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Dallas County
County
Dallas County Court House in Adel
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°40′58″N 94°02′06″W / 41.682777777778°N 94.035°W / 41.682777777778; -94.035
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	January 13, 1846
Named for	George M. Dallas
Seat	Adel
Largest city	Waukee
Area
• Total	592 sq mi (1,530 km)
• Land	588 sq mi (1,520 km)
• Water	3.3 sq mi (9 km)  0.5%
Population
• Total	99,678
• Density	170/sq mi (65/km)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.dallascountyiowa.gov

Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 99,678, making it the seventh-most populous county in Iowa. Between 2010 and 2020, it was the fastest growing county in Iowa and one of the fastest growing in the country. Its county seat is Adel, and its largest city is Waukee. The county was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States under James K. Polk, the namesake of neighboring Polk County.

Dallas County is included in the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The land that now forms Dallas County was ceded by the Sac and Fox nation to the United States in a treaty signed on October 11, 1842.

On January 13, 1846, the legislative body of the Iowa Territory authorized the creation of twelve counties in the Iowa Territory, with general descriptions of their boundaries. Dallas County's name referred to United States Vice President George M. Dallas, who served from 1845 to 1849.

In 1847 the county residents voted to designate Penoch as the county seat (the name was changed to Adel in 1849). The county's population grew rapidly, with settlers coming to claim homesteads. By 1870, the population had crossed the 12,000 mark.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 square miles (1,530 km), of which 588 square miles (1,520 km) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km) (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 80 – runs east-northeast across the southern portion of the county, passing Dexter and De Soto on its way to Des Moines
• U.S. Highway 6 – from its starting point in Adel, runs east across the midsection of the county on its way to Des Moines
• U.S. Highway 169 – runs north–south through the center of the county, from Bouton to Adel to De Soto
• Iowa Highway 17 – from its starting point (intersection with Iowa 141) at Granger, runs north along the county's eastern boundary, into Boone County
• Iowa Highway 44 – runs east–west through the center of the county, through Dallas Center
• Iowa Highway 141 – runs east across northern portion of county, through Dawson, Perry, Bouton and Woodward, then southeast to exit into Polk County at Granger
• Iowa Highway 144 - from its starting point (intersection w Iowa 141) at Perry, runs north into Boone County
• Iowa Highway 210 – from its starting point (intersection w Iowa 141), runs north to Woodward and continues into Boone County

Adjacent counties

• Adair County – southwest
• Boone County – north
• Greene County – north and northwest
• Guthrie County – west
• Madison County – south
• Polk County – east
• Warren County – southeast

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 99,678 in the county, with a population density of 168.7353/sq mi (65.1491/km). 94.19% of the population reported being of one race. There were 41,125 housing units of which 38,291 were occupied.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 66,135 in the county, with a population density of 112.7698/sq mi (43.5407/km). There were 27,260 housing units, of which 25,240 were occupied.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 40,750 people, 15,584 households, and 11,173 families in the county. The population density was 70 inhabitants per square mile (27/km). There were 16,529 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km). The racial makeup of the county was 94.75% White, 0.74% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.79% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 5.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 15,584 households, 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 23.60% of households were one person and 8.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 28.20% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median household income was $48,528 and the median family income was $58,293. Males had a median income of $37,243 versus $27,026 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,970. About 4.00% of families and 5.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Adel
• Bouton
• Clive ‡
• Dallas Center
• Dawson
• De Soto
• Dexter
• Granger‡
• Grimes ‡
• Linden
• Minburn
• Perry
• Redfield
• Urbandale ‡
• Van Meter
• Waukee
• West Des Moines ‡
• Woodward

‡ partly in Polk County

Unincorporated communities

• Booneville

Townships

• Adams
• Adel
• Beaver
• Boone
• Colfax
• Dallas
• Des Moines
• Grant
• Lincoln
• Linn
• Spring Valley
• Sugar Grove
• Union
• Van Meter
• Walnut
• Washington

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Dallas County.

† county seat

Politics

Prior to 1932, Dallas County was strongly Republican in presidential elections. From 1932 to 1996, it was a swing county, having a Republican lean until 1960 & a Democratic lean from 1964 to 1996, especially after 1980. Since 2000, it has been consistently Republican, though no Republican presidential candidate has won over 58% of the vote nor has a Democrat won less than 41% since then.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallas County, Iowa
• Raccoon River Valley Trail

References

1. ^ "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. United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
4. The counties were Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marshall, Polk, Story, Warren, and Wayne.
5. The History of Polk County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Union Historical Co. 1880. pp. 419, 425.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". US Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. Dallas County, Iowa Google Maps (accessed 20 August 2018)
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
12. "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 16, 2014.
13. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dallas County, Iowa".
15. "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). US Census Bureau – American FactFinder. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
16. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 8, 2020.

Further reading

• Meyer, Theodoric. "Two Iowa counties an hour apart show America’s growing political divide: Rural Decatur County has moved sharply red, while suburban Dallas County has shifted the other direction" Washington Post January 12, 2024, online

External links

• Dallas County government's website Archived April 4, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
• HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY, IOWA 1879 Online book

v t e Places adjacent to Dallas County, Iowa
Greene County Boone County Guthrie County Dallas County, Iowa Polk County Adair County Madison County Warren County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Dallas County, Iowa, United States
County seat: Adel
Cities	Adel Bouton Clive‡ Dallas Center Dawson De Soto Dexter Granger‡ Grimes‡ Linden Minburn Perry Redfield Urbandale‡ Van Meter Waukee West Des Moines‡ Woodward
Townships	Adams Adel Beaver Boone Colfax Dallas Des Moines Grant Lincoln Linn Spring Valley Sugar Grove Union Van Meter Walnut Washington
Unincorporated communities	Booneville Xenia Zook Spur
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Iowa portal United States portal

v t e State of Iowa
Des Moines (capital)
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41°40′58″N 94°02′06″W / 41.68278°N 94.03500°W / 41.68278; -94.03500

• Iowa counties
• Dallas County, Iowa
• 1846 establishments in Iowa Territory
• Des Moines metropolitan area
• Populated places established in 1846
• George M. Dallas