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Montgomery County, Iowa facts for kids

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Montgomery County
U.S. county
Montgomery County Courthouse
Montgomery County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Montgomery 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 1851
Named for Richard Montgomery
Seat Red Oak
Largest city Red Oak
Area
 • Total 425 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land 424 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Water 0.9 sq mi (2 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 10,330
 • Density 24.31/sq mi (9.385/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 3rd

Montgomery County is a county located in the southwestern area of the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,330. Its population has declined since a peak in 1900, since urbanization and decline of family farms. The county seat is Red Oak. The county was founded by European-American migrants from eastern areas in 1851. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while trying to capture Quebec City, Canada.

The county has been largely rural and devoted to agriculture. The county was first surveyed in 1852. It is famous as the location of the unsolved Villisca axe murders committed in 1912. Clyde Cessna, the founder of the Cessna Aircraft Company was born here.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 425 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 424 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (0.2%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 34.svg U.S. Highway 34
  • US 71.svg U.S. Highway 71
  • Elongated circle 48.svg Iowa Highway 48

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 1,256 —
1870 5,934 372.5%
1880 15,895 167.9%
1890 15,848 −0.3%
1900 17,803 12.3%
1910 16,604 −6.7%
1920 17,048 2.7%
1930 16,752 −1.7%
1940 15,697 −6.3%
1950 15,685 −0.1%
1960 14,467 −7.8%
1970 12,781 −11.7%
1980 13,413 4.9%
1990 12,076 −10.0%
2000 11,771 −2.5%
2010 10,740 −8.8%
2020 10,330 −3.8%
2023 (est.) 10,139 −5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2018
MontgomeryCountyIowaPop2020
Population of Montgomery County from US census data

2020 census

MontgomeryCountyIA2022PopPyr
2022 US Census population pyramid for Montgomery County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 10,330 in the county, with a population density of 24.322/sq mi (9.391/km2). 96.38% of the population reported being of one race. 90.29% were non-Hispanic White, 0.24% were Black, 3.59% were Hispanic, 0.34% were Native American, 0.25% were Asian, 0.02% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 5.27% were some other race or more than one race. There were 5,007 housing units, of which 4,456 were occupied.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,740 in the county, with a population density of 25.337/sq mi (9.783/km2). There were 5,239 housing units, of which 4,558 were occupied.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated community

Former towns

  • Alix (Douglas Township) 1895-98
  • Arlington (Washington Township)
  • Biddick (Pilot Grove Township) 1893-1902
  • Carr's Point (West Township) 1865-70
  • Climax (West Township) 1871-1901
  • Coe's Grove 1858-69
  • Flora 1859
  • Frankfort (County seat from 1864 to 1865) (Frankfort Township) 1856-78
  • Hawthorne 1871-1908
  • Oro 1856-1858
  • Ross Grove (Jackson Township) 1855-63
  • Rossville (Jackson Township) 1855
  • Sciola (Washington Township) 1855-1905
  • Wales (Lincoln Township) 1886-1901
  • Wallace (Douglas Township) 1875-78
  • Wilson (Pilot Grove Township) 1870-79

Townships

  • Douglas
  • East
  • Frankfort
  • Garfield
  • Grant
  • Lincoln
  • Pilot Grove
  • Red Oak
  • Scott
  • Sherman
  • Washington
  • West

Population ranking

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

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Red Oak City 5,596
2 Villisca City 1,132
3 Stanton City 678
4 Elliott City 338
5 Grant City 86
6 Coburg City 26
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