Dickinson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,703. The county seat is Spirit Lake. The county was organized in 1857 and is named in honor of Daniel S. Dickinson, a U.S. Senator for New York.

Dickinson County comprises the Spirit Lake, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (5.8%) is water. It is the smallest county by land area in Iowa, and the fifth-smallest by total area.

A region known as the Iowa Great Lakes is in Dickinson County, making it a popular vacation destination for Iowans, and explaining the recent high population growth in the area. The lakes include West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake, and Spirit Lake.

Major highways

  • x20px U.S. Highway 71
  • x20px Iowa Highway 9
  • x20px Iowa Highway 86

Adjacent counties

  • Jackson County, Minnesota (north)
  • Emmet County (east)
  • Clay County (south)
  • Osceola County (west)

Demographics

2020 census

thumb|left|Population of Dickinson County from US census data

thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid for Dickinson County from ACS 5-year estimates]]

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 17,703 and a population density of . The median age was 49.1 years, with 19.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 27.5% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.

96.84% of the population reported being of one race; of these, 92.71% were non-Hispanic White, 0.45% were Black, 0.12% were Native American, 0.46% were Asian, 0.01% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 3.96% were some other race or reported two or more races. Overall, the racial makeup of the county was 95.0% White, 0.4% Black, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% some other race, and 3.2% two or more races, with Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprising 2.3% of the population.

There were 7,976 households in the county, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.7% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 13,691 housing units, of which 41.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.2% were owner-occupied and 21.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.5%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,424 people, 7,103 households, and 4,759 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 11,375 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.90% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,103 households, out of which 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,020, and the median income for a family was $47,739. Males had a median income of $30,523 versus $22,131 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,929. 6.00% of the population and 4.20% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty 5.90% of those under the age of 18 and 7.00% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Communities

Cities

thumb|upright=0.85|A picture postcard postmarked Okoboji Iowa Aug 1, 1907

  • Arnolds Park
  • Lake Park
  • Milford
  • Okoboji
  • Orleans
  • Spirit Lake
  • Superior
  • Terril
  • Wahpeton
  • West Okoboji

Unincorporated community

  • Montgomery

Townships

Dickinson County is divided into twelve townships:

  • Center Grove
  • Diamond Lake
  • Excelsior
  • Lakeville
  • Lloyd
  • Milford
  • Okoboji
  • Richland
  • Silver Lake
  • Spirit Lake
  • Superior
  • Westport

Population ranking

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

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See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Dickinson County, Iowa

References

Further reading

  • R.A. Smith, A History of Dickinson County, Iowa: Together with an Account of The Spirit Lake Massacre, and the Indian Troubles on the Northwestern Frontier. Des Moines, IA: The Kenyon Printing & Mfg. Co., 1902.
  • History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. In Two Volumes. Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Co., 1917.
  • Volume 1 | Volume 2

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  • Dickinson County government's website
  • http://www.iowadot.gov/maps//msp/pdf/Dickinson.pdf