Emmet County, Iowa

Emmet County
County
Emmet County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°22′38″N94°40′39″W / 43.377222222222°N 94.6775°W / 43.377222222222; -94.6775
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1851
Named for	Robert Emmet
Seat	Estherville
Largest city	Estherville
Area
• Total	408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
• Land	401.4 sq mi (1,040 km2)
• Water	6.6 sq mi (17 km2)  1.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,388
• Density	23/sq mi (8.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	emmetcounty.iowa.gov

Emmet County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,388. ^[1] The county seat is Estherville. ^[2]

History

Emmet County was created by authority of the Iowa Legislature in 1851. There were finally enough settlers in the area to organize the county in 1859. ^[3] The county was named for the Irish patriot Robert Emmet, who was hanged as a traitor to the British government at the age of 25. ^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 403 square miles (1,040 km²), of which 396 square miles (1,030 km²) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km²) (1.4=6%) is water. ^[5] It is the second-smallest county by land area in Iowa, and the fourth-smallest by total area.

Major highways

• Iowa Highway 4
• Iowa Highway 9
• Iowa Highway 15

Adjacent counties

• Jackson County, Minnesota (northwest)
• Martin County, Minnesota (northeast)
• Kossuth County (east)
• Palo Alto County (south)
• Dickinson County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	105		—
1870	1,392		1,225.7%
1880	1,550		11.4%
1890	4,274		175.7%
1900	9,936		132.5%
1910	9,816		−1.2%
1920	12,627		28.6%
1930	12,856		1.8%
1940	13,406		4.3%
1950	14,102		5.2%
1960	14,871		5.5%
1970	14,009		−5.8%
1980	13,336		−4.8%
1990	11,569		−13.2%
2000	11,027		−4.7%
2010	10,302		−6.6%
2020	9,388		−8.9%
2023 (est.)	9,229	[6]	−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2018 [11]

Population of Emmet County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 9,388 in the county, with a population density of 22.9385/sq mi (8.8566/km²). 94.84% of the population reported being of one race. There were 4,475 housing units of which 3,972 were occupied. ^[1]

Emmet County Racial Composition ^[12]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	8,134	86.64%
Black or African American (NH)	89	0.94%
Native American (NH)	31	0.33%
Asian (NH)	32	0.34%
Pacific Islander (NH)	3	0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)	212	2.3%
Hispanic or Latino	887	9.5%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,302 in the county, with a population density of 26.0322/sq mi (10.0511/km²). There were 4,758 housing units, of which 4,236 were occupied. ^[13]

2000 census

As of the census ^[14] of 2000, there were 11,027 people, 4,450 households, and 2,910 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km²). There were 4,889 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.38% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 4.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,450 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.60% were non-families. 30.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,305, and the median income for a family was $41,296. Males had a median income of $27,495 versus $20,278 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,619. About 5.20% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Armstrong
• Dolliver
• Estherville
• Gruver
• Ringsted
• Wallingford

Unincorporated communities

• Forsyth
• Gridley
• Halfa
• Hoprig
• Huntington
• Island Grove
• Maple Hill
• Raleigh

Townships

Emmet County is divided into twelve townships:

• Armstrong Grove
• Center
• Denmark
• Ellsworth
• Emmet
• Estherville
• High Lake
• Iowa Lake
• Jack Creek
• Lincoln
• Swan Lake
• Twelve Mile Lake

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Emmet County. ^[1] †county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Estherville	City	5,904
2	Armstrong	City	875
3	Ringsted	City	365
4	Wallingford	City	165
5	Dolliver	City	65
6	Gruver	City	63

Politics

United States presidential election results for Emmet County, Iowa ^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,422	71.32%	1,315	27.41%	61	1.27%
2020	3,265	67.28%	1,520	31.32%	68	1.40%
2016	3,124	65.73%	1,357	28.55%	272	5.72%
2012	2,507	53.49%	2,099	44.78%	81	1.73%
2008	2,373	47.32%	2,570	51.25%	72	1.44%
2004	2,697	52.31%	2,405	46.64%	54	1.05%
2000	2,331	50.35%	2,165	46.76%	134	2.89%
1996	1,641	37.20%	2,270	51.46%	500	11.34%
1992	1,749	34.76%	2,239	44.50%	1,044	20.75%
1988	2,173	43.66%	2,778	55.82%	26	0.52%
1984	2,946	51.46%	2,746	47.97%	33	0.58%
1980	3,062	53.49%	2,153	37.61%	509	8.89%
1976	2,872	50.50%	2,720	47.83%	95	1.67%
1972	3,436	62.92%	1,970	36.07%	55	1.01%
1968	3,444	58.90%	2,163	36.99%	240	4.10%
1964	2,611	42.78%	3,487	57.14%	5	0.08%
1960	4,284	62.51%	2,563	37.40%	6	0.09%
1956	4,193	63.68%	2,386	36.24%	5	0.08%
1952	4,935	71.48%	1,947	28.20%	22	0.32%
1948	2,464	46.38%	2,752	51.80%	97	1.83%
1944	2,668	50.47%	2,577	48.75%	41	0.78%
1940	3,053	49.27%	3,097	49.98%	47	0.76%
1936	2,362	41.84%	3,158	55.94%	125	2.21%
1932	2,129	45.21%	2,486	52.79%	94	2.00%
1928	3,218	70.11%	1,372	29.89%	0	0.00%
1924	2,739	53.26%	407	7.91%	1,997	38.83%
1920	3,360	76.00%	991	22.42%	70	1.58%
1916	1,409	62.37%	809	35.81%	41	1.81%
1912	602	30.98%	486	25.01%	855	44.00%
1908	1,401	70.58%	522	26.30%	62	3.12%
1904	1,732	80.15%	358	16.57%	71	3.29%
1900	1,618	70.59%	595	25.96%	79	3.45%
1896	1,429	70.05%	559	27.40%	52	2.55%

See also

• Iowa portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Emmet 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. Emmet County ^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  119.
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) – Emmet 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. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 26, 2018.

Further reading

• History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. In Two Volumes. Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Co., 1917.
  • Volume 1 | Volume 2

External links

• Emmet County, Iowa Unofficial county website

43°22′38″N94°40′39″W / 43.37722°N 94.67750°W / 43.37722; -94.67750