Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,460.[1] Its county seat is Clinton.[2] Its name is in honor of the seventh Governor of New York State, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton County comprises the Clinton, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Davenport–Moline–Clinton, Muscatine, Iowa–Illinois Combined Statistical Area.

Clinton County
Clinton County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Clinton County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°53′34″N 90°31′39″W / 41.892777777778°N 90.5275°W / 41.892777777778; -90.5275
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1837
Named forDeWitt Clinton
SeatClinton
Largest cityClinton
Area
 • Total
710 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Land695 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
46,460
 • Estimate 
(2023)
46,158 Decrease
 • Density65/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.clintoncounty-ia.gov

History

edit

Clinton County was formed on December 21, 1837. It was named for DeWitt Clinton,[3] a Governor of New York and most ardent advocate for the construction of the Erie Canal. The cities of DeWitt and Clinton were also named after him.

In 1835, Elijah Buell built a log cabin for himself and his family and was thus the first settler of the region. In 1854, the first newspaper was issued and in 1858, the Lyons Female College for girls opened its doors. The tuition was set at $175 per student.[4]

The county has used three courthouses in its history. The structure currently in use was constructed in Romanesque style and opened in 1897.[5]

Early settlement

edit

Clinton county was first settled in 1836, by Mr. Bourne, who located upon Sec. 1, T. 80, R. 4, East. The county was surveyed in 1837, by the Messrs. Burtz. The Surveyor General's office was then at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1840, the county was organized by Sheriff Bourne. In 1841, R. R. Bed ford and others formed a little settlement at De Witt, and during the same year Messrs. Wheeler and Evans erected a log court-house. In stepping from the past to the present, we quote the language of one of the "oldest inhabitants." He says: "Clinton County was originally settled by the poorest class of people on God's earth; and it is with great pleasure that I have witnessed their progress, slow but sure, and now find the most of them very comfortably situated."

The population of this County in 1840, was 821; in 1850, 2822; in 1854, 7000; and in 1856, 11,000. The population of Lyons in 1850, was 453. In 1856 the population increased to 2700.

Geography

edit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 710 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 695 square miles (1,800 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (2.1%) is water.[6] It includes the easternmost point in the state of Iowa, on the Mississippi River in Elk River township in the northeast section of the county.

Transit

edit

Major highways

edit

Adjacent counties

edit

National protected area

edit

Demographics

edit
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1840821
18502,822243.7%
186018,938571.1%
187035,35786.7%
188036,7634.0%
189041,19912.1%
190043,8326.4%
191045,3943.6%
192043,371−4.5%
193044,3772.3%
194044,7220.8%
195049,66411.1%
196055,06010.9%
197056,7493.1%
198057,1220.7%
199051,040−10.6%
200050,149−1.7%
201049,116−2.1%
202046,460−5.4%
2023 (est.)46,158[7]−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[12]
 
Population of Clinton County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 46,460 in the county, with a population density of 66.851/sq mi (25.8111/km2). 94.95% of the population reported being of one race. There were 21,517 housing units of which 19,483 were occupied.[1]

Clinton County Racial Composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 41,226 88.73%
Black or African American (NH) 1,392 3%
Native American (NH) 103 0.22%
Asian (NH) 252 0.54%
Pacific Islander (NH) 10 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,938 4.2%
Hispanic or Latino 1,539 3.31%

2010 census

edit

The 2010 census recorded a population of 49,116 in the county, with a population density of 70.67/sq mi (27.286/km2). There were 21,733 housing units, of which 20,223 were occupied.[14]

2000 census

edit

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 50,149 people, 20,105 households, and 13,671 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile (28 people/km2). There were 21,585 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.87% White, 1.89% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,105 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,423, and the median income for a family was $46,450. Males had a median income of $35,049 versus $21,333 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,724. About 7.70% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

edit

Cities

edit

Unincorporated communities

edit

Townships

edit

Clinton County is divided into these townships:

Population ranking

edit

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

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 Clinton City 24,469
2 DeWitt City 5,514
3 Camanche City 4,570
4 Wheatland City 775
5 Grand Mound City 615
6 Delmar City 542
7 Lost Nation City 434
8 Charlotte City 389
9 Calamus City 356
10 Low Moor City 250
11 Goose Lake City 239
12 Welton City 121
13 Andover City 109
14 Toronto City 102

Politics

edit

Similar to many other counties in Iowa, Clinton County was reliably Democratic from Michael Dukakis's win in 1988 until 2016, when Trump flipped many counties in Iowa. He improved on his results in 2020.

United States presidential election results for Clinton County, Iowa[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 13,361 54.12% 10,812 43.80% 514 2.08%
2016 11,276 48.88% 10,095 43.76% 1,696 7.35%
2012 9,432 37.73% 15,141 60.56% 427 1.71%
2008 9,324 37.72% 15,018 60.75% 380 1.54%
2004 10,666 43.21% 13,813 55.96% 205 0.83%
2000 9,229 41.61% 12,276 55.35% 675 3.04%
1996 7,624 35.30% 11,481 53.17% 2,490 11.53%
1992 8,746 35.04% 11,683 46.81% 4,531 18.15%
1988 10,243 44.53% 12,549 54.56% 210 0.91%
1984 13,914 54.77% 11,240 44.25% 250 0.98%
1980 13,025 51.66% 9,698 38.47% 2,488 9.87%
1976 12,401 50.55% 11,746 47.88% 387 1.58%
1972 12,768 55.60% 9,895 43.09% 301 1.31%
1968 11,513 51.92% 9,515 42.91% 1,147 5.17%
1964 8,219 36.48% 14,267 63.32% 47 0.21%
1960 13,797 56.71% 10,508 43.19% 25 0.10%
1956 14,765 63.62% 8,394 36.17% 49 0.21%
1952 15,372 65.73% 7,975 34.10% 38 0.16%
1948 9,859 52.82% 8,534 45.72% 272 1.46%
1944 11,533 58.77% 8,028 40.91% 63 0.32%
1940 12,177 54.17% 10,251 45.60% 50 0.22%
1936 10,016 43.47% 12,269 53.25% 757 3.29%
1932 9,085 41.52% 12,587 57.53% 208 0.95%
1928 12,295 58.57% 8,643 41.17% 54 0.26%
1924 10,359 52.68% 3,811 19.38% 5,495 27.94%
1920 11,746 66.98% 3,153 17.98% 2,637 15.04%
1916 5,576 56.61% 3,903 39.62% 371 3.77%
1912 1,890 20.58% 3,633 39.55% 3,662 39.87%
1908 4,836 48.68% 4,821 48.53% 277 2.79%
1904 5,265 53.23% 4,074 41.19% 552 5.58%
1900 5,344 51.19% 4,758 45.58% 337 3.23%
1896 5,584 54.02% 4,590 44.40% 163 1.58%

See also

edit

References

edit
  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 May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 85.
  4. ^ "Looking Back at the history of Clinton County Iowa". Archived from the original on December 26, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  5. ^ "History of Clinton County Iowa". Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 28, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  13. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clinton County, Iowa".
  14. ^ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State – County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved March 12, 2011.[dead link]
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
edit

41°53′34″N 90°31′39″W / 41.89278°N 90.52750°W / 41.89278; -90.52750