Ringgold County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,663,[2] and was estimated to be 4,608 in 2024,[3] making it the second-least populous county in Iowa. The county seat and the largest city is Mount Ayr.[4] The county is named after Maj. Samuel Ringgold, a hero of the Battle of Palo Alto fought in May 1846, during the Mexican–American War. It is one of the 26 Iowa counties with a name that is unique across the nation.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 539 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 535 square miles (1,390 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18602,923—
18705,69194.7%
188012,085112.4%
189013,55612.2%
190015,32513.0%
191012,904−15.8%
192012,9190.1%
193011,966−7.4%
194011,137−6.9%
19509,528−14.4%
19607,910−17.0%
19706,373−19.4%
19806,112−4.1%
19905,420−11.3%
20005,4690.9%
20105,131−6.2%
20204,663−9.1%
2024 (est.)4,608[6] Decrease−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[3]

2020 census

Population of Ringgold County from the U.S. census data

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,663, which yielded a population density of 8.6/sq mi (3.3/km2). The median age was 46.0 years, with 22.3% of residents under the age of 18 and 26.3% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.1 males age 18 and over.[11]

96.7% of residents reported being of one race. The racial makeup of the county was 95.8% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.[12]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[13]

There were 1,945 households in the county, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.4% were married-couple households, 17.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]

There were 2,672 housing units, of which 27.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.2% were owner-occupied and 22.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.9%.[11]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,131 in the county, with a population density of 9.5/sq mi (3.7/km2). There were 2,613 housing units, of which 2,047 were occupied.[14]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,469 people, 2,245 households, and 1,537 families in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 2,789 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.07% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,245 households 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.60% of households were one person and 17.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.

The age distribution was 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 21.40% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.

The median household income was $29,110 and the median family income was $34,472. Males had a median income of $24,583 versus $20,606 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,023. About 9.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 16.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Extinct Hamlet

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Ringgold County.

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Mount Ayr City 1,623
2 Diagonal City 344
3 Kellerton City 243
4 Sun Valley Lake CDP 187
5 Tingley City 136
6 Redding City 63
7 Benton City 39
8 Delphos CDP 26
9 Maloy City 22
10 Ellston City 19
11 Beaconsfield City 15
12 Clearfield (mostly in Taylor County) City 6 (278 total)
13 Shannon City (partially in Union County) City 6 (73 total)

Politics

United States presidential election results for Ringgold County, Iowa[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1896 2,209 56.47% 1,651 42.20% 52 1.33%
1900 2,319 62.19% 1,311 35.16% 99 2.65%
1904 2,200 69.38% 835 26.33% 136 4.29%
1908 1,940 61.94% 1,092 34.87% 100 3.19%
1912 916 31.28% 958 32.72% 1,054 36.00%
1916 1,733 55.46% 1,351 43.23% 41 1.31%
1920 3,702 72.66% 1,327 26.05% 66 1.30%
1924 3,147 60.68% 882 17.01% 1,157 22.31%
1928 3,674 69.57% 1,572 29.77% 35 0.66%
1932 2,082 45.04% 2,480 53.64% 61 1.32%
1936 3,316 55.31% 2,615 43.62% 64 1.07%
1940 3,507 59.50% 2,374 40.28% 13 0.22%
1944 2,767 59.35% 1,867 40.05% 28 0.60%
1948 2,487 55.77% 1,922 43.10% 50 1.12%
1952 3,442 70.66% 1,408 28.91% 21 0.43%
1956 2,713 60.42% 1,775 39.53% 2 0.04%
1960 2,538 58.74% 1,781 41.22% 2 0.05%
1964 1,571 40.91% 2,260 58.85% 9 0.23%
1968 1,986 57.05% 1,237 35.54% 258 7.41%
1972 2,264 68.54% 1,003 30.37% 36 1.09%
1976 1,543 46.25% 1,739 52.13% 54 1.62%
1980 1,884 57.95% 1,150 35.37% 217 6.67%
1984 1,512 48.51% 1,593 51.11% 12 0.38%
1988 1,110 40.64% 1,609 58.92% 12 0.44%
1992 967 33.71% 1,341 46.74% 561 19.55%
1996 967 35.29% 1,439 52.52% 334 12.19%
2000 1,369 50.85% 1,246 46.29% 77 2.86%
2004 1,466 52.77% 1,286 46.29% 26 0.94%
2008 1,401 52.10% 1,236 45.97% 52 1.93%
2012 1,368 52.64% 1,186 45.63% 45 1.73%
2016 1,824 67.38% 753 27.82% 130 4.80%
2020 1,968 72.51% 709 26.12% 37 1.36%
2024 2,015 75.02% 638 23.75% 33 1.23%

Education

School districts include:[16]

Former school districts:[17]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Iowa County Names and Numbers". Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  2. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Ringgold County, Iowa". www.census.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  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. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  12. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  16. ^ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Ringgold County, IA (PDF) (Map). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2024. - Text list
  17. ^ Geography Division (November 30, 2010). 2010 Census - School District Reference Map: Ringgold County, IA (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2024. - Text list
  18. ^ "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66 Archived June 19, 2018, at the Wayback Machine." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on July 20, 2018.

40°43′56″N 94°14′53″W / 40.73222°N 94.24806°W / 40.73222; -94.24806

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringgold_County,_Iowa