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Ida County, Iowa facts for kids

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Ida County
U.S. county
Ida County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Ida County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Iowa
Founded January 15, 1851
Seat Ida Grove
Largest city Ida Grove
Area
 • Total 432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Land 432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Water 0.5 sq mi (1 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 7,005
 • Density 16.215/sq mi (6.261/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th

Ida County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census the population was 7,005, making it the state's eighth-least populous county. The county seat is Ida Grove. The county was authorized by the Iowa Legislature in January 1851 as a packet of projected counties in unorganized territory of western Iowa. It was named after Ida Smith, the first child of European immigrants to be born in this region.

History

The Iowa Legislature authorized the formation of 49 counties in previously–unregulated western Iowa on January 15, 1851. This date is usually cited as the date of formation of Ida County; however, as there were no inhabitants of that area, no action was taken to form a county government.

On January 12, 1853, the Legislature authorized creation of Woodbury County, and included the proviso that the area of Ida County be included with Woodbury for revenue, election, and judicial purposes. In 1853 there were still no settlers in Ida County's lands.

The county's first permanent settlers (Comstock and Moorehead) arrived in 1856. In 1858 the county government was organized, with John Moorehead appointed County Judge. There were about 40 county residents at that time.

The county's only postoffice, as well as the first courthouse, was operated from Judge Moorehead's house.

The county's first dedicated school building was raised in 1861.

The county's first newspaper, Ida County Pioneer, was started in 1872. The first bank opened in 1876. Railroads arrived in Ida County in 1877, when the Maple Valley branch of the Chicago & North Western Railway was built. This resulted in a flood of settlers, and within five years, nearly all the available land had been purchased.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 432 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 432 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (0.1%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 20.svg U.S. Highway 20 – runs east–west through the northern part of the county, passing Holstein.
  • US 59.svg U.S. Highway 59 – runs generally north–south through the center of the county, passing Ida Grove. Its exit at south county line is five miles east of its entry point on north county line.
  • Elongated circle 31.svg Iowa Highway 31 – cuts across the northwestern tip of Ida County, running southwest from Cherokee County to Woodbury County.
  • Elongated circle 175.svg Iowa Highway 175 – runs east–west through the southern part of the county, passing Ida Grove.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 43 —
1870 226 425.6%
1880 4,382 1,838.9%
1890 10,705 144.3%
1900 12,327 15.2%
1910 11,296 −8.4%
1920 11,689 3.5%
1930 11,933 2.1%
1940 11,047 −7.4%
1950 10,697 −3.2%
1960 10,269 −4.0%
1970 9,283 −9.6%
1980 8,908 −4.0%
1990 8,365 −6.1%
2000 7,837 −6.3%
2010 7,089 −9.5%
2020 7,005 −1.2%
2023 (est.) 6,833 −3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2018 2020-2022
IdaCountyIowaPop2020
Population of Ida County from US census data

2020 census

IdaCountyIA2022PopPyr
2022 US Census population pyramid for Ida County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 7,005 in the county, with a population density of 16.1990/sq mi (6.2545/km2). 97.32% of the population reported being of one race. 91.46% were non-Hispanic White, 0.44% were Black, 3.64% were Hispanic, 0.06% were Native American, 0.31% were Asian, 0.16% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 3.93% were some other race or more than one race. There were 3,352 housing units, of which 2,940 were occupied.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,089 in the county, with a population density of 16.4207/sq mi (6.3401/km2). There were 3,426 housing units, of which 3,052 were occupied.

Communities

Cities

Townships

  • Battle
  • Blaine
  • Corwin
  • Douglas
  • Galva
  • Garfield
  • Grant
  • Griggs
  • Hayes
  • Logan
  • Maple
  • Silver Creek

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Ida County.

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Ida Grove City 2,051
2 Holstein City 1,501
3 Battle Creek City 700
4 Galva City 435
5 Arthur City 222

Education

School districts include:

  • Denison Community School District
  • Galva-Holstein Community School District
  • Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Community School District
  • Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Community School District
  • River Valley Community School District
  • Schaller-Crestland Community School District
  • Schleswig Community School District

Former school districts:

  • Battle Creek-Ida Grove Community School District
  • Maple Valley Community School District
  • Odebolt-Arthur Community School District

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Ida para niños

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