# Taylor County, Iowa

Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,896, making it the fourth-least populous county in Iowa. The county seat is Bedford. The county was formed in 1847 and named after General and President Zachary Taylor.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 535 square miles (1,390 km$^2$), of which 532 square miles (1,380 km$^2$) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km$^2$) (0.5%) is water.
A portion of Taylor County at one time was part of Missouri.

### Major highways

* Iowa Highway 2
* Iowa Highway 25
* Iowa Highway 148

### Adjacent counties

* Adams County (north)
* Ringgold County (east)
* Worth County, Missouri (southeast)
* Nodaway County, Missouri (southwest)
* Page County (west)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 5,896 in the county, with a population density of 10.9860/sq mi (4.2417/km$^2$). 95.76% of the population reported being of one race. There were 2,885 housing units, of which 2,506 were occupied.
Taylor County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 5,304 | 90% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Native American (NH) | 13 | 0.22% |
| Asian (NH) | 15 | 0.25% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 163 | 2.76% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 399 | 6.76% |

### 2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 6,317 in the county, with a population density of 11.8307/sq mi (4.5679/km$^2$). There were 3,107 housing units, of which 2,679 were occupied.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 6,958 people, 2,824 households, and 1,911 families in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km$^2$). There were 3,199 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.71% White, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 3.81% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 2,824 households 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.80% of households were one person and 16.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.
The age distribution was 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.40% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.
The median household income was $31,297 and the median family income was $37,194. Males had a median income of $26,631 versus $19,162 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,082. About 8.50% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Bedford
* Blockton
* Clearfield (partially)
* Conway
* Gravity
* Lenox (partially)
* New Market
* Sharpsburg

### Census-designated place

* Athelstan

### Townships

* Bedford
* Benton
* Clayton
* Dallas
* Gay
* Grant
* Grove
* Holt
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Marshall
* Mason
* Nodaway
* Platte
* Polk
* Ross
* Washington

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Taylor County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
| 1 | † Bedford | City | 1,508 |
| 2 | Lenox (partially in Adams County) | City | 1,339 (1,339 total) |
| 3 | New Market | City | 385 |
| 4 | Clearfield (partially in Ringgold County) | City | 272 (278 total) |
| 5 | Gravity | City | 154 |
| 6 | Blockton | City | 125 |
| 7 | Sharpsburg | City | 72 |
| 8 | Conway | City | 17 |
| 9 | Athelstan | CDP | 6 |

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Taylor County, Iowa :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,381 | 77.28% | 666 | 21.62% | 34 | 1.10% |
| 2020 | 2,463 | 75.81% | 746 | 22.96% | 40 | 1.23% |
| 2016 | 2,111 | 69.69% | 758 | 25.02% | 160 | 5.28% |
| 2012 | 1,683 | 56.19% | 1,262 | 42.14% | 50 | 1.67% |
| 2008 | 1,607 | 53.11% | 1,347 | 44.51% | 72 | 2.38% |
| 2004 | 1,908 | 59.81% | 1,252 | 39.25% | 30 | 0.94% |
| 2000 | 1,770 | 57.17% | 1,247 | 40.28% | 79 | 2.55% |
| 1996 | 1,419 | 43.32% | 1,458 | 44.51% | 399 | 12.18% |
| 1992 | 1,200 | 33.79% | 1,430 | 40.27% | 921 | 25.94% |
| 1988 | 1,647 | 49.43% | 1,671 | 50.15% | 14 | 0.42% |
| 1984 | 2,496 | 62.06% | 1,499 | 37.27% | 27 | 0.67% |
| 1980 | 2,715 | 64.44% | 1,226 | 29.10% | 272 | 6.46% |
| 1976 | 2,059 | 50.79% | 1,947 | 48.03% | 48 | 1.18% |
| 1972 | 3,042 | 70.16% | 1,247 | 28.76% | 47 | 1.08% |
| 1968 | 2,765 | 59.64% | 1,501 | 32.38% | 370 | 7.98% |
| 1964 | 2,162 | 43.75% | 2,780 | 56.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,452 | 61.85% | 2,126 | 38.09% | 3 | 0.05% |
| 1956 | 3,533 | 59.10% | 2,436 | 40.75% | 9 | 0.15% |
| 1952 | 4,608 | 71.74% | 1,784 | 27.78% | 31 | 0.48% |
| 1948 | 3,244 | 56.93% | 2,402 | 42.16% | 52 | 0.91% |
| 1944 | 3,804 | 61.35% | 2,376 | 38.32% | 20 | 0.32% |
| 1940 | 4,420 | 59.56% | 2,976 | 40.10% | 25 | 0.34% |
| 1936 | 4,145 | 54.94% | 3,337 | 44.23% | 63 | 0.83% |
| 1932 | 2,670 | 45.07% | 3,159 | 53.33% | 95 | 1.60% |
| 1928 | 4,700 | 68.68% | 2,074 | 30.31% | 69 | 1.01% |
| 1924 | 4,254 | 60.95% | 1,138 | 16.30% | 1,588 | 22.75% |
| 1920 | 4,997 | 72.41% | 1,757 | 25.46% | 147 | 2.13% |
| 1916 | 2,219 | 54.70% | 1,775 | 43.75% | 63 | 1.55% |
| 1912 | 1,364 | 35.40% | 1,372 | 35.61% | 1,117 | 28.99% |
| 1908 | 2,460 | 58.77% | 1,585 | 37.86% | 141 | 3.37% |
| 1904 | 2,650 | 65.90% | 1,060 | 26.36% | 311 | 7.73% |
| 1900 | 2,792 | 57.25% | 1,984 | 40.68% | 101 | 2.07% |
| 1896 | 2,468 | 51.55% | 2,293 | 47.89% | 27 | 0.56% |

## Education

School districts include:
* Bedford Community School District
* Clarinda Community School District
* Corning Community School District
* Diagonal Community School District
* Lenox Community School District
* Mount Ayr Community School District
* Villisca Community School District
Former school districts:
* Clearfield Community School District - Dissolved on July 1, 2014.
* New Market Community School District - Dissolved on July 1, 2008.