Ringgold County, Iowa
Ringgold County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,663,[1] and was estimated to be 4,642 in 2025,[2] making it the second-least populous county in Iowa. The county seat and the largest city is Mount Ayr.[3] The county is named after Maj. Samuel Ringgold, a hero of the Battle of Palo Alto fought in May 1846, during the Mexican–American War. It is one of the 26 Iowa counties with a name that is unique across the nation.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 539 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 535 square miles (1,390 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4]
Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 169.svg U.S. Highway 169
- File:Circle sign 2.svg Iowa Highway 2
- File:Elongated circle 25.svg Iowa Highway 25
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Union County (north)
- Decatur County (east)
- Harrison County, Missouri (southeast)
- Worth County, Missouri (southwest)
- Taylor County (west)
Demographics
[edit | edit source]2020 census
[edit | edit source]
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,663, which yielded a population density of Template:Pop density. The median age was 46.0 years, with 22.3% of residents under the age of 18 and 26.3% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.1 males age 18 and over.[5]
96.7% of residents reported being of one race. The racial makeup of the county was 95.8% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.[6]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[7]
There were 1,945 households in the county, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.4% were married-couple households, 17.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[5]
There were 2,672 housing units, of which 27.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.2% were owner-occupied and 22.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.9%.[5]
2010 census
[edit | edit source]The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,131 in the county, with a population density of Template:Pop density. There were 2,613 housing units, of which 2,047 were occupied.[8]
2000 census
[edit | edit source]As of the census of 2000, there were 5,469 people, 2,245 households, and 1,537 families in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 2,789 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.07% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 2,245 households 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.60% of households were one person and 17.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.
The age distribution was 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 21.40% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.
The median household income was $29,110 and the median family income was $34,472. Males had a median income of $24,583 versus $20,606 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,023. About 9.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 16.40% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
[edit | edit source]Cities
[edit | edit source]Census-designated places
[edit | edit source]Extinct Hamlet
[edit | edit source]Townships
[edit | edit source]Population ranking
[edit | edit source]The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Ringgold County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
Population (2024 Estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Mount Ayr | City | 1,623 | 1,643 |
| 2 | Diagonal | City | 344 | 353 |
| 3 | Kellerton | City | 243 | 238 |
| 4 | Sun Valley Lake | CDP | 187 | 226 |
| 5 | Tingley | City | 136 | 117 |
| 6 | Redding | City | 63 | 54 |
| 7 | Benton | City | 39 | 32 |
| 8 | Delphos | CDP | 26 | 19 |
| 9 | Ellston | City | 19 | 19 |
| 10 | Maloy | City | 22 | 19 |
| 11 | Beaconsfield | City | 15 | 18 |
| 12 | Clearfield (mostly in Taylor County) | City | 6 (278 total) | 5 (277 total) |
| 13 | Shannon City (partially in Union County) | City | 6 (73 total) | 4 (71 total) |
Politics
[edit | edit source]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 2,209 | 56.47% | 1,651 | 42.20% | 52 | 1.33% |
| 1900 | 2,319 | 62.19% | 1,311 | 35.16% | 99 | 2.65% |
| 1904 | 2,200 | 69.38% | 835 | 26.33% | 136 | 4.29% |
| 1908 | 1,940 | 61.94% | 1,092 | 34.87% | 100 | 3.19% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Bull Moose |1912 | 916 | 31.28% | 958 | 32.72% | 1,054 | 36.00% |
| 1916 | 1,733 | 55.46% | 1,351 | 43.23% | 41 | 1.31% |
| 1920 | 3,702 | 72.66% | 1,327 | 26.05% | 66 | 1.30% |
| 1924 | 3,147 | 60.68% | 882 | 17.01% | 1,157 | 22.31% |
| 1928 | 3,674 | 69.57% | 1,572 | 29.77% | 35 | 0.66% |
| 1932 | 2,082 | 45.04% | 2,480 | 53.64% | 61 | 1.32% |
| 1936 | 3,316 | 55.31% | 2,615 | 43.62% | 64 | 1.07% |
| 1940 | 3,507 | 59.50% | 2,374 | 40.28% | 13 | 0.22% |
| 1944 | 2,767 | 59.35% | 1,867 | 40.05% | 28 | 0.60% |
| 1948 | 2,487 | 55.77% | 1,922 | 43.10% | 50 | 1.12% |
| 1952 | 3,442 | 70.66% | 1,408 | 28.91% | 21 | 0.43% |
| 1956 | 2,713 | 60.42% | 1,775 | 39.53% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1960 | 2,538 | 58.74% | 1,781 | 41.22% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1964 | 1,571 | 40.91% | 2,260 | 58.85% | 9 | 0.23% |
| 1968 | 1,986 | 57.05% | 1,237 | 35.54% | 258 | 7.41% |
| 1972 | 2,264 | 68.54% | 1,003 | 30.37% | 36 | 1.09% |
| 1976 | 1,543 | 46.25% | 1,739 | 52.13% | 54 | 1.62% |
| 1980 | 1,884 | 57.95% | 1,150 | 35.37% | 217 | 6.67% |
| 1984 | 1,512 | 48.51% | 1,593 | 51.11% | 12 | 0.38% |
| 1988 | 1,110 | 40.64% | 1,609 | 58.92% | 12 | 0.44% |
| 1992 | 967 | 33.71% | 1,341 | 46.74% | 561 | 19.55% |
| 1996 | 967 | 35.29% | 1,439 | 52.52% | 334 | 12.19% |
| 2000 | 1,369 | 50.85% | 1,246 | 46.29% | 77 | 2.86% |
| 2004 | 1,466 | 52.77% | 1,286 | 46.29% | 26 | 0.94% |
| 2008 | 1,401 | 52.10% | 1,236 | 45.97% | 52 | 1.93% |
| 2012 | 1,368 | 52.64% | 1,186 | 45.63% | 45 | 1.73% |
| 2016 | 1,824 | 67.38% | 753 | 27.82% | 130 | 4.80% |
| 2020 | 1,968 | 72.51% | 709 | 26.12% | 37 | 1.36% |
| 2024 | 2,015 | 75.02% | 638 | 23.75% | 33 | 1.23% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Education
[edit | edit source]School districts include:[10]
- Bedford Community School District
- Creston Community School District
- Diagonal Community School District
- East Union Community School District
- Lamoni Community School District
- Lenox Community School District
- Mount Ayr Community School District
Former school districts:[11]
- Clearfield Community School District - Dissolved on July 1, 2014.[12]
See also
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedQF - ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
- ↑ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Ringgold County, IA (PDF) (Map). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2024. - Text list
- ↑ Geography Division (November 30, 2010). 2010 Census - School District Reference Map: Ringgold County, IA (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2024. - Text list
- ↑ "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66 Archived June 19, 2018, at the Wayback Machine." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on July 20, 2018.
External links
[edit | edit source] |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ringgold County, Iowa. |
- Ringgold County Portal style website maintained by the Ringgold County government
- Ringgold County history and information
Template:Ringgold County, Iowa Template:Iowa Coordinates: 40°43′56″N 94°14′53″W / 40.73222°N 94.24806°W