Plymouth County, Iowa

County in Iowa, United States

Coordinates: 42°44′18″N 96°13′13″W﻿ / ﻿42.73833°N 96.22028°W﻿ / 42.73833; -96.22028

U.S. county in Iowa

Plymouth County

U.S. county

Plymouth County Courthouse

Map of Iowa highlighting Plymouth County

Location within the U.S. state of Iowa

Iowa's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Iowa
Founded| January 15, 1851
Seat| Le Mars
Largest city| Le Mars
Area

• Total| 864 sq mi (2,240 km2)
• Land| 863 sq mi (2,240 km2)
• Water| 0.8 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 25,698
• Density| 30/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| www.co.plymouth.ia.us

Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,698.[1] The county seat is Le Mars.[2] Plymouth County was named after Plymouth, Massachusetts.[3]

Plymouth County is part of the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 3 Transportation
* 3.1 Major highways
* 3.2 Airport
* 4 Demographics
* 4.1 2020 census
* 4.2 2010 census
* 4.3 2000 census
* 5 Points of interest
* 6 Notable people
* 7 Communities
* 7.1 Cities
* 7.2 Unincorporated communities
* 7.3 Population ranking
* 8 Politics
* 8.1 Political Subdivisions
* 9 See also
* 10 References
* 11 External links

## History

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Plymouth County was formed on January 15, 1851. Settlement began in the county in 1856. In October 1859, the first courthouse was built in Melbourne, formerly located in the southeast quarter of section 34, Plymouth Township, about five to six miles due south of Merrill.[4] The first public school opened its doors there with 32 pupils. In 1872 the county seat was moved to Le Mars and a courthouse and jail were built there in 1873. The present Plymouth County Courthouse was built in 1900 of red sandstone.[5]

During the Great Depression, farmers in the county organized the Farmers Holiday Group, to keep farm products off the market until the desired price was met. A radical group among them abducted Judge Bradley from his court chamber and threatened to hang him in the front of the courthouse. Bradley was freed, but the governor ordered the national guard to Plymouth County and declared a state of emergency, which effectively ended the group.[5][6]

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 864 square miles (2,240 km2), of which 863 square miles (2,240 km2) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) (0.1%) is water.[7] It is the fourth-largest county by area in Iowa.

### Adjacent counties

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* Sioux County (north)
* Cherokee County (east)
* Woodbury County (south)
* Union County, South Dakota (west)

## Transportation

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### Major highways

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* U.S. Highway 75
* Iowa Highway 3
* Iowa Highway 12
* Iowa Highway 60
* Iowa Highway 140

### Airport

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Le Mars Municipal Airport is located in Plymouth County, two nautical miles (3.7 km) southwest of the central business district of Le Mars.

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 148| | —
1870| 2,199| | 1,385.8%
1880| 8,566| | 289.5%
1890| 19,568| | 128.4%
1900| 22,209| | 13.5%
1910| 23,129| | 4.1%
1920| 23,584| | 2.0%
1930| 24,159| | 2.4%
1940| 23,502| | −2.7%
1950| 23,252| | −1.1%
1960| 23,906| | 2.8%
1970| 24,322| | 1.7%
1980| 24,743| | 1.7%
1990| 23,388| | −5.5%
2000| 24,849| | 6.2%
2010| 24,986| | 0.6%
2020| 25,698| | 2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[12]
Population of Plymouth County from US census data

### 2020 census

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The 2020 census recorded a population of 25,698 in the county, with a population density of 29.7132/sq mi (11.47233/km2). 95.81% of the population reported being of one race. There were 10,818 housing units, of which 10,171 were occupied.[1]

Plymouth County Racial Composition[13] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 22,941  | 89.3%
Black or African American (NH)  | 354  | 1.4%
Native American (NH)  | 48  | 0.2%
Asian (NH)  | 111  | 0.43%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 117  | 0.5%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 631  | 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino | 1,496  | 6%

### 2010 census

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The 2010 census recorded a population of 24,986 in the county, with a population density of 28.9337/sq mi (11.17137/km2). There were 10,550 housing units, of which 9,875 were occupied.[14]

### 2000 census

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2000 Census Age Pyramid for Plymouth County

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 24,849 people, 9,372 households, and 6,804 families in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 9,880 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.16% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 1.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 9,372 households 35.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.30% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.00% of households were one person and 12.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.12.

The age distribution was 28.30% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

The median household income was $41,638 and the median family income was $50,009. Males had a median income of $33,566 versus $22,558 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,442. About 4.40% of families and 6.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

## Points of interest

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The Pappas Telecasting Tower,[16] with a height of 603.5 metres (1,980 ft), is one of the tallest masts in the world.

## Notable people

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* William G. Kirchner, Minnesota state legislator and banker
* Ralph Klemme, Iowa state legislator and farmer
* Jim Nicholson, Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Republican National Chairman and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican
* Johnny Niggeling,[17] Major league baseball pitcher
* Paul Rust, actor and comedian
* Thomas Starzl, innovator in organ transplant surgery
* Isaac S. Struble, Congressman (1883–1891) after whom Struble is named
* William Garner Waddel, South Dakota State Senator

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Akron
* Brunsville
* Craig
* Hinton
* Kingsley
* Le Mars
* Merrill
* Oyens
* Remsen
* Sioux City (mostly in Woodbury County)
* Struble
* Westfield

### Unincorporated communities

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* Adaville
* Brookdale
* Crathorne
* James
* Mammen
* Milnerville
* Neptune
* O'Leary
* Plymouth
* Potosia
* Ruble
* Seney
* Union Center (Also known as "The U")
* West Le Mars
* Wren
* Yeomans

### Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Plymouth County.[1]

† county seat

Rank  | City/Town/etc.  | Municipal type  | Population (2020 Census)

|
|
|

1  | † Le Mars | City  | 10,571
2  | Remsen | City  | 1,678
3  | Akron | City  | 1,558
4  | Kingsley | City  | 1,396
5  | Hinton | City  | 935
6  | Merrill | City  | 717
7  | Brunsville | City  | 129
8  | Westfield | City  | 123
9  | Oyens | City  | 92
10  | Craig | City  | 79
11  | Struble | City  | 67
12  | Sioux City (almost entirely in Woodbury County)  | City  | 6 (85,797 total)

## Politics

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Like most of Northwest Iowa, Plymouth County is a Republican Party stronghold. Lyndon B. Johnson is the last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election, and in elections from 1896 on it has only been won by a Democrat nationally four other times.

United States presidential election results for Plymouth County, Iowa[18][19] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 10,492  | 73.95% | 3,494  | 24.63%  | 202  | 1.42%
2016 | 9,680  | 73.39% | 2,885  | 21.87%  | 625  | 4.74%
2012 | 8,597  | 66.39% | 4,164  | 32.15%  | 189  | 1.46%
2008 | 7,765  | 62.05% | 4,629  | 36.99%  | 121  | 0.97%
2004 | 7,810  | 63.90% | 4,278  | 35.00%  | 134  | 1.10%
2000 | 6,189  | 61.17% | 3,499  | 34.58%  | 430  | 4.25%
1996 | 5,117  | 51.40% | 3,745  | 37.62%  | 1,094  | 10.99%
1992 | 5,196  | 49.56% | 3,171  | 30.25%  | 2,117  | 20.19%
1988 | 5,316  | 55.33% | 4,220  | 43.93%  | 71  | 0.74%
1984 | 6,482  | 64.65% | 3,464  | 34.55%  | 81  | 0.81%
1980 | 6,515  | 62.97% | 2,965  | 28.66%  | 866  | 8.37%
1976 | 5,590  | 55.81% | 4,284  | 42.77%  | 142  | 1.42%
1972 | 6,339  | 60.57% | 4,033  | 38.53%  | 94  | 0.90%
1968 | 6,236  | 62.13% | 3,234  | 32.22%  | 567  | 5.65%
1964 | 4,920  | 46.36%  | 5,691  | 53.62% | 2  | 0.02%
1960 | 6,432  | 57.93% | 4,671  | 42.07%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 7,246  | 67.42% | 3,502  | 32.58%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 8,140  | 74.29% | 2,768  | 25.26%  | 49  | 0.45%
1948 | 5,002  | 53.12% | 4,339  | 46.08%  | 75  | 0.80%
1944 | 6,085  | 67.04% | 2,970  | 32.72%  | 21  | 0.23%
1940 | 7,725  | 66.72% | 3,831  | 33.09%  | 23  | 0.20%
1936 | 4,133  | 36.11%  | 5,994  | 52.37% | 1,318  | 11.52%
1932 | 2,888  | 27.34%  | 7,565  | 71.62% | 110  | 1.04%
1928 | 4,848  | 48.98%  | 5,015  | 50.67% | 34  | 0.34%
1924 | 3,803  | 42.09% | 1,605  | 17.76%  | 3,628  | 40.15%
1920 | 6,090  | 76.16% | 1,801  | 22.52%  | 105  | 1.31%
1916 | 2,666  | 53.14% | 2,258  | 45.01%  | 93  | 1.85%
1912 | 825  | 16.69%  | 2,038  | 41.24% | 2,079  | 42.07%
1908 | 2,622  | 53.18% | 2,168  | 43.98%  | 140  | 2.84%
1904 | 2,905  | 61.47% | 1,663  | 35.19%  | 158  | 3.34%
1900 | 2,712  | 53.03% | 2,307  | 45.11%  | 95  | 1.86%
1896 | 2,623  | 51.40% | 2,392  | 46.87%  | 88  | 1.72%

### Political Subdivisions

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* America
* Elgin
* Elkhorn
* Fredonia
* Garfield
* Grant
* Hancock
* Henry
* Hungerford
* Johnson
* Liberty
* Lincoln
* Marion
* Meadow
* Perry
* Plymouth
* Portland
* Preston
* Remsen
* Sioux
* Stanton
* Union
* Washington
* Westfield

## See also

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* Plymouth County Courthouse
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Plymouth County, Iowa
* Plymouth Roller Milling Company
* Damnation (TV series)

## References

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1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 163.
4. ^ History of the Counties of Woodbury and Plymouth, Iowa. Chicago: A. Warner & Co. 1890. p. 434.
5. ^ a b "Historical Facts About Plymouth County". Co.plymouth.ia.us. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
6. ^ "Martial Law at Le Mars". Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. April 28, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
13. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Plymouth County, Iowa".
14. ^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau – American FactFinder. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. ^ "ASR Registration 1058291". Wireless2.fcc.gov. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
17. ^ "Johnny Niggeling Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
19. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 2,005 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 46 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 28 votes.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plymouth County, Iowa.

* Plymouth County Iowa Official website

Places adjacent to Plymouth County, Iowa

|  | Sioux County |

|
|

|  |
Union County, South Dakota |

Plymouth County, Iowa

| Cherokee County
|  |
| Woodbury County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Plymouth County, Iowa, United States

County seat: Le Mars

Cities|

* Akron
* Brunsville
* Craig
* Hinton
* Kingsley
* Le Mars
* Merrill
* Oyens
* Remsen
* Sioux City‡
* Struble
* Westfield

File:Map of Iowa highlighting Plymouth County.svgMap of Iowa highlighting Plymouth County

Unincorporated communities|

* Adaville
* James
* Seney

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

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