Greene County, Iowa

Not to be confused with Greene, Iowa.

Greene County
County
Greene County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°02′07″N94°23′44″W / 42.035277777778°N 94.395555555556°W / 42.035277777778; -94.395555555556
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1851
Named for	Nathanael Greene
Seat	Jefferson
Largest city	Jefferson
Area
• Total	571 sq mi (1,480 km2)
• Land	570 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water	1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,771
• Density	15/sq mi (5.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.co.greene.ia.us

Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,771. ^[1] The county seat is Jefferson. ^[2] The county is named in honor of General Nathanael Greene. ^[3]

History

Greene County was formed on January 15, 1851, and from 1854, self-governed. It was named after General Nathanael Greene, a hero in the Revolutionary War. ^[4] The first settler was Truman Davis. He settled on the Raccoon River. The first courthouse was built in 1856 from wood. Previously, court was held in a log cabin southeast of Jefferson. The second courthouse, of red brick, was built in 1870. The present Greene County Courthouse used today was built in 1917.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 571 square miles (1,480 km²), of which 570 square miles (1,500 km²) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) (0.3%) is water. ^[5]

Soils of Greene County

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 30
• Iowa Highway 4
• Iowa Highway 25
• Iowa Highway 144

Adjacent counties

• Calhoun County (northwest)
• Webster County (northeast)
• Boone County (east)
• Dallas County (southeast)
• Guthrie County (south)
• Carroll County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	1,374		—
1870	4,627		236.8%
1880	12,727		175.1%
1890	15,797		24.1%
1900	17,820		12.8%
1910	16,023		−10.1%
1920	16,467		2.8%
1930	16,528		0.4%
1940	16,599		0.4%
1950	15,544		−6.4%
1960	14,379		−7.5%
1970	12,716		−11.6%
1980	12,119		−4.7%
1990	10,045		−17.1%
2000	10,366		3.2%
2010	9,336		−9.9%
2020	8,771		−6.1%
2023 (est.)	8,584	[6]	−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010–2018 [11]

Population of Greene County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 8,771 in the county, with a population density of 15.3492/sq mi (5.9264/km²). 96.21% of the population reported being of one race. 91.23% were non-Hispanic White, 0.32% were Black, 2.92% were Hispanic, 0.18% were Native American, 0.57% were Asian, 0.01% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.77% were some other race or more than one race. There were 4,309 housing units, of which 3,802 were occupied. ^[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,336 in the county, with a population density of 16.4248/sq mi (6.3416/km²). There were 4,546 housing units, of which 3,996 were occupied. ^[12]

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 10,366 people, 4,205 households, and 2,859 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km²). There were 4,623 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.16% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 1.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,205 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 21.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,883, and the median income for a family was $41,230. Males had a median income of $29,076 versus $21,657 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,866. About 4.80% of families and 8.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.90% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Churdan
• Dana
• Grand Junction
• Jefferson
• Paton
• Ralston
• Rippey
• Scranton

Unincorporated community

• Cooper

Townships

• Bristol
• Cedar
• Dawson
• Franklin
• Grant
• Greenbrier
• Hardin
• Highland
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Junction
• Kendrick
• Paton
• Scranton
• Washington
• Willow

Population ranking

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

†county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Jefferson	City	4,182
2	Grand Junction	City	725
3	Scranton	City	511
4	Churdan	City	365
5	Rippey	City	220
6	Paton	City	221
7	Ralston (partially in Carroll County )	City	81
8	Dana	City	38

Notable people

• George Horace Gallup (1901–1984), former resident, American statistician, invented the Gallup poll, a successful statistical method of survey sampling for measuring public opinion.
• Loren Shriver (b. 1944), former resident, American astronaut, retired United States Air Force colonel.
• Warren Allen Smith (1921–2017), former resident, American homosexual activist, writer and humanist.
• Doreen Wilber (1930–2008), former resident, American archer, Olympic gold medalist.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Greene County, Iowa ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,223	63.73%	1,769	34.98%	65	1.29%
2016	2,820	58.49%	1,691	35.08%	310	6.43%
2012	2,380	49.11%	2,375	49.01%	91	1.88%
2008	2,349	48.90%	2,371	49.35%	84	1.75%
2004	2,618	51.20%	2,459	48.09%	36	0.70%
2000	2,282	48.36%	2,301	48.76%	136	2.88%
1996	1,861	38.78%	2,519	52.49%	419	8.73%
1992	1,952	36.47%	2,422	45.25%	979	18.29%
1988	2,091	40.49%	3,011	58.31%	62	1.20%
1984	2,579	46.44%	2,831	50.97%	144	2.59%
1980	3,154	53.11%	2,210	37.21%	575	9.68%
1976	2,811	46.94%	3,094	51.66%	84	1.40%
1972	3,371	59.35%	2,152	37.89%	157	2.76%
1968	3,208	55.93%	2,208	38.49%	320	5.58%
1964	2,141	35.77%	3,828	63.95%	17	0.28%
1960	4,063	58.43%	2,879	41.40%	12	0.17%
1956	4,255	59.41%	2,802	39.12%	105	1.47%
1952	5,378	69.62%	2,228	28.84%	119	1.54%
1948	3,059	48.63%	2,946	46.84%	285	4.53%
1944	3,437	54.88%	2,797	44.66%	29	0.46%
1940	3,920	52.22%	3,566	47.51%	20	0.27%
1936	3,384	44.77%	3,961	52.40%	214	2.83%
1932	2,360	44.71%	2,747	52.05%	171	3.24%
1928	4,299	67.84%	2,007	31.67%	31	0.49%
1924	4,599	66.76%	790	11.47%	1,500	21.77%
1920	5,102	78.98%	1,303	20.17%	55	0.85%
1916	2,345	60.85%	1,455	37.75%	54	1.40%
1912	1,324	37.17%	980	27.51%	1,258	35.32%
1908	2,574	67.28%	1,152	30.11%	100	2.61%
1904	2,583	70.27%	908	24.70%	185	5.03%
1900	2,777	65.88%	1,360	32.27%	78	1.85%
1896	2,606	60.80%	1,629	38.01%	51	1.19%

See also

• Iowa portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Greene 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. Stillman, Edwin B. (1907). Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa. Brookhaven Press. p. 23.
4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  143.
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 17, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 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 17, 2014.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
12. "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.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 26, 2018.

External links

• County website Archived May 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine

42°02′07″N94°23′44″W / 42.03528°N 94.39556°W / 42.03528; -94.39556