Wright County, Iowa

Wright County is a county 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 organization became effective in January 1851, and is believed to be named either after Silas Wright, a governor of New York, or Joseph Albert Wright, a governor of Indiana.[3]

Wright County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°43′59″N 93°44′08″W
Country United States
State Iowa
FoundedJanuary 15, 1851
Named forSilas Wright
SeatClarion
Largest cityEagle Grove
Area
 • Total582 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land580 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water1.8 sq mi (5 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total13,229
 • Estimate 
(2018)
12,690
 • Density23/sq mi (8.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an 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 covered by 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
CensusPop.%±
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. 201812,690[6]−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[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

Wright County has, like many counties in Iowa, been a swing state for the majority of its history. The county has voted for the winning candidate in 21 out of the 25 presidential elections in the 20th Century. However in 2000, the county was won by Republican George W. Bush and has voted for the party in all presidential elections since.

Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 63.1% 3,800 31.5% 1,896 5.5% 330
2012 53.4% 3,349 45.2% 2,836 1.5% 93
2008 50.0% 3,198 48.5% 3,102 1.5% 95
2004 55.0% 3,631 44.4% 2,930 0.6% 42
2000 53.4% 3,384 44.1% 2,796 2.5% 156
1996 41.5% 2,473 48.9% 2,912 9.6% 574
1992 40.6% 2,708 41.7% 2,776 17.7% 1,181
1988 43.9% 2,658 55.4% 3,353 0.7% 43
1984 54.8% 3,675 44.4% 2,980 0.8% 50
1980 55.1% 3,936 37.0% 2,645 7.9% 566
1976 48.7% 3,544 50.0% 3,637 1.4% 101
1972 59.7% 4,278 38.8% 2,780 1.5% 104
1968 57.0% 4,299 39.3% 2,969 3.7% 281
1964 36.1% 2,831 63.8% 4,998 0.1% 7
1960 56.3% 5,386 43.5% 4,159 0.2% 15
1956 58.7% 5,512 41.2% 3,865 0.1% 13
1952 67.1% 6,566 32.6% 3,186 0.3% 31
1948 48.9% 3,810 49.6% 3,866 1.6% 124
1944 47.9% 3,916 51.7% 4,232 0.4% 35
1940 47.5% 4,443 52.1% 4,871 0.4% 36
1936 38.0% 3,311 59.4% 5,177 2.6% 222
1932 39.1% 3,262 59.1% 4,922 1.8% 150
1928 65.8% 5,020 33.4% 2,547 0.8% 63
1924 57.4% 4,323 6.7% 501 35.9% 2,707
1920 81.0% 5,739 17.0% 1,205 2.0% 138
1916 68.2% 2,599 29.8% 1,135 2.0% 76
1912 22.6% 805 21.5% 765 55.8% 1,985
1908 72.3% 2,498 25.1% 866 2.6% 89
1904 77.4% 2,795 19.2% 695 3.4% 122
1900 75.1% 2,990 22.4% 891 2.6% 102
1896 71.4% 2,992 27.2% 1,138 1.5% 61

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. the Clarion Fair ran until 1924; it was held in Goldfield in 1925, and moved to its present location in Eagle Grove in 1926; it was later retitled as the Wright County District Junior Fair. Entries are open to children in Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster, Hardin, Franklin, and Wright Counties.[14]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Wright County.[15]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Eagle Grove City 3,583
2 † Clarion City 2,850
3 Belmond City 2,376
4 Goldfield City 635
5 Dows (partially in Franklin County) City 538
6 Woolstock City 168
7 Rowan City 158
8 Galt City 32
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See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Wright County Archived 2007-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5.  Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Wright. II. A N. central county of Iowa" . The American Cyclopædia.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  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 June 19, 2011.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  14. Wright County District Junior Fair
  15. 2010 Census

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