Allamakee County, Iowa

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Allamakee County (Template:IPAc-en) is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,061.<ref name="cen2020">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Waukon.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Allamakee County was formed on February 20, 1847. The derivation of the name is debated, some believing it was the name of an Indian chief, others think it was named for Allen Magee, an early historic trader.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The first Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon, built in 1861, now serves as the Allamakee County Historical Museum. The present Allamakee County Court House was built in 1940. Both courthouse buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris">Template:NRISref</ref>

Geography

File:Allamakee Co IA Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

Soils of Allamakee County

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Soils of private land in Allamakee County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (3.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

In the northern part of the county is the Upper Iowa River. In the southern part is the Yellow River. The eastern boundary is the Mississippi River. All offer scenic and recreational opportunities, particularly in Yellow River State Forest.

French Creek flows north of Waukon, outside the city limits. Paint Creek, named after Paint Rock Bluff, flows out of the south of Waukon. Norfolk creek originates in the western outskirts of Waukon and is effluent to the Yellow River. Clear Creek flows into Lansing. Village Creek flows through essentially rural terrain. All are tributary to the Mississippi River.

The landforms encountered in the county are very unlike those found in most of Iowa, which is mostly absent Glacial Drift. As part of the Driftless Area, the county was ice free during the last ice age, and as one progresses to the Mississippi River, the streams and rivers display high-walled canyons carved of Silurian period bedrock. This Driftless Area also includes parts of Clayton, Fayette, Winneshiek, Howard, Dubuque, and Jackson Counties.<ref>Iowa DNR site on Yellow River State Forest Template:Webarchive</ref>

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

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File:AllamakeeCountyIowaPop2020.png

Population of Allamakee County from US census data

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 14,061 in the county, with a population density of Template:Pop density. 96.88% of the population reported being of one race. 81.08% were non-Hispanic White, 1.10% were Black, 8.68% were Hispanic, 0.65% were Native American, 0.29% were Asian, 0.04% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 8.17% were some other race or more than one race. There were 7,668 housing units of which 5,797 were occupied.<ref name=cen2020/>

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,330 in the county, with a population density of Template:Pop density. There were 7,617 housing units, of which 5,845 were occupied.<ref name="USCB">Template:Cite web</ref>

File:AllamakeeCountyIA2022PopPyr.png

2022 US Census population pyramid for Allamakee County from ACS 5-year estimates

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 14,675 people, 5,722 households, and 3,931 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,142 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 95.88% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.82% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 3.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,722 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,967, and the median income for a family was $40,589. Males had a median income of $26,122 versus $19,098 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,599. About 6.40% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Notable sites

File:EffigyMounds01.jpg

View of the Mississippi from Effigy Mounds National Monument

Effigy Mounds National Monument is found in the southeast corner of the county.
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge encompasses the River.
Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge, a collection of small, non-contiguous parcels harboring two endangered species.
Yellow River State Forest is a four-season state park.

Media

Communities

Cities

Townships

Allamakee County is divided into eighteen townships: Template:Div col

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Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Allamakee County.<ref name=cen2020/>

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Waukon	City	3,827
2	Postville (partially in Clayton County)	City	2,228 (2503 total)
3	Lansing	City	968
4	New Albin	City	432
5	Harpers Ferry	City	262
6	Waterville	City	109

Politics

Allamakee County has been a Republican stronghold for most of its history. Between 1932 and 2008, no Democrat obtained an absolute majority in the county, though Franklin D. Roosevelt and Bill Clinton won it by plurality in 1936 and 1992, respectively. In 2008 Barack Obama won the county with a full majority and again in 2012, and since then the Republican strength in the county has increased significantly. The county saw the strongest Republican support in 2024 since the 1952 landslide election.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/</ref>

References

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External links

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