Scott County, Iowa

Scott County
County
Scott County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°38′09″N90°38′02″W / 41.635833333333°N 90.633888888889°W / 41.635833333333; -90.633888888889
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1837
Named for	Winfield Scott
Seat	Davenport
Largest city	Davenport
Area
• Total	468 sq mi (1,210 km2)
• Land	458 sq mi (1,190 km2)
• Water	10 sq mi (30 km2)  2.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	174,669
• Density	370/sq mi (140/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.scottcountyiowa.gov

Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 174,669, ^[1] making it the third-most populous county in Iowa. The county seat is Davenport.

Scott County is included in the Davenport–Moline-Rock Island, IA–IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. ^[2]

History

The newly redesigned courthouse entrance

The first American settlement in the area now known as Scott County was Clark's Ferry or Clark's Landing (now Buffalo) in 1833. Other early towns included Davenport (now the county seat and largest city) and the town of Rockingham (which ceased to exist in 1847). The area was fully surveyed in 1837, and the county was established by the Wisconsin territorial legislature in that same year. Scott County is named for General Winfield Scott, ^[3] who was the presiding officer at the signing of the peace treaty ending the Black Hawk War.

By 1900 the population of the county was 51,500, and by 1950 it was over 100,000. Scott County now comprises part of the Quad City region, which includes the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf (in Iowa) and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline (in Illinois).

The present Scott County Courthouse was completed in 1955 and expanded along with the jail in 2007. ^{[4] [5]} The old section of the Scott County Jail was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. ^[6] The courthouse was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District in 2020. ^[7]

Geography

The county seat is the city of Davenport. ^[8] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 468 square miles (1,210 km²), of which 458 square miles (1,190 km²) is land and 10 square miles (26 km²) (2.2%) is water. ^[9] Part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is located within the county.

Major highways

• Interstate 74
• Interstate 80
• Interstate 280
• U.S. Highway 6
• U.S. Highway 61
• U.S. Highway 67
• Iowa Highway 22
• Iowa Highway 130

Transit

• Bettendorf Transit
• Davenport Citibus

Adjacent counties

• Clinton County (north)
• Rock Island County, Illinois (east and south)
• Muscatine County (southwest)
• Cedar County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	5,986		—
1860	25,959		333.7%
1870	38,599		48.7%
1880	41,266		6.9%
1890	43,164		4.6%
1900	51,558		19.4%
1910	60,000		16.4%
1920	73,952		23.3%
1930	77,332		4.6%
1940	84,748		9.6%
1950	100,698		18.8%
1960	119,067		18.2%
1970	142,687		19.8%
1980	160,022		12.1%
1990	150,973		−5.7%
2000	158,668		5.1%
2010	165,224		4.1%
2020	174,669		5.7%
2023 (est.)	174,270	[10]	−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 1790-1960 [12] 1900-1990 [13] 1990-2000 [14] 2010-2019 [15]

Population of Scott County from US census data

The US Census Bureau estimated Scott County's population at 170,385 in 2013, fourth fastest-growing out of Iowa's 99 counties after Dallas County, a western suburb of Des Moines: Johnson, Polk, followed by Warren County being the top five. ^[16]

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 174,669 in the county, with a population density of 373.8768/sq mi (144.3547/km²). 92.61% of the population reported being of one race. There were 77,771 housing units, of which 71,628 were occupied. ^[1]

Scott County Racial Composition ^[17]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	134,578	77.04%
Black or African American (NH)	13,701	7.84%
Native American (NH)	324	0.2%
Asian (NH)	4,824	2.8%
Pacific Islander (NH)	57	0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)	9,093	5.21%
Hispanic or Latino	12,092	7%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 165,224 in the county, with a population density of 360.806/sq mi (139.3081/km²). There were 71,835 housing units, of which 66,765 were occupied. ^[18]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 158,668 people, 62,334 households, and 41,888 families in the county. The population density was 346 inhabitants per square mile (134/km²). There were 65,649 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile (55/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.54% White, 6.11% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 1.80% from two or more races. 4.06%. ^[19] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 62,334 households, 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 26.90% of households were one person and 9.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 26.50% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median household income was $42,701 and the median family income was $52,045. Males had a median income of $38,985 versus $25,456 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,310. About 7.70% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Scott County Administration Building

Cities

• Bettendorf
• Blue Grass
• Buffalo
• Davenport
• Dixon
• Donahue
• Durant
• Eldridge
• LeClaire
• Long Grove
• Maysville
• McCausland
• New Liberty
• Panorama Park
• Princeton
• Riverdale
• Walcott

Census-designated places

• Argo
• Big Rock
• Park View
• Plainview

Other unincorporated communities

• Desmond Acres

Townships

• Allens Grove
• Blue Grass
• Buffalo
• Butler
• Cleona
• Davenport (City)
• Hickory Grove
• LeClaire
• Liberty
• Lincoln
• Pleasant Valley
• Princeton
• Sheridan
• Winfield

Former township

• Rockingham

Population ranking

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

†county seat

Rank	City/town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Davenport	City	101,724
2	Bettendorf	City	39,102
3	Eldridge	City	6,726
4	LeClaire	City	4,710
5	Park View	CDP	2,709
6	Durant (partially in Cedar and Muscatine counties)	City	1,871
7	Blue Grass (partially in Muscatine County)	City	1,666
8	Walcott (partially in Muscatine County)	City	1,551
9	Buffalo	City	1,176
10	Princeton	City	923
11	Long Grove	City	838
12	Riverdale	City	379
13	Donahue	City	335
14	McCausland	City	313
15	Dixon	City	202
16	Maysville	City	156
17	Panorama Park	City	139
18	New Liberty	City	138

Politics

For most of its history, Scott County was primarily a Republican county. From 1880 to 1984, it only supported a Democrat for president nine times, six of which were national Democratic landslides. In more recent elections, the county has become consistently Democratic in presidential elections like many other midsize urban counties nationwide, with the party's candidates winning the county in every presidential election from 1988 on. Despite these victories, their margins of victory have not been as wide as in many other counties of similar composition, especially in 2016 when Hillary Clinton only won the county by 1,291 votes; yet Scott County remains relatively Democratic-leaning. However, in the 2022 elections, Republicans swept Scott County, with the county voting for the Republican candidates for all statewide offices, as well as for Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks for U.S. House of Representatives. Notably, Republican governor Kim Reynolds won the county with a margin of over 10 points. ^[20]

In 2024, Republican Donald Trump flipped Scott County in a presidential race for the first time in 40 years when it was won by Ronald Reagan in his landslide 1984 victory.

United States presidential election results for Scott County, Iowa ^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	43,683	47.17%	46,926	50.68%	1,990	2.15%
2016	39,149	45.41%	40,440	46.90%	6,631	7.69%
2012	38,251	42.38%	50,652	56.12%	1,360	1.51%
2008	36,365	42.10%	48,927	56.64%	1,086	1.26%
2004	39,958	48.30%	42,122	50.92%	642	0.78%
2000	32,801	46.48%	35,857	50.81%	1,910	2.71%
1996	26,751	41.03%	32,694	50.14%	5,757	8.83%
1992	28,844	38.63%	33,765	45.22%	12,053	16.14%
1988	31,025	46.98%	34,415	52.12%	595	0.90%
1984	38,034	53.41%	32,550	45.71%	628	0.88%
1980	34,701	51.09%	26,391	38.85%	6,834	10.06%
1976	35,021	53.11%	29,771	45.15%	1,148	1.74%
1972	34,135	57.41%	23,810	40.05%	1,510	2.54%
1968	25,783	46.86%	24,596	44.71%	4,639	8.43%
1964	19,488	38.14%	31,526	61.70%	84	0.16%
1960	27,617	54.50%	23,004	45.40%	50	0.10%
1956	27,965	59.37%	18,969	40.27%	170	0.36%
1952	29,719	61.88%	17,807	37.08%	500	1.04%
1948	16,842	49.42%	16,661	48.89%	578	1.70%
1944	18,015	48.58%	18,962	51.14%	104	0.28%
1940	18,504	46.69%	20,996	52.98%	130	0.33%
1936	12,691	37.17%	20,737	60.73%	717	2.10%
1932	14,218	43.81%	16,887	52.03%	1,350	4.16%
1928	16,974	56.47%	12,942	43.06%	142	0.47%
1924	18,360	60.32%	4,347	14.28%	7,731	25.40%
1920	16,233	58.75%	5,473	19.81%	5,925	21.44%
1916	8,329	56.39%	5,212	35.29%	1,229	8.32%
1912	1,568	11.46%	5,632	41.17%	6,479	47.36%
1908	6,845	50.75%	5,845	43.33%	799	5.92%
1904	6,789	51.96%	4,931	37.74%	1,346	10.30%
1900	6,327	52.05%	5,157	42.43%	671	5.52%
1896	6,419	58.73%	4,032	36.89%	479	4.38%
1892	2,999	32.15%	6,205	66.52%	124	1.33%
1888	2,832	32.82%	5,692	65.97%	104	1.21%
1884	2,740	34.31%	5,200	65.11%	47	0.59%
1880	4,322	61.04%	2,594	36.63%	165	2.33%

Education

Public school districts in Scott County include:

• Bettendorf Community School District, Bettendorf
• Calamus–Wheatland Community School District, Wheatland
• Davenport Community School District, Davenport
• Durant Community School District, Durant
• North Scott Community School District, Eldridge
• Pleasant Valley Community School District, Riverdale, Bettendorf, LeClaire

Higher education institutions

• Scott Community College is located in Riverdale
• Saint Ambrose University is located in Davenport

See also

• Iowa portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Scott County, Iowa
• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

References

1. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
2. United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
3. "Scott County History". scottcountyiowa.com. June 3, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
4. "Scott County Courthouse". Iowa Judicial Branch. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
5. Allemeier, Scott. "Scott County opens new jail to the public". Quad-City Times (November 16, 2007). Retrieved February 10, 2011.
6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
7. Jennifer Irsfeld James. "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District" (PDF). Downtown Davenport, Iowa. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
8. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
14. "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 20, 2014.
15. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
16. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
17. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Scott County, Iowa".
18. "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.
19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
20. "Iowa Governor election results". Politico.
21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

External links

• Scott County, Iowa
• Scott County Library System

41°38′09″N90°38′02″W / 41.63583°N 90.63389°W / 41.63583; -90.63389