Editing Clinton County, Iowa

{{short description|County in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county       = Clinton County
 | state                = Iowa
 | ex image             = The Clinton County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 240px
 | ex image cap         = [[Clinton County Courthouse (Iowa)|Clinton County Courthouse]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1837
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl             = Clinton
 | largest city wl     = Clinton
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 710
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 695
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 15
 | area percentage      = 2.1
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 46460
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 46158 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone           = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.clintoncounty-ia.gov
 | district             = 2nd
 | named for            = [[DeWitt Clinton]] }}

'''Clinton County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Iowa]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 46,460.<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> Its [[county seat]] is [[Clinton, Iowa|Clinton]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> Its name is in honor of the seventh [[Governor of New York]] State, [[DeWitt Clinton]]. Clinton County comprises the Clinton, Iowa [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Davenport–Moline–Clinton, Muscatine, Iowa–Illinois Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
Clinton County was formed on December 21, 1837. It was named for [[DeWitt Clinton]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n84 85]}}</ref> a [[Governor of New York]] and most ardent advocate for the construction of the [[Erie Canal]]. The cities of [[DeWitt, Iowa|DeWitt]] and Clinton were also named after him.

In 1835, Elijah Buell built a log cabin for himself and his family and was thus the first settler of the region. In 1854, the first newspaper was issued. In 1858, the [[Lyons Female College]] for girls opened its doors; the tuition was set at {{USD|175}} per student.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.clintoncountyiowa.com/history1.htm |title=Looking Back at the history of Clinton County Iowa<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=January 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226031054/http://www.clintoncountyiowa.com/history1.htm |archive-date=December 26, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The county has used three courthouses in its history. The structure currently in use was constructed in Romanesque style and opened in 1897.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.clintoncountyiowa.com/history.htm |title=History of Clinton County Iowa<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=January 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112191354/http://www.clintoncountyiowa.com/history.htm |archive-date=January 12, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Early settlement===
Clinton county was first settled in 1836, by Mr. Bourne, who located upon Sec. 1, T. 80, R. 4, East. The county was surveyed in 1837, by the Messrs. Burtz. The Surveyor General's office was then at [[Cincinnati]], Ohio. In 1840, the county was organized by Sheriff Bourne. In 1841, R. R. Bed ford and others formed a little settlement at De Witt, and during the same year Messrs. Wheeler and Evans erected a log court-house. In stepping from the past to the present, we quote the language of one of the "oldest inhabitants." He says: "Clinton County was originally settled by the poorest class of people on God's earth; and it is with great pleasure that I have witnessed their progress, slow but sure, and now find the most of them very comfortably situated."

The population of this County in 1840, was 821; in 1850, 2822; in 1854, 7000; and in 1856, 11,000. The population of Lyons in 1850, was 453. In 1856 the population increased to 2700.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|710|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|695|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|15|sqmi}} (2.1%) 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> It includes the easternmost point in the state of Iowa, on the [[Mississippi River]] in Elk River township in the northeast section of the county.

===Transit===
*[[Clinton Municipal Transit Administration]]

===Major highways===
*{{Jct|state=IA|US|30}}
*{{Jct|state=IA|US|61}}
*{{Jct|state=IA|US|67}}
*{{Jct|state=IA|IA|136}}

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Jackson County, Iowa|Jackson County]]  (north)
*[[Carroll County, Illinois|Carroll County]], [[Illinois]]  (northeast)
*[[Whiteside County, Illinois|Whiteside County]], [[Illinois]]  (east)
*[[Rock Island County, Illinois|Rock Island County]], [[Illinois]]  (southeast)
*[[Scott County, Iowa|Scott County]]  (south)
*[[Cedar County, Iowa|Cedar County]]  (southwest)
*[[Jones County, Iowa|Jones County]]  (northwest)

===National protected area===
* [[Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 821
|1850= 2822
|1860= 18938
|1870= 35357
|1880= 36763
|1890= 41199
|1900= 43832
|1910= 45394
|1920= 43371
|1930= 44377
|1940= 44722
|1950= 49664
|1960= 55060
|1970= 56749
|1980= 57122
|1990= 51040
|2000= 50149
|2010= 49116
|2020= 46460
|estyear=2023
|estimate=46158
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 14, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19045.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228021445/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19045.html|archive-date=December 28, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
[[File:ClintonCountyIowaPop2020.png|thumb|right|Population of Clinton County from US census data]]

===2020 census===
[[File:ClintonCountyIA2022PopPyr.png|thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Clinton County from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 46,460 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|46460|694.983378|sqmi|km2}}. 94.95% of the population reported being of one race. There were 21,517 housing units of which 19,483 were occupied.<ref name=cen2020/>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Clinton 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) – Clinton County, Iowa|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Clinton%20County,%20Iowa&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|41,226
|88.73%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,392
|3%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|103
|0.22%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|252
|0.54%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|10
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|1,938
|4.2%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,539
|3.31%
|}

===2010 census===
The 2010 census recorded a population of 49,116 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|49116|695|sqmi|km2}}. There were 21,733 housing units, of which 20,223 were occupied.<ref name="USCB">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table|title=Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State &ndash; County|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] American FactFinder|access-date=March 12, 2011}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[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> of 2000, there were 50,149 people, 20,105 households, and 13,671 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|72|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 21,585 housing units at an average density of {{convert|31|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.87% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.89% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.24% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.56% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.34% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.25% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 20,105 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,423, and the median income for a family was $46,450. Males had a median income of $35,049 versus $21,333 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,724. About 7.70% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Andover, Iowa|Andover]]
*[[Calamus, Iowa|Calamus]]
*[[Camanche, Iowa|Camanche]]
*[[Charlotte, Iowa|Charlotte]]
*[[Clinton, Iowa|Clinton]]
*[[DeWitt, Iowa|DeWitt]]
*[[Delmar, Iowa|Delmar]]
*[[Goose Lake, Iowa|Goose Lake]]
*[[Grand Mound, Iowa|Grand Mound]]
*[[Lost Nation, Iowa|Lost Nation]]
*[[Low Moor, Iowa|Low Moor]]
*[[Toronto, Iowa|Toronto]]
*[[Welton, Iowa|Welton]]
*[[Wheatland, Iowa|Wheatland]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Big Rock, Iowa|Big Rock]] (mostly in [[Scott County, Iowa|Scott County]])
*[[Bryant, Iowa|Bryant]]
*[[Buena Vista, Iowa|Buena Vista]]
*[[Elvira, Iowa|Elvira]]
*[[Elwood, Iowa|Elwood]]
*[[Folletts, Iowa|Folletts]]
*[[Petersville, Iowa|Petersville]]
*[[Teeds Grove, Iowa|Teeds Grove]]

===Townships===
Clinton County is divided into these [[Civil township|townships]]:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bloomfield Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Bloomfield]]
* [[Brookfield Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Brookfield]]
* [[Camanche Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Camanche]]
* [[Center Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Center]]
* [[De Witt Township, Clinton County, Iowa|De Witt]]
* [[Deep Creek Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Deep Creek]]
* [[Eden Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Eden]]
* [[Elk River Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Elk River]]
* [[Grant Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Grant]]
* [[Hampshire Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Hampshire]]
* [[Liberty Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Liberty]]
* [[Olive Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Olive]]
* [[Orange Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Orange]]
* [[Sharon Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Sharon]]
* [[Spring Rock Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Spring Rock]]
* [[Washington Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Washington]]
* [[Waterford Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Waterford]]
* [[Welton Township, Clinton County, Iowa|Welton]]
{{div col end}}

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2020 United States census]] of Clinton County.<ref name=cen2020/>
'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2020 Census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''[[Clinton, Iowa|Clinton]]''' '''†''' 
| City
| 24,469
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[DeWitt, Iowa|DeWitt]]''' 
| City
| 5,514
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Camanche, Iowa|Camanche]]''' 
| City
| 4,570
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[Wheatland, Iowa|Wheatland]]''' 
| City
| 775
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 5
|'''[[Grand Mound, Iowa|Grand Mound]]''' 
| City
| 615
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[Delmar, Iowa|Delmar]]''' 
| City
| 542
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 7
|'''[[Lost Nation, Iowa|Lost Nation]]''' 
| City
| 434
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 8
|'''[[Charlotte, Iowa|Charlotte]]''' 
| City
| 389
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 9
|'''[[Calamus, Iowa|Calamus]]''' 
| City
| 356
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 10
|'''[[Low Moor, Iowa|Low Moor]]''' 
| City
| 250
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 11
|'''[[Goose Lake, Iowa|Goose Lake]]''' 
| City
| 239
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 12
|'''[[Welton, Iowa|Welton]]''' 
| City
| 121
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 13
|'''[[Andover, Iowa|Andover]]''' 
| City
| 109
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 14
|'''[[Toronto, Iowa|Toronto]]''' 
| City
| 102
|}

==Politics==
Similar to many other counties in Iowa, Clinton County was reliably Democratic from [[Michael Dukakis|Michael Dukakis's]] win in 1988 until 2016, when  [[Donald Trump]] flipped many counties in Iowa. He improved on his results in 2020 and improved even more in 2024. Despite this, at the local level Clinton County voters are more divided, supporting Democrat Mike Zimmer over Republican Katie Whittington in the 2025 state senate election.

{{PresHead|place=Clinton 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 should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|13,964|9,472|442|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|13,361|10,812|514|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,276|10,095|1,696|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|9,432|15,141|427|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|9,324|15,018|380|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|10,666|13,813|205|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|9,229|12,276|675|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|7,624|11,481|2,490|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|8,746|11,683|4,531|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|10,243|12,549|210|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|13,914|11,240|250|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|13,025|9,698|2,488|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|12,401|11,746|387|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|12,768|9,895|301|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|11,513|9,515|1,147|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|8,219|14,267|47|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|13,797|10,508|25|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|14,765|8,394|49|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|15,372|7,975|38|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|9,859|8,534|272|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|11,533|8,028|63|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|12,177|10,251|50|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|10,016|12,269|757|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|9,085|12,587|208|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|12,295|8,643|54|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|10,359|3,811|5,495|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|11,746|3,153|2,637|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|5,576|3,903|371|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,890|3,633|3,662|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|4,836|4,821|277|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|5,265|4,074|552|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|5,344|4,758|337|Iowa}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Republican|5,584|4,590|163|Iowa}}

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

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120530004303/http://www.clintoncounty-ia.gov/ Clinton County government's website]
*[https://clintoncountydevelopment.org/ Clinton County Development Association]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Clinton County, Iowa
|North     = [[Jackson County, Iowa|Jackson County]]
|Northeast = [[Carroll County, Illinois]]
|East      = [[Whiteside County, Illinois]]
|Southeast = [[Rock Island County, Illinois]]
|South     = [[Scott County, Iowa|Scott County]]
|Southwest = [[Cedar County, Iowa|Cedar County]]
|West      = 
|Northwest = [[Jones County, Iowa|Jones County]]
}}

{{Clinton County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|41|53|34|N|90|31|39|W|region:US-IA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Clinton County, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in Wisconsin Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]
[[Category:Iowa counties on the Mississippi River]]