Cerro Gordo County
County
Cerro Gordo County Courthouse
Cerro Gordo County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Cerro Gordo County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°04′46″N 93°16′01″W / 43.079444444444°N 93.266944444444°W / 43.079444444444; -93.266944444444
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1851
Named forBattle of Cerro Gordo
SeatMason City
Largest cityMason City
Area
 • Total575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land568 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Water6.8 sq mi (18 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total43,127
 • Density75/sq mi (29/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.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]

Major highways

Transit

Airport

The county also has a municipal airport, Mason City Municipal Airport, (MCW).

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860940—
18704,722402.3%
188011,461142.7%
189014,86429.7%
190020,67239.1%
191025,01121.0%
192034,67538.6%
193038,47611.0%
194043,84514.0%
195046,0535.0%
196049,8948.3%
197049,223−1.3%
198048,458−1.6%
199046,733−3.6%
200046,447−0.6%
201044,151−4.9%
202043,127−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2018[8]
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). There were 22,603 housing units of which 19,224 were occupied.[1]

Cerro Gordo County Racial Composition[9]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 37,819 87.7%
Black or African American (NH) 848 2%
Native American (NH) 96 0.22%
Asian (NH) 535 1.24%
Pacific Islander (NH) 137 0.32%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,449 3.4%
Hispanic or Latino 2,243 5.2%

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 inhabitants 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

Townships

Cerro Gordo County is divided into sixteen townships:

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

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]

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.[13]

Politics

From the county's founding in 1851 until 1928, Cerro Gordo County voted Republican in every single election except for 1912, when former Republican Theodore Roosevelt won the county with a plurality as the Progressive candidate. The tide in the county then shifted from 1932 to 2012, as the Democratic candidate won all but six elections in that span, four of which were nationwide Republican landslides in 1952, 1956, 1972, and 1980. Beginning in 2016, Cerro Gordo County has shifted back to the right, with Donald Trump winning the county in both 2016 and 2020.

United States presidential election results for Cerro Gordo County, Iowa[14]
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%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ "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 July 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cerro Gordo County, Iowa".
  10. ↑ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 – State – County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ↑ JOHN SKIPPER (September 6, 2016). "Supervisors appeal DNR decision to approve hog confinement facility". Mason City: Globe Gazette. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Cerro Gordo County Sheriff". Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  14. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
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