imported>HydrogenMonoxide: /* Population ranking */ added 2024 census estimates

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Population ranking: added 2024 census estimates

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{{short description|County in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Decatur County
| state = Iowa
| ex image = Decatur County IA Courthouse.jpg
| ex image size = 250px
| ex image cap = The [[Decatur County Courthouse (Iowa)|Decatur County Courthouse]] in Leon
| seal =
| founded = January 13, 1846 (created) May 6, 1850 (organized)<ref>{{cite web|title=Iowa: Individual County Chronologies |url=https://publications.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/IA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |website=publications.newberry.org |publisher=The [[Newberry Library]] |date=2007 |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref>
| seat wl = Leon
| largest city wl = Lamoni
| area_total_sq_mi = 533
| area_land_sq_mi = 532
| area_water_sq_mi = 1.6
| area percentage = 0.3
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 7645
| pop_est_as_of = 2025
| population_est = 7655 {{increase}}
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name=qf>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/decaturcountyiowa/PST045225|title=Decatur County, IA|website=Census.gov|access-date= }}</ref>
| density_sq_mi = auto
| time zone = Central
| web = http://www.decaturcountyiowa.org/
| district = 3rd
| named for = [[Stephen Decatur|Stephen Decatur Jr.]]
| footnotes = * Iowa county number '''27'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Iowa County Names and Numbers |url=https://das.iowa.gov/media/3516/download?inline |publisher=Iowa Department of Administrative Services |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref>
}}

'''Decatur County''' ({{IPAc-en|d|ɪ|ˈ|k|eɪ|t|ər}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Iowa]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 7,645.<ref name=cen2020>{{cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Leon, Iowa|Leon]].<ref name="NACo">{{cite web|title=Find a County |url=https://ce.naco.org/?find=true |publisher=[[National Association of Counties]] |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref> This county is named for [[Stephen Decatur|Stephen Decatur Jr.]], a hero in the [[War of 1812]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA102 |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |author=Gannett, Henry |year=1905 |pages=102}}</ref>

==History==
Decatur County was organized in 1850 and named for [[Stephen Decatur]], a naval hero of the [[War of 1812]].
The current courthouse was dedicated in 1908.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://decatur.municipalcms.com/pview.aspx?id=7332&catid=590|title=County History|publisher=Dacatur County|access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|533|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|532|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.6|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

[[File:Decatur Co IA Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Decatur County]]

===Major highways===
*[[File:I-35.svg|x20px]] [[Interstate 35 in Iowa|Interstate 35]]
*[[File:US 69.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 69 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 69]]
*[[File:Circle sign 2.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 2]]

===Transit===
* [[Jefferson Lines]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Clarke County, Iowa|Clarke County]] (north)
*[[Wayne County, Iowa|Wayne County]] (east)
*[[Mercer County, Missouri|Mercer County]], [[Missouri]] (southeast)
*[[Harrison County, Missouri|Harrison County]], [[Missouri]] (southwest)
*[[Ringgold County, Iowa|Ringgold County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 965
|1860= 8677
|1870= 12018
|1880= 15336
|1890= 15643
|1900= 18115
|1910= 16347
|1920= 16566
|1930= 14903
|1940= 14012
|1950= 12601
|1960= 10539
|1970= 9737
|1980= 9794
|1990= 8338
|2000= 8689
|2010= 8457
|2020= 7645
|estyear=2025
|estimate=7655
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 29, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}}
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 7, 2014}}</ref> 1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |publisher=University of Virginia Library |url-status=live |date=2007 |access-date=January 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212224028/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009}}</ref> 1900–90<ref>{{cite web|last=Forstall |first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=live |date=April 20, 1995 |access-date=January 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219135447/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt |archive-date=February 19, 1999}}</ref> 1990–00<ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010}}</ref> 2010–20<ref name="QF">{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Decatur County, Iowa |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/decaturcountyiowa/PST045224 |access-date=December 28, 2025 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref>
}}
[[File:DecaturCountyIowaPop2020.png|thumb|right|Population of Decatur County from US census data]]

===2020 census===
[[File:DecaturCountyIA2022PopPyr.png|thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Decatur County from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county had a population of 7,645, which produced a population density of {{Pop density|7645|532.820590|sqmi|km2|prec=1}}. The median age was 39.5 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.1 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A053&in=state%3A19|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 25, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

96.44% of residents reported being of one race. The racial makeup of the county was 92.6% [[White Americans|White]], 1.4% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.3% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]], 0.5% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.3% [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Pacific Islander]], 1.3% from some other race, and 3.6% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A053&in=state%3A19|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 25, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Decatur County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Decatur County, Iowa|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Decatur%20County,%20Iowa&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Number
!Percent
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|7,010
|91.7%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|97
|1.26%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|17
|0.22%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|39
|0.51%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|21
|0.27%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|250
|3.3%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|211
|2.8%
|}

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A053&in=state%3A19|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 25, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 2,986 households in the county, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.5% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 3,653 housing units, of which 2,986 were occupied, leaving an 18.3% vacancy rate. Among occupied housing units, 72.5% were owner-occupied and 27.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.4%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census===
The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,457 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|8457|532|sqmi|km2|prec=1}}. There were 3,834 housing units, of which 3,223 were occupied.<ref name="USCB">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016010401/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |url-status=live|title=Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] American FactFinder|access-date=August 15, 2022}}</ref>

===2000 census===
At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 8,689 people, 3,337 households and 2,149 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|16|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 3,833 housing units at an average density of {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.46% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.98% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.24% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.63% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.46% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 3,337 households, of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.60% were non-families. 30.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.

23.00% of the population were under the age of 18, 16.30% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The [[median household income]] was $27,343 and the median family income was $34,831. Males had a median income of $25,569 compared with $19,309 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,209. About 10.90% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those age 65 or over.

Decatur County is considered to be the poorest in Iowa, reporting that almost 20% of its residents live in poverty.<ref>Mike Kilen,
[https://archive.today/20130717080153/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/desmoinesregister/access/1805212281.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+6,+2004&author=Kilen+Mike&pub=Des+Moines+Register&edition=&startpage=O.1&desc=Headline:+Who+will+win+in+Iowa's+poorest+county%3F "Headline: Who will win in Iowa's poorest county?"], ''Des Moines Register'', June 6, 2004 {{subscription required}}</ref>

==County officials==
'''Supervisors''' 
Steve Fulkerson 
Doug Tharp 
Ward Graham

'''Treasurer''' 
Janet Pierson

'''Attorney''' 
Alan Wilson

'''Auditor''' 
Charlene Hoover

'''Recorder''' 
Erica Cook

'''Sheriff''' 
Chris Lane

'''Assessor''' 
Justin Cornett

'''Engineer''' 
Justin Savage

'''Clerk of Court''' 
Traci Tharp

'''Public Health Administrator''' 
Shelley Bickel

'''Veterans Affairs Administrator''' 
Samantha Schaff

'''Conservation Director''' 
Kayla Clausen

'''Mental Health Director''' 
Kathy Lerma

==Communities==
[[File:Ancient Map of Decatur County, Iowa.jpg|250px|thumbnail|Ancient Map of Decatur County, Iowa (1894)]]

===Cities===
{{div col}}
*[[Davis City, Iowa|Davis City]]
*[[Decatur City, Iowa|Decatur City]]
*[[Garden Grove, Iowa|Garden Grove]]
*[[Grand River, Iowa|Grand River]]
*[[Lamoni, Iowa|Lamoni]]
*[[Leon, Iowa|Leon]]
*[[Le Roy, Iowa|Le Roy]]
*[[Pleasanton, Iowa|Pleasanton]]
*[[Van Wert, Iowa|Van Wert]]
*[[Weldon, Iowa|Weldon]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Decatur County is divided into these [[Civil township|townships]]:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bloomington Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Bloomington]]
* [[Burrell Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Burrell]]
* [[Center Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Center]]
* [[Decatur Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Decatur]]
* [[Eden Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Eden]]
* [[Fayette Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Fayette]]
* [[Franklin Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Franklin]]
* [[Garden Grove Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Garden Grove]]
* [[Grand River Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Grand River]]
* [[Hamilton Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Hamilton]]
* [[High Point Township, Decatur County, Iowa|High Point]]
* [[Long Creek Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Long Creek]]
* [[Morgan Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Morgan]]
* [[New Buda Township, Decatur County, Iowa|New Buda]]
* [[Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Richland]]
* [[Woodland Township, Decatur County, Iowa|Woodland]]
{{div col end}}

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] of Decatur County.<ref name=cen2020/>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2020 Census)
!Population (2024 Estimate)
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''[[Lamoni, Iowa|Lamoni]]'''
| City
| 1,969
| 1,985
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''†''' '''[[Leon, Iowa|Leon]]'''
| City
| 1,822
| 1,799
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Grand River, Iowa|Grand River]]'''
| City
| 196
| 190
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[Davis City, Iowa|Davis City]]'''
| City
| 179
| 188
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 5
|'''[[Van Wert, Iowa|Van Wert]]'''
| City
| 178
| 174
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[Decatur City, Iowa|Decatur City]]'''
| City
| 175
| 172
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 7
|'''[[Garden Grove, Iowa|Garden Grove]]'''
| City
| 174
| 169
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 8
|'''[[Weldon, Iowa|Weldon]]''' (''partially in [[Clarke County, Iowa|Clarke County]]'')
| City
| 136
| 129
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 9
|'''[[Pleasanton, Iowa|Pleasanton]]'''
| City
| 32
| 22
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 10
|'''[[Le Roy, Iowa|Le Roy]]'''
| City
| 11
| 6
|}

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Decatur County, Iowa|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 25, 2018}}</ref>}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,268|2,362|50|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,415|2,058|66|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,430|1,548|180|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,149|1,809|133|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,351|1,659|918|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,962|2,111|62|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,187|2,592|66|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,221|1,693|1,921|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,942|2,675|58|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,148|3,591|91|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,327|4,131|36|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,494|3,938|16|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,934|3,316|18|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,547|3,172|84|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,621|2,521|26|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,912|2,806|7|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,039|2,411|7|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,542|3,331|12|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,261|2,057|270|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,638|1,880|75|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,932|2,698|77|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,212|2,048|380|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,104|2,098|40|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,406|2,192|29|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,316|1,866|804|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,287|1,846|490|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,903|1,674|132|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,088|1,859|64|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,020|1,986|100|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,947|1,791|95|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,296|1,201|237|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,615|1,120|69|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,711|957|71|Iowa}}
{{PresFoot}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Iowa}}
*[[Decatur County Courthouse (Iowa)]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Iowa#Decatur County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Decatur County, Iowa]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Meyer, Theodoric. "Two Iowa counties an hour apart show America’s growing political divide: Rural Decatur County has moved sharply red, while suburban Dallas County has shifted the other direction" ''Washington Post'' January 12, 2024, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/12/iowa-voters-republican-democrat/ online]

==External links==
{{Commons}}


{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Decatur County
|North = [[Clarke County, Iowa|Clarke County]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[Wayne County, Iowa|Wayne County]]
|Southeast = [[Mercer County, Missouri|Mercer County]]
|South =
|Southwest = [[Harrison County, Missouri|Harrison County]]
|West = [[Ringgold County, Iowa|Ringgold County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Decatur County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|40|44|29|N|93|46|51|W|region:US-IA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Decatur County, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:1846 establishments in Iowa Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1846]]

Decatur County, Iowa - Revision history

imported>HydrogenMonoxide: /* Population ranking */ added 2024 census estimates