Population of county dips below 5,000
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Rural Iowa continues to bleed population to the large cities, according to updated estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Of Iowa’s 99 counties, 69 lost population, the estimates reported.
Ringgold County has experienced a population decline of 3.2 percent since 2010, dropping from 5,131 to 4,968. This year marks the first time since 1870 the population has dipped below 5,000, and the county remains the second-least populated, behind last-place Adams County.
Adams County has suffered the largest percentage population loss in the area, dropping from 4,029 in 2010 to 3,645 in the 2018 estimate, a loss of 9.5 percent.
Decatur County also experienced a significant population loss of 6.7 percent, down to 7,890 in 2018 from the 2010 figure of 8,457.
Taylor County has dropped from 6,317 residents in 2010 to 6,191 in the latest estimates, a decrease of 2.0 percent.
While still the most populous county in our area, Union County still lost 1.4 percent of its population, dropping from 12,534 in 2010 to 12,359 in 2018.
The only county in our area to gain population was Clarke County, with a modest gain of 1.5 percent, rising from 9,286 to 9,423.
Not surprisingly, the largest population gains were found in metropolitan areas.
Polk County remained the most populous county in the state with an estimated population of 487,204, an increase of 13.1 percent.
Dallas County, which makes up much of the Des Moines Metro’s western suburbs, grew by 36.4 percent, making it one of fastest-growing counties in the nation.
Other significant increases were reported in Linn County (Cedar Rapids), Scott County (Davenport), Johnson County (Iowa City), and Story County (Ames).
Conversely, Clinton County experienced the largest numerical drop as it lost 2,599 residents over the past eight years.
Emmett County recorded the largest percentage drop, losing 10.2 percent of its population during the same time.
The next official census will be conducted in April 2020.
