Wright County, Iowa

Wright County, Iowa

Map of Iowa highlighting Wright County
Location in the state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location in the U.S.
Founded 1851
Named for Silas Wright
Seat Clarion
Largest city Eagle Grove
Area
 • Total 582 sq mi (1,507 km2)
 • Land 580 sq mi (1,502 km2)
 • Water 1.8 sq mi (5 km2), 0.3%
Population
 • (2010) 13,229
 • Density 23/sq mi (9/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.wrightcounty.org

Wright County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,229.[1] The county seat is Clarion.[2] The county was formed on January 15, 1851 and named after Silas Wright, a governor of New York, and Joseph Albert Wright, a governor of Indiana.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 582 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4] The terrain is generally undulating. The county is intersected by the Boone and Iowa rivers[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18702,392—
18805,062111.6%
189012,057138.2%
190018,22751.2%
191017,951−1.5%
192020,34813.4%
193020,216−0.6%
194020,038−0.9%
195019,652−1.9%
196019,447−1.0%
197017,294−11.1%
198016,319−5.6%
199014,269−12.6%
200014,3340.5%
201013,229−7.7%
Est. 201412,840[6]−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,229 in the county, with a population density of 22.7803/sq mi (8.7955/km2). There were 6,529 housing units, of which 5,625 were occupied.[11]

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Wright County

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 14,334 people, 5,940 households, and 3,938 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 6,559 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.93% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 2.90% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 4.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,940 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,197, and the median income for a family was $44,043. Males had a median income of $29,398 versus $21,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,247. About 4.20% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.70% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary

There are three school districts in Wright County with three high schools: Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School District K-12 Enrollment 954 Eagle Grove Community School District K-12 Enrollment 836 Belmond-Klemme Community School District K-12 Enrollment 793

Tertiary

Iowa State University maintains an extension office in Clarion. Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, and Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls are all within driving distance of Wright County. Iowa Central Community College began offering ICN Polycom Classes in Clarion and Eagle Grove in 2015.

Politics

Presidential Election Results 2000-2008
Year Democratic Republican
2008 48.51% 3,102 50.1% 3,198
2004 44.37% 2,930 54.99% 3,631
2000 44.13% 2,796 53.41% 3,384

Media

Several small newspapers are published in Wright County, including the Wright County Monitor, serving Clarion and Dows, the Eagle Grove Eagle, and the Belmond Independent.

Wright County Fair

The first Wright County Fair was held in Clarion. The old fairgrounds were located where Clarion's USA Healthcare Center stands today. For some unknown reason, in 1924 the fair in Clarion closed. It was moved to Goldfield in 1925 and then to its present location in Eagle Grove in 1926. The Wright County Fair was later renamed the Wright County District Junior Fair. Entries are open to children in Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster, Hardin, Franklin, and Wright counties.[13]

Communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Wright County
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑  Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Wright. II. A N. central county of Iowa". The American Cyclopædia.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. ↑ Wright County District Junior Fair

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wright County, Iowa.
 Hancock County
Humboldt County Franklin County
   Wright County, Iowa  
Webster County Hamilton County Hardin County

Coordinates: 42°43′59″N 93°44′08″W / 42.73306°N 93.73556°W / 42.73306; -93.73556

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