Cass County, Iowa

Cass County, Iowa

Map of Iowa highlighting Cass County
Location in the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location in the U.S.
Founded 1851
Named for Lewis Cass
Seat Atlantic
Largest city Atlantic
Area
  Total 565 sq mi (1,463 km2)
  Land 564 sq mi (1,461 km2)
  Water 0.7 sq mi (2 km2), 0.1%
Population (est.)
  (2015) 13,427
  Density 25/sq mi (10/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.casscountyiowa.us

Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,956.[1] Its county seat is Atlantic.[2] It was named to honor Lewis Cass, who was the 1848 Democratic nominee for President.

History

Cass County is named in honor of Lewis Cass,[3] a Michigan senator and an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the presidency in 1848. The county was established within its present boundaries in 1851 and originated in 1853. Religious persecution was responsible for bringing the first people of European ancestry to Cass County. The Mormons, fleeing from Illinois, were the earliest settlers, and established a community at Indiantown in 1846.

At Indiantown, two of the three commissioners selected to locate a county seat were chosen. The site they chose was one mile (1.6 km) from Indiantown and named Lewis. Most of the people and businesses in Indian Town moved to Lewis shortly after it was laid out. In 1856, a frame courthouse was built, and eight years later a small stone building was completed for the county treasurer's office. In 1857, there was an attempt to relocate the county seat to Grove City; it was unsuccessful. On October 20, 1869, after a due canvass of the vote on the re-location of the county seat, the Board declared the city of Atlantic the county seat and ordered the county officers to that place.

Native vegetation based on NRCS soils information

In 1872, the first courthouse built in Atlantic was completed. Until it was completed county offices were held in various empty buildings. Ten years later the county built its second courthouse at Atlantic. The $65,000 building was destroyed by a fire in 1932. The fire started in the clock tower and gutted all of the second floor. Most of the county records and equipment were saved.

The present, fourth, courthouse was completed in 1934. While it was being built, county offices were located in the Atlantic Motors building, where an attempted robbery of the treasurer's safe took place. The robbers were interrupted and escaped, but without any money. The final cost of the fourth courthouse was $130,000: $65,000 came from a county bond issue, $46,500 from insurance and the remaining was covered by a Public Works Administration federal grant. The concrete and brick building is three stories high. It was dedicated on December 26, 1934, with the main speaker being the Governor of Iowa, Clyde L. Herring. The Board of Supervisors approved a new jail addition, which was dedicated in 1984.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 565 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Other Geographical notes

Due to its proximity to Cass County, Nebraska, and because both of those counties receive most of their broadcasts from Omaha, Nebraska, references to 'Cass County' must be frequently disambiguated, or result in confusion.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
18601,612
18705,464239.0%
188016,943210.1%
189019,64215.9%
190021,2748.3%
191019,047−10.5%
192019,4212.0%
193019,4220.0%
194018,647−4.0%
195018,532−0.6%
196017,919−3.3%
197017,007−5.1%
198016,932−0.4%
199015,128−10.7%
200014,684−2.9%
201013,956−5.0%
Est. 201513,427[5]−3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,956 in the county, with a population density of 24.745/sq mi (9.554/km2). There were 6,591 housing units, of which 5,980 were occupied.[10]

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Cass County

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 14,684 people, 6,120 households, and 4,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 6,590 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.84% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,120 households out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,922, and the median income for a family was $40,564. Males had a median income of $29,736 versus $20,108 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,067. About 7.20% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Communities

Cities

Townships

Cass County is divided into sixteen townships:


Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Cass County.[12]

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)

1 Atlantic City 7,112
2 Griswold City 1,036
3 Anita City 972
4 Lewis City 433
5 Massena City 355
6 Cumberland City 262
7 Marne City 120
8 Wiota City 116

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 71.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 22, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  10. "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State -- County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  11. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
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Coordinates: 41°19′46″N 94°55′45″W / 41.32944°N 94.92917°W / 41.32944; -94.92917

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