Editing Winnebago County, Iowa

{{short description|County in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county     = Winnebago County
 | state                = Iowa
 | type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | ex image             = Winnebago County Courthouse, Forest City, Iowa.JPG
 | ex image size        = 240px
 | ex image cap         = Winnebago County Courthouse in Forest City
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1847
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl         = Forest City
 | largest city wl = Forest City
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 402
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 400
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 3.3
 | area percentage      = 0.3
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 10679
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 10571 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone           = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.winnebagocountyiowa.gov
 | district             = 4th
 | named for            = [[Ho-Chunk|Winnebago tribe]] }}

'''Winnebago County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Iowa]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 10,679.<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 [[Forest City, Iowa|Forest City]].<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> The county was founded in 1847 and named after the [[Ho-Chunk|Native American tribe]]. It is the location of the motor homes manufacturer [[Winnebago Industries]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|402|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|400|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.2|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> It is Iowa's fifth-smallest county by land area and second-smallest by total area.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Faribault County, Minnesota]]  (northwest)
*[[Freeborn County, Minnesota]]  (northeast)
*[[Worth County, Iowa|Worth County]]  (east)
*[[Hancock County, Iowa|Hancock County]]  (south)
*[[Kossuth County, Iowa|Kossuth County]]  (west)
*[[Cerro Gordo County, Iowa|Cerro Gordo County]]  (southeast)

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
*[[File:US 69.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 69 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 69]]
*[[File:Circle sign 9.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 9]]

===Airport===
*[[Forest City Municipal Airport]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 168
|1870= 1562
|1880= 4917
|1890= 7325
|1900= 12725
|1910= 11914
|1920= 13489
|1930= 13143
|1940= 13972
|1950= 13450
|1960= 13099
|1970= 12990
|1980= 13010
|1990= 12122
|2000= 11723
|2010= 10866
|2020= 10679
|estyear=2023
|estimate=10571
|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/19/19189.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 20, 2014|archive-date=August 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820011657/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19189.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
[[File:WinnebagoCountyIowaPop2020.png|thumb|right|Population of Winnebago County from US census data]]

===2020 census===
[[File:WinnebagoCountyIA2022PopPyr.png|thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Winnebago County from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 10,679 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|10679|401.545952|sqmi|km2}}. 96.07% of the population reported being of one race. There were 5,077 housing units, of which 4,512 were occupied.<ref name=cen2020/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Winnebago 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) – Winnebago County, Iowa|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Winnebago%20County,%20Iowa&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|9,472
|88.7%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|204
|2%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|13
|0.1%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|94
|0.9%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|3
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|299
|2.8%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|594
|5.6%
|}

===2010 census===
The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,866 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|10866|400.47|sqmi|km2}}. There were 5,194 housing units, of which 4,597 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 1, 2022}}</ref>

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 11,723 people, 4,749 households, and 3,181 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|29|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 5,065 housing units at an average density of {{convert|13|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 97.37% white, 0.18% black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 2.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<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 the 4,749 households 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 29.40% of households were one person and 14.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 24.10% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.90% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median household income was $38,381 and the median family income was $47,306. Males had a median income of $30,720 versus $22,509 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,494. About 5.00% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

== History ==
"When the first white settlers came into the county, and for some years thereafter, roving bands of [[Ho-Chunk|Winnebago Indians]] made their temporary home within the limits of the county. At times there would be as many as one hundred living along the Lime Creek valley or about Coon Grove, and at other times there would be but a mere handful ... During the summer seasons they would cache their cooking utensils, leave their tepees standing and go northward into Minnesota to hunt and trap. At that time the Winnebago agency was located about forty miles north of [[Forest City, Iowa|Forest City]]." The Winnebago were [[Indian removal|removed]] after the [[Dakota War of 1862]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago) |url=http://archive.org/details/historyofwinneba00pion |title=History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement .. |date=1917 |publisher=Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company |others=New York Public Library}}</ref>

Initial settlement was in the wooded eastern third of the county, with prairie and marshy areas in the west being settled after 1880.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Winnebago County |url=http://iagenweb.org/winnebago/History/Overview.htm |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=IAGenWeb - History}}</ref> Early teachers in Winnebago County were required to be able to converse in the language of their pupils. Many of the county's pioneers were of [[Norwegian Americans|Norwegian descent]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Centennial Book Committee |title=A peek at the past ... Thompson, Iowa, 1892-1992. A good place to call home |year=1992 |pages=48}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

The oldest standing structure in the county is Trinity Church, built in 1874.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trinity Church |url=https://whsiowa.org/mansion-museum/trinity-church/ |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=Winnebago Historical Society}}</ref>

In 1938, the Winnebago Rural Electric Cooperative was established. The first section of lines was energized on January 3, 1940.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Centennial Book Committee |title=A peek at the past ... Thompson, Iowa, 1892-1992. A good place to call home |year=1992 |pages=22–23}}</ref>

A 1951 movie by the [[Rural Utilities Service#Rural Electrification Administration|Rural Electrification Administration]]  featured local residents describing the struggles for adequate phone service in Winnebago County, prior to the federal loan which enabled the Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association to convert the area to modern dial service.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Centennial Book Committee |title=A peek at the past ... Thompson, Iowa, 1892-1992. A good place to call home |year=1992 |pages=25–26}}</ref>

The Winnebago Industries RV manufacturing company was founded in Forest City in 1958.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldfield |first=Raymond |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Take A Tour Of The World's Largest RV Factory In Iowa |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/take-a-tour-of-the-worlds-largest-rv-factory-in-iowa/ar-AA13k5cK |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=MSN |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Winnebago Historical Society is located in the Mansion Museum in Forest City.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum |url=https://whsiowa.org/mansion-museum/museum/ |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=Winnebago Historical Society}}</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Buffalo Center, Iowa|Buffalo Center]]
*[[Forest City, Iowa|Forest City]]
*[[Lake Mills, Iowa|Lake Mills]]
*[[Leland, Iowa|Leland]]
*[[Rake, Iowa|Rake]]
*[[Scarville, Iowa|Scarville]]
*[[Thompson, Iowa|Thompson]]

===Townships===
{{div col}}
* [[Buffalo Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Buffalo]]
* [[Center Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Center]]
* [[Eden Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Eden]]
* [[Forest Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Forest]]
* [[Grant Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Grant]]
* [[King Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|King]]
* [[Lincoln Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Lincoln]]
* [[Linden Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Linden]]
* [[Logan Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Logan]]
* [[Mount Valley Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Mount Valley]]
* [[Newton Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Newton]]
* [[Norway Township, Winnebago County, Iowa|Norway]]
{{div col end}}

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

'''†''' ''county seat''

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

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''†''' '''[[Forest City, Iowa|Forest City]]''' (''partially in [[Hancock County, Iowa|Hancock County]]'')
| City
| 4,285
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[Lake Mills, Iowa|Lake Mills]]''' 
| City
| 2,143
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Buffalo Center, Iowa|Buffalo Center]]''' 
| City
| 857
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[Thompson, Iowa|Thompson]]''' 
| City
| 495
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 5
|'''[[Leland, Iowa|Leland]]''' 
| City
| 249
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[Rake, Iowa|Rake]]''' 
| City
| 186
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 7
|'''[[Scarville, Iowa|Scarville]]''' 
| City
| 74
|}

==Politics==
Winnebago County has backed the statewide winner in every presidential election since 1996 with the exception of 2012, when it backed losing Republican [[Mitt Romney]] by just 3 votes over incumbent Democrat [[Barack Obama]].
{{PresHead|place=Winnebago 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 28, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,636|1,909|97|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,707|2,135|128|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,447|1,931|409|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,906|2,903|109|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|2,730|3,254|101|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,175|2,707|70|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,662|2,691|174|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,211|2,679|631|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,407|2,322|1,349|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,863|2,804|36|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,616|2,669|29|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,808|2,208|463|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,315|2,950|81|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,300|2,324|45|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,543|2,163|248|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,331|3,677|9|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,082|2,463|4|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,926|2,521|6|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,574|1,905|20|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,636|2,626|189|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,808|2,654|18|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,308|3,051|29|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,592|3,133|202|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,012|3,281|206|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,386|1,268|177|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|2,445|225|2,502|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,931|469|114|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,713|584|52|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|532|390|1,309|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,710|489|49|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,002|174|62|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,052|474|51|Iowa}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Republican|1,912|714|25|Iowa}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st19_ia/schooldistrict_maps/c19189_winnebago/DC20SD_C19189.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Winnebago County, IA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-08-25}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st19_ia/schooldistrict_maps/c19189_winnebago/DC20SD_C19189_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Algona Community School District]]
* [[Forest City Community School District]]
* [[Lake Mills Community School District]]
* [[North Iowa Community School District]]

Former school districts:
* [[Titonka Consolidated School District]],<ref name=WinnebagoCoSDMap2010>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st19_ia/c19189_winnebago/DC10SD_C19189_001.pdf|title=SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Winnebago County, IA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-08-25}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st19_ia/c19189_winnebago/DC10SD_C19189_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> consolidated into Algona CSD on July 1, 2014.<ref name=Mergerlist>{{cite web|url=https://educate.iowa.gov:443/media/7294/download?inline|title=Reorganization and Dissolution Action Since 1965-66|publisher=[[Iowa Department of Education]]|access-date=2024-08-25}}</ref>
* [[Woden-Crystal Lake Community School District]],<ref name=WinnebagoCoSDMap2010/> consolidated into Forest City CSD on July 1, 2013.<ref name=Mergerlist/>

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

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

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|title=History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa|year=1917|volume=1|publisher=Pioneer Publishing Company|location=Chicago}} ({{Internet Archive|id=historyofwinneba00pion|name=History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa}})
*{{cite book|title=History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa|year=1917|volume=2|publisher=Pioneer Publishing Company|location=Chicago}} ({{Internet Archive|id=historyofwinnebachc00pion|name=History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa}})
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!--for current and future use if material is uploaded-->
*[http://www.winnebagocountyiowa.gov Winnebago County website]

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Winnebago County, Iowa
| North     =
| Northeast = [[Freeborn County, Minnesota]]
| East      = [[Worth County, Iowa|Worth County]]
| Southeast = [[Cerro Gordo County, Iowa|Cerro Gordo County]]
| South     = [[Hancock County, Iowa|Hancock County]]
| Southwest =
| West      = [[Kossuth County, Iowa|Kossuth County]]
| Northwest = [[Faribault County, Minnesota]]
}}

{{Winnebago County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|43|22|44|N|93|43|55|W|region:US-IA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Winnebago County, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Iowa placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1847 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1847]]