# Emmet County, Iowa

Emmet County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,388. The county seat is Estherville.

## History

Emmet County was created by authority of the Iowa Legislature in 1851. Enough settlers had been established in the area to organize the county in 1859. The county was named for the Irish patriot Robert Emmet, who was hanged as a traitor to the British government at the age of 25.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 403 square miles (1,040 km$^2$), of which 396 square miles (1,030 km$^2$) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km$^2$) (1.4=6%) is water. It is the second-smallest county by land area in Iowa, and the fourth-smallest by total area.

### Major highways

* Iowa Highway 4
* Iowa Highway 9
* Iowa Highway 15

### Adjacent counties

* Jackson County, Minnesota (northwest)
* Martin County, Minnesota (northeast)
* Kossuth County (east)
* Palo Alto County (south)
* Dickinson County (west)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 9,388 in the county, with a population density of 22.9385/sq mi (8.8566/km$^2$). 94.84% of the population reported being of one race. There were 4,475 housing units of which 3,972 were occupied.
Emmet County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 8,134 | 86.64% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 89 | 0.94% |
| Native American (NH) | 31 | 0.33% |
| Asian (NH) | 32 | 0.34% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 3 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 212 | 2.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 887 | 9.5% |

### 2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,302 in the county, with a population density of 26.0322/sq mi (10.0511/km$^2$). There were 4,758 housing units, of which 4,236 were occupied.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,027 people, 4,450 households, and 2,910 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km$^2$). There were 4,889 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.38% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 4.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,450 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.60% were non-families. 30.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% 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 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,305, and the median income for a family was $41,296. Males had a median income of $27,495 versus $20,278 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,619. About 5.20% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Armstrong
* Dolliver
* Estherville
* Gruver
* Ringsted
* Wallingford

### Unincorporated communities

* Forsyth
* Gridley
* Halfa
* Hoprig
* Huntington
* Island Grove
* Maple Hill
* Raleigh

### Townships

Emmet County is divided into twelve townships:
* Armstrong Grove
* Center
* Denmark
* Ellsworth
* Emmet
* Estherville
* High Lake
* Iowa Lake
* Jack Creek
* Lincoln
* Swan Lake
* Twelve Mile Lake

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Emmet County. † county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
| 1 | † Estherville | City | 5,904 |
| 2 | Armstrong | City | 875 |
| 3 | Ringsted | City | 365 |
| 4 | Wallingford | City | 165 |
| 5 | Dolliver | City | 65 |
| 6 | Gruver | City | 63 |

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Emmet County, Iowa :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 3,422 | 71.32% | 1,315 | 27.41% | 61 | 1.27% |
| 2020 | 3,265 | 67.28% | 1,520 | 31.32% | 68 | 1.40% |
| 2016 | 3,124 | 65.73% | 1,357 | 28.55% | 272 | 5.72% |
| 2012 | 2,507 | 53.49% | 2,099 | 44.78% | 81 | 1.73% |
| 2008 | 2,373 | 47.32% | 2,570 | 51.25% | 72 | 1.44% |
| 2004 | 2,697 | 52.31% | 2,405 | 46.64% | 54 | 1.05% |
| 2000 | 2,331 | 50.35% | 2,165 | 46.76% | 134 | 2.89% |
| 1996 | 1,641 | 37.20% | 2,270 | 51.46% | 500 | 11.34% |
| 1992 | 1,749 | 34.76% | 2,239 | 44.50% | 1,044 | 20.75% |
| 1988 | 2,173 | 43.66% | 2,778 | 55.82% | 26 | 0.52% |
| 1984 | 2,946 | 51.46% | 2,746 | 47.97% | 33 | 0.58% |
| 1980 | 3,062 | 53.49% | 2,153 | 37.61% | 509 | 8.89% |
| 1976 | 2,872 | 50.50% | 2,720 | 47.83% | 95 | 1.67% |
| 1972 | 3,436 | 62.92% | 1,970 | 36.07% | 55 | 1.01% |
| 1968 | 3,444 | 58.90% | 2,163 | 36.99% | 240 | 4.10% |
| 1964 | 2,611 | 42.78% | 3,487 | 57.14% | 5 | 0.08% |
| 1960 | 4,284 | 62.51% | 2,563 | 37.40% | 6 | 0.09% |
| 1956 | 4,193 | 63.68% | 2,386 | 36.24% | 5 | 0.08% |
| 1952 | 4,935 | 71.48% | 1,947 | 28.20% | 22 | 0.32% |
| 1948 | 2,464 | 46.38% | 2,752 | 51.80% | 97 | 1.83% |
| 1944 | 2,668 | 50.47% | 2,577 | 48.75% | 41 | 0.78% |
| 1940 | 3,053 | 49.27% | 3,097 | 49.98% | 47 | 0.76% |
| 1936 | 2,362 | 41.84% | 3,158 | 55.94% | 125 | 2.21% |
| 1932 | 2,129 | 45.21% | 2,486 | 52.79% | 94 | 2.00% |
| 1928 | 3,218 | 70.11% | 1,372 | 29.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 2,739 | 53.26% | 407 | 7.91% | 1,997 | 38.83% |
| 1920 | 3,360 | 76.00% | 991 | 22.42% | 70 | 1.58% |
| 1916 | 1,409 | 62.37% | 809 | 35.81% | 41 | 1.81% |
| 1912 | 602 | 30.98% | 486 | 25.01% | 855 | 44.00% |
| 1908 | 1,401 | 70.58% | 522 | 26.30% | 62 | 3.12% |
| 1904 | 1,732 | 80.15% | 358 | 16.57% | 71 | 3.29% |
| 1900 | 1,618 | 70.59% | 595 | 25.96% | 79 | 3.45% |
| 1896 | 1,429 | 70.05% | 559 | 27.40% | 52 | 2.55% |