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Palo Alto County, Iowa

Coordinates: 43°04′48″N 94°40′51″W / 43.08000°N 94.68083°W / 43.08000; -94.68083
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Palo Alto County, Iowa
County
The Palo Alto County Courthouse in Emmetsburg
The Palo Alto County Courthouse in Emmetsburg
Map of Iowa highlighting Palo Alto County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Coordinates: 43°04′48″N 94°40′51″W / 43.08°N 94.680833333333°W / 43.08; -94.680833333333
Country United States
State Iowa
FoundedJanuary 15, 1851
Named afterBattle of Palo Alto
SeatEmmetsburg
Largest cityEmmetsburg
Area
 • Total
569 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Land564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water5.6 sq mi (15 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,996
 • Estimate 
(2024)
8,809 Decrease
 • Density16.0/sq mi (6.16/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitepaloaltocounty.iowa.gov
  • Iowa county number 74[1]

Palo Alto County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,996.[2] The county seat is Emmetsburg.[3] It is named after the Battle of Palo Alto, the first major battle of the Mexican–American War.[4]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 569 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km2) (1.0%) is water.[5]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860132—
18701,336912.1%
18804,131209.2%
18909,618132.8%
190014,35449.2%
191013,845−3.5%
192015,48611.9%
193015,398−0.6%
194016,1705.0%
195015,891−1.7%
196014,736−7.3%
197013,289−9.8%
198012,721−4.3%
199010,669−16.1%
200010,147−4.9%
20109,421−7.2%
20208,996−4.5%
2024 (est.)8,809[6] Decrease−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[11]

2020 census

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Population of Palo Alto County from the U.S. census data

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,996, giving it a population density of 15.9/sq mi (6.1/km2). The median age was 43.6 years, with 22.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 23.3% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.8 males age 18 and over.[12]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.1% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.[13]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[14]

There were 3,831 households in the county, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.7% were married-couple households, 20.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]

There were 4,516 housing units, of which 15.2% were vacant; 3,831 were occupied, with 75.5% owner-occupied and 24.5% renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.9%.[12]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census recorded a population of 9,421 in the county, with a population density of 16.7/sq mi (6.5/km2). There were 4,628 housing units, of which 3,994 were occupied.[15]

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 10,147 people, 4,119 households, and 2,673 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 4,631 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.62% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,119 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,409, and the median income for a family was $41,808. Males had a median income of $28,344 versus $19,655 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,733. About 6.60% of families and 10.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Townships

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Palo Alto County.[2]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Emmetsburg City 3,706
2 Graettinger City 832
3 West Bend (partially in Kossuth County) City 772 (791 total)
4 Ruthven City 725
5 Mallard City 257
6 Ayrshire City 133
7 Cylinder City 87
8 Curlew City 37
9 Rodman City 31

Politics

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Between 1896 and 2008, Palo Alto County was a very reliable bellwether county, backing the nationwide winner in every election except for 1984 and 1988, when a farm crisis caused a loss of Republican support in Iowa amidst an otherwise national landslide for the party in both elections. More recent elections have significantly favored Republicans, as in 2016, Donald Trump became the first nominee of any party to capture at least 65% of the county's vote since Lyndon B. Johnson in his national landslide of 1964. Trump's margin of victory of nearly 36% was the largest in the county since Warren G. Harding in 1920. Trump improved on his first performance in 2020, obtaining almost 68% of the vote in Palo Alto County and grew his margin of victory to over 37%. It was the best vote share for any candidate in the county since Harding a century earlier. Trump did even better again in 2024, taking nearly 72% of the vote and setting a record in Palo Alto County for the largest percentage of the vote ever obtained by a Republican candidate.

United States presidential election results for Palo Alto County, Iowa[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1896 1,595 50.00% 1,547 48.50% 48 1.50%
1900 1,908 55.47% 1,477 42.94% 55 1.60%
1904 1,999 63.32% 1,081 34.24% 77 2.44%
1908 1,639 52.82% 1,340 43.18% 124 4.00%
1912 953 30.30% 1,274 40.51% 918 29.19%
1916 1,594 48.49% 1,630 49.59% 63 1.92%
1920 3,904 71.42% 1,467 26.84% 95 1.74%
1924 2,943 49.49% 593 9.97% 2,411 40.54%
1928 3,463 54.49% 2,843 44.74% 49 0.77%
1932 2,378 36.21% 4,094 62.33% 96 1.46%
1936 2,613 35.63% 4,515 61.57% 205 2.80%
1940 3,322 42.47% 4,482 57.30% 18 0.23%
1944 2,772 42.43% 3,726 57.03% 35 0.54%
1948 2,594 39.30% 3,858 58.45% 149 2.26%
1952 4,595 60.48% 2,993 39.40% 9 0.12%
1956 3,795 51.14% 3,624 48.83% 2 0.03%
1960 3,551 48.99% 3,695 50.97% 3 0.04%
1964 2,206 33.19% 4,441 66.81% 0 0.00%
1968 3,114 50.04% 2,874 46.18% 235 3.78%
1972 3,141 51.78% 2,845 46.90% 80 1.32%
1976 2,623 44.43% 3,182 53.90% 99 1.68%
1980 3,025 50.69% 2,463 41.27% 480 8.04%
1984 2,715 46.73% 3,018 51.94% 77 1.33%
1988 2,041 37.36% 3,377 61.82% 45 0.82%
1992 1,789 33.26% 2,374 44.13% 1,216 22.61%
1996 1,817 38.63% 2,371 50.41% 515 10.95%
2000 2,341 48.54% 2,326 48.23% 156 3.23%
2004 2,674 51.51% 2,482 47.81% 35 0.67%
2008 2,294 47.71% 2,428 50.50% 86 1.79%
2012 2,660 54.43% 2,139 43.77% 88 1.80%
2016 3,081 65.51% 1,398 29.73% 224 4.76%
2020 3,370 67.97% 1,519 30.64% 69 1.39%
2024 3,576 71.78% 1,338 26.86% 68 1.36%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Iowa County Names and Numbers". Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  2. ^ a b "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  4. ^ McCarty, Dwight Gaylord (1910). History of Palo Alto County, Iowa. Torch Press. p. 63.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Palo Alto County, Iowa". www.census.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  12. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  15. ^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau - American FactFinder. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
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