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| Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | |
 Cerro Gordo County Courthouse
| |
 Location in the state of Iowa | |
 Iowa's location in the U.S. | |
| Founded | 1851 |
|---|---|
| Named for | Battle of Cerro Gordo |
| Seat | Mason City |
| Largest city | Mason City |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
575 sq mi (1,489 km²) 568 sq mi (1,471 km²) 6.8 sq mi (18 km²), 1.2 |
| Population - (2020) - Density |
43,127 |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www.cgcounty.org |
Cerro Gordo County ( /ˈsɛroʊ ˈɡɔːrdoʊ/; Spanish: [ˈsero ˈɣoɾðo]) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,127.[1] Its county seat is Mason City.[2] The county is named for the Battle of Cerro Gordo, which took place during the Mexican–American War.
Cerro Gordo County is part of the Mason City, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History[]
Cerro Gordo County was formed in 1851 and takes its name from the Battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican–American War, where General Winfield Scott defeated the Mexican General Santa Anna on April 18, 1847.
In 1851 the first white settlers came into the area of the present county and settled on Clear Lake. Four years later, on August 7, 1855, the first elections were held and the first legal proceedings occurred in 1857. In the summer of the same year, Livonia was chosen as the new county seat. In 1858, the seat was returned to Mason City. In 1866, the first courthouse was erected, which was used until 1900. The courthouse still used today opened on November 17, 1960.
Cerro Gordo County was the site of the airplane crash north of the city of Clear Lake, in which rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, along with their pilot Roger A. Peterson, were killed on February 3, 1959. The site is in Grant Township, in the northwestern part of the county.
Geography[]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km2) (1.2%) is water.[3]
Law enforcement[]
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office is headed by Sheriff Kevin Pals. The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement, performs investigations, executes legal processes such as writs, and is responsible for operating the county jail and for inmates in custody.
The Sheriff's Office is at 17262 Lark Ave, Mason City, IA 50401.[4]
Major highways[]
Interstate 35- U.S. Highway 18
- U.S. Highway 65
- Iowa Highway 27
- Iowa Highway 122
Airport[]
The county also has a municipal airport, Mason City Municipal Airport, (MCW) with commercial service by Air Choice One.
Adjacent counties[]
- Worth County (north)
- Mitchell County (northeast)
- Floyd County (east)
- Franklin County (south)
- Hancock County (west)
Demographics[]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 940 | ||
| 1870 | 4,722 | 402.3% | |
| 1880 | 11,461 | 142.7% | |
| 1890 | 14,864 | 29.7% | |
| 1900 | 20,672 | 39.1% | |
| 1910 | 25,011 | 21.0% | |
| 1920 | 34,675 | 38.6% | |
| 1930 | 38,476 | 11.0% | |
| 1940 | 43,845 | 14.0% | |
| 1950 | 46,053 | 5.0% | |
| 1960 | 49,894 | 8.3% | |
| 1970 | 49,223 | −1.3% | |
| 1980 | 48,458 | −1.6% | |
| 1990 | 46,733 | −3.6% | |
| 2000 | 46,447 | −0.6% | |
| 2010 | 44,151 | −4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[9] | |||
Population of Cerro Gordo County from US census data
2020 census[]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 43,127 in the county, with a population density of 74.9654/sq mi (28.9443/km2). 95.04% of the population reported being of one race. 84.34% were non-Hispanic White, 2.16% were Black, 5.20% were Hispanic, 0.33% were Native American, 1.24% were Asian, 0.32% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 6.41% were some other race or more than one race. There were 22,603 housing units of which 19,224 were occupied.[1]
2010 census[]
The 2010 census recorded a population of 44,151 in the county, with a population density of 77.73/sq mi (30.012/km2). There were 22,163 housing units, of which 19,350 were occupied.[10]
2000 census[]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Cerro Gordo County
At the 2000 census there were 46,447 people, 19,374 households, and 12,399 families in the county. The population density was 82 people per square mile (32/km2). There were 21,488 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.26% White, 0.80% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 2.78%.[11] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 19,374 households 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.90% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.00% were non-families. 30.90% of households were one person and 13.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
The age distribution was 23.80% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.
The median household income was $35,867 and the median family income was $46,099. Males had a median income of $31,790 versus $21,781 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,184. About 5.90% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
Communities[]
Cities[]
- Clear Lake
- Dougherty
- Mason City
- Meservey
- Plymouth
- Rock Falls
- Rockwell
- Swaledale
- Thornton
- Ventura
Townships[]
Cerro Gordo County is divided into sixteen townships:
- Bath
- Clear Lake
- Dougherty
- Falls
- Geneseo
- Grant
- Grimes
- Lake
- Lime Creek
- Lincoln
- Mason
- Mount Vernon
- Owen
- Pleasant Valley
- Portland
- Union
Census-designated places[]
- Burchinal
- Portland
Other unincorporated communities[]
- Cameron
- Cartersville
- Emery
- Freeman
- Hurley
Population ranking[]
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Cerro Gordo County.[1]
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Mason City | City | 27,338 |
| 2 | Clear Lake | City | 7,687 |
| 3 | Nora Springs (mostly in Floyd County) | City | 1,369 |
| 4 | Rockwell | City | 1,071 |
| 5 | Ventura | City | 711 |
| 6 | Thornton | City | 400 |
| 7 | Plymouth | City | 375 |
| 8 | Meservey | City | 222 |
| 9 | Swaledale | City | 144 |
| 10 | Rock Falls | City | 150 |
| 11 | Dougherty | City | 62 |
| 12 | Burchinal | CDP | 33 |
| 13 | Portland | CDP | 28 |
Economy[]
In September 2016 Cerro Gordo County supervisors voted to appeal the Iowa Department of Natural Resources's decision to approve construction of a hog confinement facility near Ventura, Iowa.[12]
Politics[]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 12,442 | 52.28% | 10,941 | 45.97% | 418 | 1.76% |
| 2016 | 11,621 | 50.60% | 9,862 | 42.94% | 1,482 | 6.45% |
| 2012 | 10,128 | 42.51% | 13,316 | 55.89% | 380 | 1.60% |
| 2008 | 9,375 | 38.83% | 14,405 | 59.67% | 363 | 1.50% |
| 2004 | 10,960 | 44.71% | 13,372 | 54.54% | 184 | 0.75% |
| 2000 | 9,397 | 42.40% | 12,185 | 54.98% | 580 | 2.62% |
| 1996 | 7,427 | 34.99% | 11,943 | 56.26% | 1,857 | 8.75% |
| 1992 | 8,250 | 33.96% | 11,415 | 46.99% | 4,628 | 19.05% |
| 1988 | 9,358 | 41.84% | 12,857 | 57.49% | 150 | 0.67% |
| 1984 | 11,214 | 48.86% | 11,570 | 50.41% | 166 | 0.72% |
| 1980 | 11,189 | 49.01% | 9,363 | 41.02% | 2,276 | 9.97% |
| 1976 | 10,604 | 47.77% | 11,189 | 50.41% | 403 | 1.82% |
| 1972 | 11,856 | 54.65% | 9,460 | 43.61% | 377 | 1.74% |
| 1968 | 10,661 | 52.49% | 8,554 | 42.12% | 1,095 | 5.39% |
| 1964 | 7,884 | 37.42% | 13,156 | 62.44% | 31 | 0.15% |
| 1960 | 12,830 | 56.05% | 10,044 | 43.88% | 15 | 0.07% |
| 1956 | 12,449 | 57.00% | 9,362 | 42.86% | 30 | 0.14% |
| 1952 | 13,207 | 61.12% | 8,354 | 38.66% | 47 | 0.22% |
| 1948 | 7,840 | 44.34% | 9,544 | 53.98% | 298 | 1.69% |
| 1944 | 8,311 | 47.60% | 9,088 | 52.05% | 60 | 0.34% |
| 1940 | 9,728 | 47.20% | 10,839 | 52.59% | 45 | 0.22% |
| 1936 | 7,599 | 42.71% | 9,694 | 54.48% | 501 | 2.82% |
| 1932 | 7,317 | 45.12% | 8,752 | 53.96% | 149 | 0.92% |
| 1928 | 9,582 | 65.78% | 4,908 | 33.69% | 77 | 0.53% |
| 1924 | 8,410 | 58.85% | 1,345 | 9.41% | 4,536 | 31.74% |
| 1920 | 8,293 | 75.73% | 2,302 | 21.02% | 356 | 3.25% |
| 1916 | 3,556 | 59.28% | 2,289 | 38.16% | 154 | 2.57% |
| 1912 | 1,334 | 25.64% | 1,742 | 33.49% | 2,126 | 40.87% |
| 1908 | 2,990 | 64.05% | 1,520 | 32.56% | 158 | 3.38% |
| 1904 | 3,108 | 74.55% | 836 | 20.05% | 225 | 5.40% |
| 1900 | 3,345 | 69.53% | 1,320 | 27.44% | 146 | 3.03% |
| 1896 | 3,048 | 66.73% | 1,408 | 30.82% | 112 | 2.45% |
| 1892 | 2,133 | 60.51% | 1,209 | 34.30% | 183 | 5.19% |
| 1888 | 1,866 | 63.30% | 1,004 | 34.06% | 78 | 2.65% |
| 1884 | 1,697 | 64.21% | 935 | 35.38% | 11 | 0.42% |
| 1880 | 1,604 | 69.71% | 677 | 29.42% | 20 | 0.87% |
See also[]
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
References[]
- ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". United states Census Bureau. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html.
- ^ "Cerro Gordo County Sheriff". Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. http://www.co.cerro-gordo.ia.us/departments/sheriff/.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19033.html.
- ^ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State -- County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov.
- ^ JOHN SKIPPER (September 6, 2016). "Supervisors appeal DNR decision to approve hog confinement facility". Mason City: Globe Gazette. http://globegazette.com/news/local/supervisors-appeal-dnr-decision-to-approve-hog-confinement-facility/article_7bfbd451-f2c8-559e-b20f-6b1c8f892292.html.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS.
External links[]
|
Worth County | Mitchell County |
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| Hancock County | 
|
Floyd County | ||
   Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | ||||
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| Franklin County |
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| This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License. |