Editing Mitchell County, Iowa

{{short description|County in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Mitchell County
 | state                = Iowa
 | ex image             = Mitchell County Courthouse - Osage, Iowa 01.jpg
 | ex image size        = 240px
 | ex image cap         = [[Mitchell County Courthouse (Iowa)|Mitchell County Courthouse]] in Osage
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1851
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Osage
 | largest city wl      = Osage
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 470
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 469
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.4
 | area percentage      = 0.09
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 10565
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = https://mitchellcounty.iowa.gov/
 | district             = 1st
 | named for            = [[John Mitchel]]
}}

'''Mitchell County''' 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 10,565.<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 [[Osage, Iowa|Osage]].<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}}</ref>

==History==
Mitchell County was founded in 1851. It is not clear whom the county is named after; the county website mentions [[John Mitchel]], an early surveyor, and an Irish patriot.<ref>[https://mitchellcounty.iowa.gov/history/ county website]</ref><ref>[http://www.iowacounties.org/About%20Us/AboutCoGov/County%20Pages/Mitchell.htm Mitchell County<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070703140822/http://www.iowacounties.org/About%20Us/AboutCoGov/County%20Pages/Mitchell.htm |date=July 3, 2007}}</ref>  The [[Mitchell County Courthouse (Iowa)|county's courthouse]] was completed in 1858,<ref name=iowacourts>{{cite web|url=http://www.iowacourtsonline.org/wfdata/frame1759-1464/pressrel66.asp|title=Mitchell County Courthouse|publisher=Iowa Judicial Branch|access-date=February 20, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726185406/http://www.iowacourtsonline.org/wfdata/frame1759-1464/pressrel66.asp|archive-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref> and it is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The courthouse has since been razed.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|470|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|469|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi}} (0.09%) 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>

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 218.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 218|U.S. Highway 218]]
*[[Image:Circle sign 9.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 9]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Mower County, Minnesota]]  (north)
*[[Howard County, Iowa|Howard County]]  (east)
*[[Floyd County, Iowa|Floyd County]]  (south)
*[[Cerro Gordo County, Iowa|Cerro Gordo County]]  (southwest)
*[[Worth County, Iowa|Worth County]]  (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 3409
|1870= 9582
|1880= 14363
|1890= 13299
|1900= 14916
|1910= 13435
|1920= 13921
|1930= 14065
|1940= 14121
|1950= 13945
|1960= 14043
|1970= 13108
|1980= 12329
|1990= 10928
|2000= 10874
|2010= 10776
|2020= 10565
|estyear=2023
|estimate=10518
|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 20, 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 20, 2014}}</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 20, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |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 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 20, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19131.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607071829/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19131.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref>
}}
[[File:MitchellCountyIowaPop2020.png|thumb|right|Population of Mitchell County from US census data]]

===2020 census===
[[File:MitchellCountyIA2022PopPyr.png|thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Mitchell County from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 10,565 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|10565|463.322252|sqmi|km2}}. 97.47% of the population reported being of one race. 93.84% were non-Hispanic White, 0.40% were Black, 1.83% were Hispanic, 0.11% were Native American, 0.44% were Asian, 0.04% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 3.35% were some other race or more than one race. There were 4,847 housing units, of which 4,382 were occupied.<ref name=cen2020/>

===2010 census===
The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,776 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|10776|468.92|sqmi|km2}}. There were 4,850 housing units, of which 4,395 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===
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mitchell County's 99% White population makes it the county with the smallest percentage of minorities nationally.<ref>Census Bureau data, cited in "Minorities now in the majority in nearly 10% of U.S. counties", Associated Press August 8, 2007, ''Lexington Herald-Leader'' p A8</ref>

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 10,874 people, 4,294 households, and 2,984 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|23|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 4,594 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 99.27% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.17% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.17% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.07% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.21% from two or more races; 0.58% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,294 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 21.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males; for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,843, and the median income for a family was $41,233. Males had a median income of $29,601 versus $22,054 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,809. About 7.00% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.50% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Starting with [[Michael Dukakis|Michael Dukakis's]] win in 1988, Mitchell County became a Democratic leaning county, voting for Democrats in all presidential elections through 2012. Mitchell County was the whitest county in the United States that voted for President [[Barack Obama]], both in 2008 and 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last=Buchanan|first=Larry|last2=McDonald|first2=Brent|last3=Parlapiano|first3=Alicia|date=January 26, 2016|title=Rural Voters Can Swing the Iowa Caucuses. Meet Five of Them.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/28/us/elections/rural-iowa-election.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref>

In 2016, Trump became the first Republican to win the county since [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984, winning it by a 24% margin, the largest margin for a presidential candidate since 1968. He won it again in 2020, by an even larger 28% margin, the largest margin for any candidate since 1952. 2020 also marked the first time since 1960 that a Democrat was elected president without carrying Mitchell County.

{{PresHead|place=Mitchell 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 27, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,736|1,943|92|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,677|2,053|92|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,190|1,888|339|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|2,643|2,831|112|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|2,469|3,179|118|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|2,646|2,785|49|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,388|2,650|124|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,877|2,596|598|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,933|2,177|1,237|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,338|2,870|43|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,144|2,531|68|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,401|2,040|423|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,887|2,906|99|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,395|2,449|67|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,533|2,103|194|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,489|3,868|16|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,915|2,873|10|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,175|2,630|7|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,050|2,175|12|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,021|2,873|225|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,406|2,696|30|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,947|3,025|15|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,765|3,610|228|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,527|3,940|82|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,534|2,308|58|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,892|400|2,871|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,476|773|83|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,963|1,033|53|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|590|1,082|1,230|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,932|988|48|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,158|634|88|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,450|981|49|Iowa}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Republican|2,498|1,031|50|Iowa}}

==Economy==
In January 2017, Mitchell County supervisors denied an application for an Iowa Select contracted farm in Lincoln Township. It was planned for 5,000-hogs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://iowacci.org/tag/mitchell/ |title=Mitchell |date=January 31, 2017 |publisher=Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement |access-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207114554/http://iowacci.org/tag/mitchell/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
*[[Carpenter, Iowa|Carpenter]]
*[[McIntire, Iowa|McIntire]]
*[[Mitchell, Iowa|Mitchell]]
*[[Orchard, Iowa|Orchard]]
*[[Osage, Iowa|Osage]]
*[[St. Ansgar, Iowa|St. Ansgar]]
*[[Stacyville, Iowa|Stacyville]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
*[[Little Cedar, Iowa|Little Cedar]]
*[[Meyer, Iowa|Meyer]]
*[[Mona, Iowa|Mona]]
*[[New Haven, Iowa|New Haven]]
*[[Otranto, Iowa|Otranto]]
*[[Toeterville, Iowa|Toeterville]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Burr Oak Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Burr Oak]]
*[[Cedar Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Cedar]]
*[[Douglas Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Douglas]]
*[[East Lincoln Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|East Lincoln]]
*[[Jenkins Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Jenkins]]
*[[Liberty Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Liberty]]
*[[Mitchell Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Mitchell]]
*[[Newburg Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Newburg]]
*[[Osage Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Osage]]
*[[Otranto Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Otranto]]
*[[Rock Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Rock]]
*[[St. Ansgar Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|St. Ansgar]]
*[[Stacyville Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Stacyville]]
*[[Union Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Union]]
*[[Wayne Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|Wayne]]
*[[West Lincoln Township, Mitchell County, Iowa|West Lincoln]]
{{div col end}}

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

'''†''' ''county seat''

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

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''†''' '''[[Osage, Iowa|Osage]]''' 
| City
| 3,627
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[St. Ansgar, Iowa|St. Ansgar]]''' 
| City
| 1,160
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Riceville, Iowa|Riceville]]'''  (''partially in [[Howard County, Iowa|Howard County]]'')
| City
| 806
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[Stacyville, Iowa|Stacyville]]''' 
| City
| 458
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 5
|'''[[Mitchell, Iowa|Mitchell]]''' 
| City
| 124
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[McIntire, Iowa|McIntire]]''' 
| City
| 113
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 7
|'''[[Carpenter, Iowa|Carpenter]]''' 
| City
| 87
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 8
|'''[[New Haven, Iowa|New Haven]]''' 
| CDP
| 77
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 9
|'''[[Orchard, Iowa|Orchard]]''' 
| City
| 68
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 10
|'''[[Little Cedar, Iowa|Little Cedar]]''' 
| CDP
| 64
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 11
|'''[[Toeterville, Iowa|Toeterville]]''' 
| CDP
| 53
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 12
|'''[[Mona, Iowa|Mona]]''' 
| CDP
| 35
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 13
|'''[[Otranto, Iowa|Otranto]]''' 
| CDP
| 27
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 14
|'''[[Meyer, Iowa|Meyer]]''' 
| CDP
| 14
|}

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

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

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
*[http://www.mitchellcoia.us Official site of Mitchell County, Iowa]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Mitchell County, Iowa
|North     = [[Mower County, Minnesota]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Howard County, Iowa|Howard County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Floyd County, Iowa|Floyd County]]
|Southwest = [[Cerro Gordo County, Iowa|Cerro Gordo County]]
|West      = [[Worth County, Iowa|Worth County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Mitchell County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|43|21|20|N|92|47|23|W|region:US-IA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Mitchell County, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1851]]