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| Winneshiek County, Iowa | ||
 Courthouse and Civil War Monument located in Decorah
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 Location in the state of Iowa | ||
 Iowa's location in the U.S. | ||
| Founded | 1847 | |
|---|---|---|
| Named for | Chief Winneshiek | |
| Seat | Decorah | |
| Largest city | Decorah | |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
690 sq mi (1,787 km²) 690 sq mi (1,787 km²) 0.3 sq mi (1 km²), 0.04 | |
| Population - (2020) - Density |
20,070 | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 | |
| Website | https://winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov/ | |
Winneshiek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,070.[1] The county seat is Decorah.[2]
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[]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 6,235 | 51.68% | 5,617 | 46.56% | 212 | 1.76% |
| 2016 | 5,344 | 47.03% | 5,254 | 46.24% | 764 | 6.72% |
| 2012 | 4,622 | 41.70% | 6,256 | 56.44% | 206 | 1.86% |
| 2008 | 4,273 | 37.87% | 6,829 | 60.52% | 182 | 1.61% |
| 2004 | 5,324 | 49.37% | 5,354 | 49.65% | 106 | 0.98% |
| 2000 | 4,647 | 49.35% | 4,339 | 46.08% | 431 | 4.58% |
| 1996 | 3,532 | 40.27% | 4,122 | 47.00% | 1,116 | 12.73% |
| 1992 | 3,331 | 34.61% | 3,791 | 39.39% | 2,502 | 26.00% |
| 1988 | 4,194 | 48.07% | 4,443 | 50.92% | 88 | 1.01% |
| 1984 | 5,277 | 57.96% | 3,724 | 40.90% | 104 | 1.14% |
| 1980 | 5,033 | 54.10% | 3,201 | 34.40% | 1,070 | 11.50% |
| 1976 | 4,765 | 52.08% | 4,158 | 45.45% | 226 | 2.47% |
| 1972 | 5,877 | 56.23% | 4,401 | 42.11% | 174 | 1.66% |
| 1968 | 5,600 | 60.09% | 3,364 | 36.10% | 355 | 3.81% |
| 1964 | 3,941 | 40.38% | 5,811 | 59.55% | 7 | 0.07% |
| 1960 | 5,737 | 54.48% | 4,786 | 45.45% | 7 | 0.07% |
| 1956 | 6,192 | 59.20% | 4,251 | 40.64% | 17 | 0.16% |
| 1952 | 7,154 | 66.64% | 3,560 | 33.16% | 22 | 0.20% |
| 1948 | 4,594 | 47.54% | 4,905 | 50.76% | 164 | 1.70% |
| 1944 | 5,318 | 53.76% | 4,557 | 46.06% | 18 | 0.18% |
| 1940 | 6,208 | 53.35% | 5,405 | 46.45% | 24 | 0.21% |
| 1936 | 4,489 | 40.15% | 5,980 | 53.48% | 712 | 6.37% |
| 1932 | 3,348 | 32.40% | 6,823 | 66.03% | 162 | 1.57% |
| 1928 | 5,084 | 52.46% | 4,535 | 46.79% | 73 | 0.75% |
| 1924 | 4,154 | 43.96% | 1,510 | 15.98% | 3,786 | 40.06% |
| 1920 | 6,684 | 75.98% | 1,933 | 21.97% | 180 | 2.05% |
| 1916 | 2,876 | 57.87% | 1,956 | 39.36% | 138 | 2.78% |
| 1912 | 802 | 15.63% | 2,105 | 41.03% | 2,223 | 43.33% |
| 1908 | 2,767 | 56.79% | 2,008 | 41.22% | 97 | 1.99% |
| 1904 | 3,383 | 68.96% | 1,467 | 29.90% | 56 | 1.14% |
| 1900 | 3,486 | 64.72% | 1,835 | 34.07% | 65 | 1.21% |
| 1896 | 3,422 | 61.75% | 2,033 | 36.68% | 87 | 1.57% |
| 1892 | 2,578 | 52.43% | 2,262 | 46.00% | 77 | 1.57% |
| 1888 | 2,559 | 55.02% | 2,043 | 43.93% | 49 | 1.05% |
| 1884 | 2,453 | 55.29% | 1,974 | 44.49% | 10 | 0.23% |
| 1880 | 2,474 | 57.70% | 1,415 | 33.00% | 399 | 9.31% |
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[]
U.S. Highway 52- Iowa Highway 9
- Iowa Highway 24
- Iowa Highway 139
- Iowa Highway 150
Adjacent counties[]
- Fillmore County, Minnesota (northwest)
- Houston County, Minnesota (northeast)
- Allamakee County (east)
- Fayette County (south)
- Chickasaw County (southwest)
- Howard County (west)
- Clayton County (southeast)
Demographics[]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 546 | ||
| 1860 | 13,942 | 2,453.5% | |
| 1870 | 23,570 | 69.1% | |
| 1880 | 23,938 | 1.6% | |
| 1890 | 22,528 | −5.9% | |
| 1900 | 23,731 | 5.3% | |
| 1910 | 21,729 | −8.4% | |
| 1920 | 22,091 | 1.7% | |
| 1930 | 21,630 | −2.1% | |
| 1940 | 22,263 | 2.9% | |
| 1950 | 21,639 | −2.8% | |
| 1960 | 21,651 | 0.1% | |
| 1970 | 21,758 | 0.5% | |
| 1980 | 21,876 | 0.5% | |
| 1990 | 20,847 | −4.7% | |
| 2000 | 21,310 | 2.2% | |
| 2010 | 21,056 | −1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[9] | |||
Population of Winneshiek County from US census data
2020 census[]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 20,070 in the county, with a population density of 28.878/sq mi (11.1500/km2). 97.20% of the population reported being of one race. 91.02% were non-Hispanic White, 0.65% were Black, 2.91% were Hispanic, 0.17% were Native American, 0.89% were Asian, 0.06% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.30% were some other race or more than one race. There were 8,916 housing units, of which 8,170 were occupied.[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[]
- Calmar
- Castalia
- Decorah
- Fort Atkinson
- Jackson Junction
- Ossian
- Ridgeway
- Spillville
Census-designated place[]
- Burr Oak
Other unincorporated communities[]
- Bluffton
- Festina
- Frankville
- Highlandville
- Hesper
- Kendalville
Townships[]
- Bloomfield
- Bluffton
- Burr Oak
- Calmar
- Canoe
- Decorah
- Frankville
- Fremont
- Glenwood
- Hesper
- Highland
- Jackson
- Lincoln
- Madison
- Military
- Orleans
- Pleasant
- Springfield
- Sumner
- Washington
Ghost towns[]
- Conover
- Moneek
- Sattre
- Canoe
Population ranking[]
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Winneshiek County.[1]
† county seat
| Rank | City/town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Decorah | City | 7,587 |
| 2 | Calmar | City | 1,125 |
| 3 | Ossian | City | 802 |
| 4 | Spillville | City | 385 |
| 5 | Fort Atkinson | City | 312 |
| 6 | Ridgeway | City | 275 |
| 7 | Burr Oak | CDP | 171 |
| 8 | Castalia | City | 145 |
| 9 | Jackson Junction | City | 37 |
Education[]
The following school districts have their administrative headquarters in the county:[12]
- Decorah Community School District
- South Winneshiek Community School District
- Turkey Valley Community School District
North Winneshiek Community School District was in the county until it merged with Decorah CSD on July 1, 2018.[13]
The following school districts have their administrative headquarters outside of the county but serve sections of Winneshiek County:[12]
- Allamakee Community School District
- Howard–Winneshiek Community School District
- Postville Community School District
See also[]
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Winneshiek County, Iowa
References[]
- ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". United states Census Bureau. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19191.html.
- ^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov.
- ^ a b "Comprehensive Plan". Winneshiek County. December 2016. p. 90. https://www.winneshiekcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Comprehensive-Plan.pdf. - (PDF p. 91/512) See "Figure 8: School Districts in Winneshiek County" in section "Public Schools"
- ^ "Iowa Educational Directory 2019-2020 School Year". Iowa Department of Education. p. 175. https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/2019-2020EducationalDirectory.pdf. (PDF p. 177/186) - From section "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66"
External links[]
- Winneshiek County - Official County Government site
- Winneshiek County Health and Demographic Data
- 1913 History of Winneshiek County
- Official Winneshiek County Fair site
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Fillmore County, Minnesota | Houston County, Minnesota |
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| Howard County | 
|
Allamakee County | ||
   Winneshiek County, Iowa | ||||
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| Chickasaw County | Fayette County | Clayton County |
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