Dickinson County, Iowa

County in Iowa, United States

U.S. county in Iowa

Dickinson County

U.S. county

Dickinson County Courthouse

Dickinson County Courthouse

Map of Iowa highlighting Dickinson County

Location within the U.S. state of Iowa

Iowa's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Iowa
Founded| 1857
Named for| Daniel S. Dickinson
Seat| Spirit Lake
Largest city| Spirit Lake
Area

• Total| 404 sq mi (1,050 km2)
• Land| 381 sq mi (990 km2)
• Water| 23 sq mi (60 km2)  5.8%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 17,703
• Density| 44/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| dickinsoncountyiowa.gov

Dickinson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,703.[1] The county seat is Spirit Lake.[2] The county was organized in 1857 and is named in honor of Daniel S. Dickinson,[3] a U.S. Senator for New York.

Dickinson County comprises the Spirit Lake, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 Geography
* 1.1 Major highways
* 1.2 Adjacent counties
* 2 Demographics
* 2.1 2020 census
* 2.2 2010 census
* 2.3 2000 census
* 3 Communities
* 3.1 Cities
* 3.2 Unincorporated community
* 3.3 Townships
* 3.4 Population ranking
* 4 Politics
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 7 Further reading
* 8 External links

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 404 square miles (1,050 km2), of which 381 square miles (990 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (5.8%) is water.[4] It is the smallest county by land area in Iowa, and the fifth-smallest by total area.

A region known as the Iowa Great Lakes is in Dickinson County, making it a popular vacation destination for Iowans, and explaining the recent high population growth in the area. The lakes include West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake, and Spirit Lake.

### Major highways

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* U.S. Highway 71
* Iowa Highway 9
* File:Elongated circle 86.svg Iowa Highway 86

### Adjacent counties

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* Jackson County, Minnesota (north)
* Emmet County (east)
* Clay County (south)
* Osceola County (west)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 180| | —
1870| 1,389| | 671.7%
1880| 1,901| | 36.9%
1890| 4,328| | 127.7%
1900| 7,995| | 84.7%
1910| 8,137| | 1.8%
1920| 10,241| | 25.9%
1930| 10,982| | 7.2%
1940| 12,185| | 11.0%
1950| 12,756| | 4.7%
1960| 12,574| | −1.4%
1970| 12,565| | −0.1%
1980| 15,629| | 24.4%
1990| 14,909| | −4.6%
2000| 16,424| | 10.2%
2010| 16,667| | 1.5%
2020| 17,703| | 6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2018[9]

### 2020 census

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File:DickinsonCountyIowaPop2020.pngPopulation of Dickinson County from US census data

The 2020 census recorded a population of 17,703 in the county, with a population density of 43.6672/sq mi (16.8600/km2). 96.84% of the population reported being of one race. 92.71% were non-Hispanic White, 0.45% were Black, 2.29% were Hispanic, 0.12% were Native American, 0.46% were Asian, 0.01% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 3.96% were some other race or more than one race. There were 13,691 housing units of which 7,976 were occupied.[1]

### 2010 census

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The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,667 in the county, with a population density of 43.7385/sq mi (16.8875/km2). There were 12,849 housing units, of which 7,554 were occupied.[10]

### 2000 census

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File:USA Dickinson County, Iowa age pyramid.svg2000 Census Age Pyramid for Dickinson County

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 16,424 people, 7,103 households, and 4,759 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 inhabitants per square mile (17/km2). There were 11,375 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.90% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,103 households, out of which 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,020, and the median income for a family was $47,739. Males had a median income of $30,523 versus $22,131 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,929. 6.00% of the population and 4.20% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty 5.90% of those under the age of 18 and 7.00% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

## Communities

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### Cities

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File:PostcardSpiritLakeRegionIowa1907.jpgA picture postcard postmarked Okoboji Iowa Aug 1, 1907

* Arnolds Park
* Lake Park
* Milford
* Okoboji
* Orleans
* Spirit Lake
* Superior
* Terril
* Wahpeton
* West Okoboji

### Unincorporated community

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* Montgomery

### Townships

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Dickinson County is divided into twelve townships:

* Center Grove
* Diamond Lake
* Excelsior
* Lakeville
* Lloyd
* Milford
* Okoboji
* Richland
* Silver Lake
* Spirit Lake
* Superior
* Westport

### Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Dickinson County.[1] † county seat

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

|
|
|

1  | † Spirit Lake | City  | 5,439
2  | Milford | City  | 3,321
3  | Lake Park | City  | 1,167
4  | Arnolds Park | City  | 1,110
5  | Okoboji | City  | 768
6  | Orleans | City  | 521
7  | Wahpeton | City  | 345
8  | Terril | City  | 334
9  | West Okoboji | City  | 308
10  | Superior | City  | 132

## Politics

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United States presidential election results for Dickinson County, Iowa[12] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 7,438  | 66.15% | 3,661  | 32.56%  | 145  | 1.29%
2016 | 6,753  | 65.22% | 3,056  | 29.52%  | 545  | 5.26%
2012 | 5,912  | 58.19% | 4,095  | 40.31%  | 152  | 1.50%
2008 | 5,162  | 52.10% | 4,625  | 46.68%  | 120  | 1.21%
2004 | 5,337  | 55.87% | 4,140  | 43.34%  | 76  | 0.80%
2000 | 4,225  | 52.03% | 3,660  | 45.07%  | 236  | 2.91%
1996 | 3,129  | 40.92%  | 3,562  | 46.59% | 955  | 12.49%
1992 | 3,196  | 38.49% | 3,106  | 37.40%  | 2,002  | 24.11%
1988 | 3,678  | 51.80% | 3,342  | 47.06%  | 81  | 1.14%
1984 | 4,064  | 56.68% | 3,025  | 42.19%  | 81  | 1.13%
1980 | 4,028  | 54.13% | 2,620  | 35.21%  | 794  | 10.67%
1976 | 3,795  | 54.14% | 3,074  | 43.85%  | 141  | 2.01%
1972 | 3,739  | 58.60% | 2,373  | 37.19%  | 269  | 4.22%
1968 | 3,472  | 56.45% | 2,286  | 37.16%  | 393  | 6.39%
1964 | 2,443  | 41.14%  | 3,490  | 58.77% | 5  | 0.08%
1960 | 3,575  | 56.99% | 2,696  | 42.98%  | 2  | 0.03%
1956 | 3,641  | 59.14% | 2,498  | 40.57%  | 18  | 0.29%
1952 | 4,401  | 71.05% | 1,748  | 28.22%  | 45  | 0.73%
1948 | 2,304  | 48.34%  | 2,324  | 48.76% | 138  | 2.90%
1944 | 2,133  | 46.10%  | 2,473  | 53.45% | 21  | 0.45%
1940 | 2,736  | 47.65%  | 2,985  | 51.99% | 21  | 0.37%
1936 | 2,322  | 40.10%  | 3,399  | 58.69% | 70  | 1.21%
1932 | 2,074  | 44.07%  | 2,500  | 53.12% | 132  | 2.80%
1928 | 3,045  | 70.57% | 1,251  | 28.99%  | 19  | 0.44%
1924 | 2,967  | 66.18% | 435  | 9.70%  | 1,081  | 24.11%
1920 | 3,298  | 80.42% | 760  | 18.53%  | 43  | 1.05%
1916 | 1,249  | 57.24% | 893  | 40.93%  | 40  | 1.83%
1912 | 457  | 24.54%  | 502  | 26.96%  | 903  | 48.50%
1908 | 1,109  | 66.57% | 503  | 30.19%  | 54  | 3.24%
1904 | 1,320  | 78.01% | 312  | 18.44%  | 60  | 3.55%
1900 | 1,352  | 73.16% | 445  | 24.08%  | 51  | 2.76%
1896 | 1,131  | 67.36% | 517  | 30.79%  | 31  | 1.85%

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Dickinson County, Iowa

## 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. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 106.
4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
10. ^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 26, 2018.

## Further reading

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* R.A. Smith, A History of Dickinson County, Iowa: Together with an Account of The Spirit Lake Massacre, and the Indian Troubles on the Northwestern Frontier. Des Moines, IA: The Kenyon Printing & Mfg. Co., 1902.
* History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. In Two Volumes. Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Co., 1917.
* Volume 1 | Volume 2

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dickinson County, Iowa.

* Dickinson County government's website Archived January 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
* http://www.iowadot.gov/maps//msp/pdf/Dickinson.pdf

Places adjacent to Dickinson County, Iowa

|  | Jackson County, Minnesota |

|
|

|  |
Osceola County |

Dickinson County, Iowa

| Emmet County
|  |
| Clay County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Dickinson County, Iowa, United States

County seat: Spirit Lake

Cities|

* Arnolds Park
* Lake Park
* Milford
* Okoboji
* Orleans
* Spirit Lake
* Superior
* Terril
* Wahpeton
* West Okoboji

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

Townships|

* Center Grove
* Diamond Lake
* Excelsior
* Lakeville
* Lloyd
* Milford
* Okoboji
* Richland
* Silver Lake
* Spirit Lake
* Superior
* Westport

Unincorporated
community|

* Montgomery

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Iowa

Des Moines (capital)

Topics|

* Archaeology
* Area codes
* Attorney General
* Auditor of State
* Capitol
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Regions|

* Coteau des Prairies
* Des Moines metropolitan area
* Dissected Till Plains
* Driftless Area
* Great River Road
* Honey Lands
* Iowa Great Lakes
* Loess Hills
* Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area
* Quad Cities
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Largest cities|

* Ames
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Counties|

* Adair
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* Page
* Palo Alto
* Plymouth
* Pocahontas
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* Pottawattamie
* Poweshiek
* Ringgold
* Sac
* Scott
* Shelby
* Sioux
* Story
* Tama
* Taylor
* Union
* Van Buren
* Wapello
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Winnebago
* Winneshiek
* Woodbury
* Worth
* Wright

Coordinates: 43°22′33″N 95°08′59″W﻿ / ﻿43.37583°N 95.14972°W﻿ / 43.37583; -95.14972
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