est.)11,658[5]−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2018[10]
Population of Chickasaw County from US census data

2020 census

[edit]
2022 US Census population pyramid for Chickasaw County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 12,012 in the county, with a population density of 23.7488/sq mi (9.1695/km2). 96.29% of the population reported being of one race. 89.67% were non-Hispanic White, 0.67% were Black, 4.00% were Hispanic, 0.17% were Native American, 0.25% were Asian, 0.06% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 5.18% were some other race or more than one race. There were 5,534 housing units of which 5,022 were occupied.[1]

2010 census

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The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,439 in the county, with a population density of 24.632/sq mi (9.510/km2). There were 5,679 housing units, of which 5,204 were occupied.[11]

2000 census

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As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 13,095 people, 5,192 households, and 3,644 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10 people/km2). There were 5,593 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.75% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,192 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,649, and the median income for a family was $44,306. Males had a median income of $30,099 versus $21,309 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,237. About 5.90% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Chickasaw County posted the highest county unemployment rate in Iowa in the 2000 Census with 8% of the workforce unemployed. This figure, however, was still relatively low compared to the problems faced by many other counties in the Midwest.

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Population ranking

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

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † New Hampton City 3,494
2 Nashua (partially in Floyd County) City 1,551
3 Fredericksburg City 987
4 Lawler City 406
5 Ionia City 226
6 Protivin (mostly in Howard County) City 269
7 Alta Vista City 227
8 North Washington City 112
9 Bassett City 45

Politics

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Chickasaw County was a bellwether county from 1948 to 1984, voting for the nationwide winner in every election in that span. From 1988 to 2012, the county favored Democrats, as the Democratic nominee won the county by at least 10% in each election in that span except for 2000. Then, in 2016, Chickasaw County swung significantly to the right, shifting from Barack Obama winning the county by 11% in 2012 to Donald Trump winning by 23% in 2016, a shift of 34% to the right. Trump won over 58% of the county's vote, turning in the best performance for a Republican since the 1952 landslide election of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Trump further improved on this performance in 2020, taking nearly 65% of the vote and winning by a margin of over 31%, the best vote share and margin of victory for any candidate in Chickasaw County since the 1932 landslide election of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Trump once again improved in 2024, winning nearly 68% of the county's vote and earning the greatest margin of victory in Chickasaw County since at least the beginning of the 20th century.

United States presidential election results for Chickasaw County, Iowa[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 4,234 67.86% 1,919 30.76% 86 1.38%
2020 4,308 64.97% 2,233 33.68% 90 1.36%
2016 3,742 58.15% 2,266 35.21% 427 6.64%
2012 2,836 43.74% 3,554 54.81% 94 1.45%
2008 2,557 38.82% 3,923 59.57% 106 1.61%
2004 3,040 44.67% 3,708 54.48% 58 0.85%
2000 2,936 44.59% 3,435 52.17% 213 3.24%
1996 2,191 34.45% 3,355 52.75% 814 12.80%
1992 2,129 32.06% 2,913 43.87% 1,598 24.07%
1988 2,549 41.54% 3,530 57.53% 57 0.93%
1984 3,661 52.93% 3,186 46.06% 70 1.01%
1980 3,929 52.86% 2,935 39.49% 569 7.66%
1976 3,432 49.11% 3,503 50.13% 53 0.76%
1972 3,836 54.57% 3,134 44.58% 60 0.85%
1968 3,510 51.89% 2,966 43.85% 288 4.26%
1964 2,632 36.65% 4,545 63.28% 5 0.07%
1960 3,822 48.45% 4,063 51.50% 4 0.05%
1956 4,205 56.10% 3,275 43.70% 15 0.20%
1952 5,022 63.18% 2,921 36.75% 6 0.08%
1948 3,449 45.45% 4,071 53.64% 69 0.91%
1944 3,575 51.59% 3,328 48.03% 26 0.38%
1940 4,440 52.71% 3,981 47.26% 2 0.02%
1936 3,143 39.96% 4,458 56.67% 265 3.37%
1932 2,585 33.68% 5,047 65.75% 44 0.57%
1928 3,712 50.20% 3,665 49.57% 17 0.23%
1924 3,416 46.50% 1,736 23.63% 2,195 29.88%
1920 4,517 66.98% 2,171 32.19% 56 0.83%
1916 1,999 53.61% 1,697 45.51% 33 0.88%
1912 1,022 28.15% 1,891 52.08% 718 19.77%
1908 1,571 44.87% 1,877 53.61% 53 1.51%
1904 1,972 51.74% 1,790 46.97% 49 1.29%
1900 2,085 49.71% 2,063 49.19% 46 1.10%
1896 1,967 48.20% 2,084 51.07% 30 0.74%

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chickasaw County, Iowa.
  1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Chickasaw County
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". US Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  9. ^ "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 14, 2014.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State – County". US Census Bureau – American FactFinder. Retrieved March 9, 2011.[dead link‍]
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ a b c Chickasaw County - Google Maps (accessed August 15, 2018)
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.

43°03′36″N 92°19′08″W / 43.06000°N 92.31889°W / 43.06000; -92.31889

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