Calhoun County, Iowa

Calhoun County
County
Clockwise from top: Calhoun County Courthouse in Rockwell City, the former Lake City Public Library, a grain elevator in the small town of Somers rises from a field at sunset, and the historic Central School in Lake City
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°23′10″N94°38′50″W / 42.386111111111°N 94.647222222222°W / 42.386111111111; -94.647222222222
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1855
Named for	John C. Calhoun
Seat	Rockwell City
Largest city	Rockwell City
Area
• Total	572 sq mi (1,480 km2)
• Land	570 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water	2.1 sq mi (5 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,927
• Density	17/sq mi (6.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.calhouncounty.iowa.gov

Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,927. ^[1] Its county seat is Rockwell City. ^[2]

History

Calhoun County was formed on January 15, 1851, from open land originally named Fox County. It was renamed in 1853 after the seventh US vice president secessionist John C. Calhoun. When the tracks of the Illinois Central Railroad were laid through the county in 1870, the county seat was moved from Lake City to Rockwell City. The first train reached Rockwell City on August 7, 1882, and the population count doubled in the same year. The first courthouse, built of wood, burned to the ground in 1884 and the county government moved into a nearby hotel. In 1913, the current courthouse was built.

On July 6, 1893, Pomeroy was struck by a tornado that measured F5 on the Fujita scale. With a damage path 500 yards (460 m) wide and 55 miles (89 km) long, the tornado destroyed about 80% of the homes in Pomeroy. The tornado killed 71 people and injured 200.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 572 square miles (1,480 km²), of which 570 square miles (1,500 km²) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) (0.4%) is water. ^[3]

Ecology

Calhoun County is located entirely within the Des Moines Lobe of the Western Corn Belt Plains ecoregion, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). One of the flattest regions in Iowa, the Des Moines Lobe ecoregion is a distinctive area naturally defined by Wisconsin glaciation but modified by humans for extensive agriculture. In general, the land is level to gently rolling with some areas of relief defined by glacial features like moraines, hummocky knobs, and kettles, and outwash deposits. The lobe does not have any loess deposits like the Loess Hills to the west.

The stream network is poorly developed and widely spaced, with major rivers carving valleys that are relatively deep and steep-sided. Almost all of the natural lakes of Iowa are found in the northern part of this region (the Iowa Great Lakes). Most of the region has been converted from wet prairie to agricultural use with substantial surface water drainage. Only a small fraction of the wetlands remain, and many natural lakes have been drained as a result of agricultural drainage projects via drainage tiles or ditches. ^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 20
• Iowa Highway 4
• Iowa Highway 7
• Iowa Highway 175

Adjacent counties

• Pocahontas County (north)
• Webster County (east)
• Greene County (southeast)
• Carroll County (southwest)
• Sac County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	147		—
1870	1,602		989.8%
1880	5,595		249.3%
1890	13,107		134.3%
1900	18,569		41.7%
1910	17,090		−8.0%
1920	17,783		4.1%
1930	17,605		−1.0%
1940	17,584		−0.1%
1950	16,925		−3.7%
1960	15,923		−5.9%
1970	14,287		−10.3%
1980	13,542		−5.2%
1990	11,508		−15.0%
2000	11,115		−3.4%
2010	9,670		−13.0%
2020	9,927		2.7%
2023 (est.)	9,763	[5]	−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8] 1990-2000 [9] 2010-2018 [10]

Population of Calhoun County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 9,927 in the county, with a population density of 17.3722/sq mi (6.7074/km²). 97.22% of the population reported being of one race. 91.88% were non-Hispanic White, 1.53% were Black, 2.38% were Hispanic, 0.24% were Native American, 0.26% were Asian, 0.08% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 3.63% were some other race or more than one race. There were 4,771 housing units of which 4,070 were occupied. ^[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,670 in the county, with a population density of 16.96/sq mi (6.55/km²). There were 5,108 housing units, of which 4,242 were occupied. ^[11]

2000 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2000, there were 11,115 people, 4,513 households, and 3,014 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km²). There were 5,219 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.06% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,513 households, out of which 27.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 30.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.10% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 22.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,286, and the median income for a family was $41,583. Males had a median income of $28,787 versus $20,095 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,498. 10.10% of the population and 7.10% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.50% of those under the age of 18 and 8.50% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Communities

Cities

• Farnhamville
• Jolley
• Knierim
• Lake City
• Lohrville
• Lytton
• Manson
• Pomeroy
• Rinard
• Rockwell City
• Somers
• Yetter

Unincorporated communities

• Easley
• Knoke
• Sherwood
• Twin Lakes, a census-designated place

Townships

Calhoun County is divided into sixteen townships:

• Butler
• Calhoun
• Cedar
• Center
• Elm Grove
• Garfield
• Greenfield
• Jackson
• Lake Creek
• Lincoln
• Logan
• Reading
• Sherman
• Twin Lakes
• Union
• Williams

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Calhoun County. ^[1]

†county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Rockwell City	City	2,240
2	Lake City	City	1,731
3	Manson	City	1,709
4	Pomeroy	City	526
5	Farnhamville (partially in Webster County )	City	383
6	Lohrville	City	381
7	Twin Lakes	CDP	316
8	Lytton (mostly in Sac County )	City	40 (282 total)
9	Somers	City	128
10	Knierim	City	53
11	Rinard	City	38
12	Jolley	City	28
13	Yetter	City	19

Politics

Politically, Calhoun County has favored the Republicans since 1896, usually only voting Democratic when the party won national victories. It first voted for the Democrats in 1932 when Franklin D. Roosevelt won in a landslide victory against Herbert Hoover. In 2000, Calhoun County voted for George W. Bush and has voted for the Republicans ever since. In 2016 Donald Trump won 67.2% percent of the vote in Calhoun County, the highest vote share since Dwight D. Eisenhower's victory in 1952. In 2020 and 2024, Trump increased it to 70.2% and 72.7% respectively, the highest percentages for any party in the county since Warren G. Harding a century earlier.

United States presidential election results for Calhoun County, Iowa ^[13]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,708	72.75%	1,328	26.05%	61	1.20%
2020	3,689	70.16%	1,470	27.96%	99	1.88%
2016	3,468	67.22%	1,398	27.10%	293	5.68%
2012	2,891	55.28%	2,238	42.79%	101	1.93%
2008	2,741	52.76%	2,341	45.06%	113	2.18%
2004	3,255	58.73%	2,243	40.47%	44	0.79%
2000	2,776	55.07%	2,132	42.29%	133	2.64%
1996	2,077	43.46%	2,193	45.89%	509	10.65%
1992	2,169	41.13%	2,140	40.58%	965	18.30%
1988	2,474	44.94%	2,990	54.31%	41	0.74%
1984	3,311	56.14%	2,541	43.08%	46	0.78%
1980	3,633	57.41%	2,150	33.98%	545	8.61%
1976	3,215	51.03%	3,001	47.63%	84	1.33%
1972	3,821	60.00%	2,446	38.41%	101	1.59%
1968	3,715	57.53%	2,361	36.56%	382	5.92%
1964	2,422	35.42%	4,407	64.46%	8	0.12%
1960	4,485	58.90%	3,123	41.01%	7	0.09%
1956	4,409	57.49%	2,972	38.75%	288	3.76%
1952	5,391	67.68%	2,411	30.27%	164	2.06%
1948	3,083	48.19%	3,164	49.45%	151	2.36%
1944	3,375	48.59%	3,544	51.02%	27	0.39%
1940	3,792	46.46%	4,344	53.23%	25	0.31%
1936	3,027	39.32%	4,544	59.02%	128	1.66%
1932	2,404	34.46%	4,368	62.61%	205	2.94%
1928	4,136	60.24%	2,681	39.05%	49	0.71%
1924	3,529	53.21%	714	10.77%	2,389	36.02%
1920	5,277	76.95%	1,479	21.57%	102	1.49%
1916	2,276	58.34%	1,515	38.84%	110	2.82%
1912	963	26.61%	1,182	32.66%	1,474	40.73%
1908	2,353	63.03%	1,152	30.86%	228	6.11%
1904	2,479	67.44%	870	23.67%	327	8.90%
1900	2,973	69.61%	1,224	28.66%	74	1.73%
1896	2,698	67.25%	1,280	31.90%	34	0.85%

See also

• Iowa portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Calhoun County, Iowa
• Calhoun County Courthouse

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. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4.  This article incorporates public domain material from Chapman, S.S., Omernik, J.M., Griffith, G.E.; et al. Ecoregions of Iowa and Missouri (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2022. (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs).
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
9. "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 14, 2014.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
11. "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State – County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2011.^{[ dead link ‍]}
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.

External links

• County website
• Graphic-Advocate Newspaper

42°23′10″N94°38′50″W / 42.38611°N 94.64722°W / 42.38611; -94.64722