Des Moines County, Iowa

Not to be confused with Des Moines, Iowa.
Des Moines County, Iowa

Des Moines County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Des Moines County
Location in the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location in the U.S.
Founded 1834
Named for Des Moines River
Seat Burlington
Largest city Burlington
Area
 • Total 430 sq mi (1,114 km2)
 • Land 416 sq mi (1,077 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (36 km2), 3.2%
Population
 • (2010) 40,325
 • Density 97/sq mi (37/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.des-moines.ia.us

Des Moines County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the population was 40,325.[1] The county seat is Burlington.[2] It is one of Iowa's two original counties along with Dubuque County; both were organized by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1834.

Des Moines County is part of the Burlington, IA–IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Des Moines County should not be confused with the city of Des Moines, which is the capital of Iowa. Des Moines County sits on Iowa's eastern border alongside the Mississippi River. The city of Des Moines is in Polk County in south-central Iowa. Both places derive their name from the Des Moines River, which flows through the city of Des Moines and originally flowed through the county. When the county was divided early in Iowa's history, the river ended up further west, forming the border between Lee County, Iowa and the state of Missouri.

History

At an extra session of the Sixth Legislative Assembly of Michigan Territory held in September, 1834, the Iowa District was divided into two counties by running a line due west from the lower end of Rock Island in the Mississippi River. The territory north of this line (which started just south of the present-day Davenport) was named Dubuque County, and all south of it was Demoine County. It was named after the Des Moines River.[3] From July 3, 1836 until July 3, 1838, Des Moines County was part of Wisconsin Territory. The county underwent various border changes during this time. July 4, 1838, the named county became part of Iowa Territory (later the state of Iowa).[4]

The current Des Moines County Court House was completed in 1940.[5]

Geography

The U.S. Highway 34 bridge over the Mississippi River in Burlington

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 430 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 416 square miles (1,080 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (3.2%) is water.[6] The Mississippi River forms the east border; Skunk River, the south border; and the county is drained by Flint Creek.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
185012,988—
186019,61151.0%
187027,25639.0%
188033,09921.4%
189035,3246.7%
190035,9891.9%
191036,1450.4%
192035,520−1.7%
193038,1627.4%
194036,804−3.6%
195042,05614.3%
196044,6056.1%
197046,9825.3%
198046,203−1.7%
199042,614−7.8%
200042,351−0.6%
201040,325−4.8%
Est. 201540,055[8]−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 40,325 in the county, with a population density of 96.9002/sq mi (37.4134/km2). There were 18,535 housing units, of which 17,003 were occupied.[13]

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Des Moines County

As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 42,351 people, 17,270 households, and 11,536 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile (39/km²). There were 18,643 housing units at an average density of 45 per square mile (17/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.69% White, 3.57% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,270 households out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,790, and the median income for a family was $45,089. Males had a median income of $34,880 versus $22,530 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,701. About 8.20% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships


Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Des Moines County.[15]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)

1 † Burlington City 25,663
2 West Burlington City 2,968
3 Mediapolis City 1,560
4 Beaverdale CDP 952
5 Danville City 934
6 Middletown City 318

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Des Moines County
  4. ↑ "WI: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. Retrieved 2016-09-28.
  5. ↑ Svendsen, Marlvs A. "PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA MPS" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ↑  Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Des Moines, a S. E. county of Iowa". The American Cyclopædia.
  8. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  14. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. ↑ http://www.census.gov/2010census/

Further reading

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Coordinates: 40°55′40″N 91°11′02″W / 40.92778°N 91.18389°W / 40.92778; -91.18389

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