Worth County, Iowa

Summary

Worth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,443.[1] The county seat is Northwood.[2] The county was founded in 1851 and named for Major General William Jenkins Worth (1794–1849), an officer in both the Seminole War and the Mexican–American War.

Worth County
The Worth County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Worth County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°22′44″N 93°15′26″W / 43.378888888889°N 93.257222222222°W / 43.378888888889; -93.257222222222
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1851
Named forWilliam Jenkins Worth
SeatNorthwood
Largest cityNorthwood
Area
 • Total402 sq mi (1,040 km2)
 • Land400 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Water1.8 sq mi (5 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,443 Decrease
 • Density19/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteworthcountyiowa.gov

Worth County is part of the Mason City, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography edit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 402 square miles (1,040 km2), of which 400 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.5%) is water.[3] It is the fourth-smallest county in Iowa by land area and third-smallest by total area.

Major highways edit

Adjacent counties edit

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860756
18702,892282.5%
18807,953175.0%
18909,24716.3%
190010,88717.7%
19109,950−8.6%
192011,63016.9%
193011,164−4.0%
194011,4492.6%
195011,068−3.3%
196010,259−7.3%
19708,968−12.6%
19809,0751.2%
19907,991−11.9%
20007,909−1.0%
20107,598−3.9%
20207,443−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790–1960[5] 1900–1990[6]
1990–2000[7] 2010–2018[8]
 
Population of Worth County from US census data

2020 census edit

The 2020 census recorded a population of 7,443 in the county, with a population density of 18.5359/sq mi (7.1567/km2). 96.49% of the population reported being of one race. 91.76% were non-Hispanic White, 0.81% were Black, 2.83% were Hispanic, 0.11% were Native American, 0.43% were Asian, 0.01% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.04% were some other race or more than one race. There were 3,480 housing units, of which 3,127 were occupied.[1]

2010 census edit

The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,598 in the county, with a population density of 18.9950/sq mi (7.3340/km2). There were 3,548 housing units, of which 3,172 were occupied.[9]

2000 census edit

 
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Worth County

At the 2000 census there were 7,909 people, 3,278 households, and 2,265 families in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km2). There were 3,534 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.37% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 1.57%.[10] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,278 households 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.60% of households were one person and 14.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 24.30% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.40% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median household income was $36,444 and the median family income was $41,763. Males had a median income of $27,927 versus $20,897 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,952. About 6.30% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.60% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities edit

Cities edit

Census-designated place edit

Townships edit

Population ranking edit

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

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 Northwood City 2,072
2 Manly City 1,256
3 Fertile City 305
4 Kensett City 257
5 Grafton City 216
6 Joice City 208
7 Hanlontown City 206
8 Bolan CDP 32

Politics edit

From its inaugural election in 1860 through 1928, Worth County backed the Republican candidate in every election with the exception of 1912, when former Republican Theodore Roosevelt won as the Progressive candidate. From 1932 to 1980, the county was a bellwether, backing the nationwide winner in every election in that span except for 1960. For the next eight elections, Worth County favored the Democratic nominee in every election, each time by a margin of at least 10% except for 1984. In 2016, the county shifted back to the right, with Donald Trump winning nearly 58% of the vote in Worth County with a margin of victory of almost 22%. He improved on this in 2020, taking almost 62% of the vote and winning by a margin of victory of nearly 26%, the best performance by any candidate since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, the best performance by a Republican since Herbert Hoover in 1928, and the best margin of victory for any candidate since 1928 as well.

United States presidential election results for Worth County, Iowa[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,738 61.97% 1,596 36.12% 84 1.90%
2016 2,453 57.62% 1,530 35.94% 274 6.44%
2012 1,744 41.80% 2,350 56.33% 78 1.87%
2008 1,612 37.85% 2,567 60.27% 80 1.88%
2004 1,795 43.54% 2,286 55.45% 42 1.02%
2000 1,659 41.43% 2,208 55.14% 137 3.42%
1996 1,284 32.00% 2,293 57.15% 435 10.84%
1992 1,382 31.07% 2,009 45.17% 1,057 23.76%
1988 1,488 37.37% 2,440 61.28% 54 1.36%
1984 1,985 46.53% 2,263 53.05% 18 0.42%
1980 2,247 52.13% 1,721 39.93% 342 7.94%
1976 1,964 44.38% 2,399 54.21% 62 1.40%
1972 2,564 55.31% 2,034 43.87% 38 0.82%
1968 2,383 53.91% 1,815 41.06% 222 5.02%
1964 1,777 37.62% 2,936 62.16% 10 0.21%
1960 2,740 54.28% 2,303 45.62% 5 0.10%
1956 2,700 52.25% 2,465 47.71% 2 0.04%
1952 3,315 61.34% 2,075 38.40% 14 0.26%
1948 1,878 40.50% 2,623 56.57% 136 2.93%
1944 2,086 44.15% 2,629 55.64% 10 0.21%
1940 2,434 44.62% 3,007 55.12% 14 0.26%
1936 1,964 39.41% 2,976 59.71% 44 0.88%
1932 1,690 38.45% 2,640 60.07% 65 1.48%
1928 2,921 67.60% 1,310 30.32% 90 2.08%
1924 2,340 50.97% 180 3.92% 2,071 45.11%
1920 3,401 84.83% 516 12.87% 92 2.29%
1916 1,463 70.44% 566 27.25% 48 2.31%
1912 354 17.86% 402 20.28% 1,226 61.86%
1908 1,433 74.33% 449 23.29% 46 2.39%
1904 1,659 81.97% 307 15.17% 58 2.87%
1900 1,730 77.30% 475 21.22% 33 1.47%
1896 1,696 73.74% 584 25.39% 20 0.87%

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 28, 2018.

External links edit

43°22′44″N 93°15′26″W / 43.37889°N 93.25722°W / 43.37889; -93.25722