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Decatur County
County
Decatur County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°44′29″N 93°46′51″W / 40.741388888889°N 93.780833333333°W / 40.741388888889; -93.780833333333
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1846
Named for	Stephen Decatur Jr.
Seat	Leon
Largest city	Lamoni
Area
• Total	533 sq mi (1,380 km)
• Land	532 sq mi (1,380 km)
• Water	1.6 sq mi (4 km)  0.3%
Population
• Total	7,645
• Density	14/sq mi (5.5/km)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.decaturcountyiowa.org

Decatur County (/dɪˈkeɪtər/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,645. The county seat is Leon. This county is named for Stephen Decatur Jr., a hero in the War of 1812.

History

Decatur County was organized in 1850 and named for Stephen Decatur, a naval hero of the War of 1812. The current courthouse was dedicated in 1908.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 533 square miles (1,380 km), of which 532 square miles (1,380 km) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km) (0.3%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 35
• U.S. Highway 69
• Iowa Highway 2

Transit

• Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

• Clarke County (north)
• Wayne County (east)
• Mercer County, Missouri (southeast)
• Harrison County, Missouri (southwest)
• Ringgold County (west)

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 7,645 in the county, with a population density of 14.3482/sq mi (5.5399/km). 96.44% of the population reported being of one race. There were 3,653 housing units of which 2,986 were occupied.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,457 in the county, with a population density of 15.897/sq mi (6.138/km). There were 3,834 housing units, of which 3,223 were occupied.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 8,689 people, 3,337 households and 2,149 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 per square mile (6.2/km). There were 3,833 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (2.7/km). The racial makeup of the county was 96.46% White, 0.98% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,337 households, of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.60% were non-families. 30.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.

23.00% of the population were under the age of 18, 16.30% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median household income was $27,343 and the median family income was $34,831. Males had a median income of $25,569 compared with $19,309 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,209. About 10.90% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those age 65 or over.

Decatur County is considered to be the poorest in Iowa, reporting that almost 20% of its residents live in poverty.

County officials

Supervisors
Steve Fulkerson
Doug Tharp
Ward Graham

Treasurer
Janet Pierson

Attorney
Alan Wilson

Auditor
Charlene Hoover

Recorder
Erica Cook

Sheriff
Chris Lane

Assessor
Justin Cornett

Engineer
Justin Savage

Clerk of Court
Traci Tharp

Public Health Administrator
Shelley Bickel

Veterans Affairs Administrator
Samantha Schaff

Conservation Director
Kayla Clausen

Mental Health Director
Kathy Lerma

Communities

Cities

• Davis City
• Decatur City
• Garden Grove
• Grand River
• Lamoni
• Leon
• Le Roy
• Pleasanton
• Van Wert
• Weldon

Townships

Decatur County is divided into these townships:

• Bloomington
• Burrell
• Center
• Decatur
• Eden
• Fayette
• Franklin
• Garden Grove
• Grand River
• Hamilton
• High Point
• Long Creek
• Morgan
• New Buda
• Richland
• Woodland

Population ranking

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

† county seat

Politics

See also

• Decatur County Courthouse (Iowa)
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Decatur County, Iowa

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. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 102.
4. "County History". Dacatur County. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
12. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Decatur County, Iowa".
13. "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. Mike Kilen, "Headline: Who will win in Iowa's poorest county?", Des Moines Register, June 6, 2004 (subscription required)
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.

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

v t e Places adjacent to Decatur County, Iowa
Clarke County Ringgold County Decatur County Wayne County Harrison County Mercer County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Decatur County, Iowa, United States
County seat: Leon
Cities	Davis City Decatur City Garden Grove Grand River Lamoni Leon Le Roy Pleasanton Van Wert Weldon
Townships	Bloomington Burrell Center Decatur Eden Fayette Franklin Garden Grove Grand River Hamilton High Point Long Creek Morgan New Buda Richland Woodland
Unincorporated communities	High Point New Buda Terre Haute Tuskeego Woodland
Iowa portal United States portal

v t e State of Iowa
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40°44′29″N 93°46′51″W / 40.74139°N 93.78083°W / 40.74139; -93.78083

• Iowa counties
• Decatur County, Iowa
• 1846 establishments in Iowa Territory
• Populated places established in 1846