# Hamilton County, Iowa

Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,039. The county seat is Webster City. The county was named to honor William W. Hamilton, a President of the Iowa State Senate.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 578 square miles (1,500 km$^2$), of which 577 square miles (1,490 km$^2$) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km$^2$) (0.1%) is water. The largest body of water is Little Wall Lake.

### Major highways

* Interstate 35
* U.S. Highway 20
* U.S. Highway 69
* Iowa Highway 17
* Iowa Highway 175

### Adjacent counties

* Wright County (north)
* Hardin County (east)
* Story County (southeast)
* Boone County (southwest)
* Webster County (west)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 15,039 in the county, with a population density of 25.9672/sq mi (10.0260/km$^2$). 94.75% of the population reported being of one race. There were 7,037 housing units, of which 6,283 were occupied.
Hamilton County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 12,702 | 84.46% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 88 | 0.6% |
| Native American (NH) | 25 | 0.16% |
| Asian (NH) | 314 | 2.1% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 445 | 3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,465 | 9.74% |

### 2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 15,673 in the county, with a population density of 27.1780/sq mi (10.4935/km$^2$). There were 7,219 housing units, of which 6,540 were occupied.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,438 people, 6,692 households, and 4,597 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km$^2$). There were 7,082 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.71% White, 0.23% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,692 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,658, and the median income for a family was $45,771. Males had a median income of $30,579 versus $23,595 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,801. About 4.30% of families and 6.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.70% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Blairsburg
* Ellsworth
* Jewell Junction
* Kamrar
* Randall
* Stanhope
* Stratford
* Webster City
* Williams

### Unincorporated communities

* Homer

### Townships

Source:
* Blairsburg
* Fremont
* Cass
* Williams
* Freedom
* Independence
* Rose Grove
* Webster
* Hamilton
* Lyon
* Lincoln
* Marion
* Clear Lake
* Ellsworth
* Scott
* Liberty

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Hamilton County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
| 1 | † Webster City | City | 7,825 |
| 2 | Jewell Junction | City | 1,216 |
| 3 | Stratford (partially in Webster County) | City | 707 |
| 4 | Ellsworth | City | 508 |
| 5 | Stanhope | City | 364 |
| 6 | Williams | City | 307 |
| 7 | Kamrar | City | 179 |
| 8 | Blairsburg | City | 176 |
| 9 | Randall | City | 154 |

## Politics

Hamilton County has been a swing county for most of its history. In the last 100 years, it has backed the losing candidate nationally only four times in the 1960, 1988, 2012 and 2020 presidential elections.
United States presidential election results for Hamilton County, Iowa :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 5,004 | 65.87% | 2,482 | 32.67% | 111 | 1.46% |
| 2020 | 4,956 | 62.39% | 2,843 | 35.79% | 144 | 1.81% |
| 2016 | 4,463 | 58.01% | 2,726 | 35.43% | 505 | 6.56% |
| 2012 | 3,991 | 50.35% | 3,782 | 47.71% | 154 | 1.94% |
| 2008 | 3,913 | 48.42% | 4,018 | 49.72% | 150 | 1.86% |
| 2004 | 4,367 | 52.39% | 3,895 | 46.73% | 73 | 0.88% |
| 2000 | 3,968 | 52.39% | 3,407 | 44.98% | 199 | 2.63% |
| 1996 | 3,109 | 42.72% | 3,455 | 47.48% | 713 | 9.80% |
| 1992 | 3,031 | 39.46% | 3,262 | 42.47% | 1,388 | 18.07% |
| 1988 | 3,277 | 43.73% | 4,156 | 55.46% | 61 | 0.81% |
| 1984 | 4,279 | 55.61% | 3,330 | 43.27% | 86 | 1.12% |
| 1980 | 4,745 | 57.40% | 2,741 | 33.16% | 780 | 9.44% |
| 1976 | 3,932 | 49.00% | 3,953 | 49.26% | 140 | 1.74% |
| 1972 | 4,803 | 60.87% | 2,913 | 36.92% | 174 | 2.21% |
| 1968 | 4,607 | 57.58% | 3,058 | 38.22% | 336 | 4.20% |
| 1964 | 3,127 | 37.53% | 5,195 | 62.35% | 10 | 0.12% |
| 1960 | 5,265 | 57.39% | 3,905 | 42.57% | 4 | 0.04% |
| 1956 | 5,667 | 59.56% | 3,829 | 40.25% | 18 | 0.19% |
| 1952 | 7,006 | 71.29% | 2,788 | 28.37% | 34 | 0.35% |
| 1948 | 3,535 | 48.13% | 3,613 | 49.19% | 197 | 2.68% |
| 1944 | 3,837 | 46.91% | 4,302 | 52.59% | 41 | 0.50% |
| 1940 | 4,183 | 44.03% | 5,279 | 55.56% | 39 | 0.41% |
| 1936 | 3,174 | 36.24% | 5,432 | 62.02% | 152 | 1.74% |
| 1932 | 2,330 | 30.56% | 5,191 | 68.09% | 103 | 1.35% |
| 1928 | 4,171 | 58.01% | 2,975 | 41.38% | 44 | 0.61% |
| 1924 | 4,401 | 60.74% | 490 | 6.76% | 2,355 | 32.50% |
| 1920 | 5,924 | 82.88% | 1,126 | 15.75% | 98 | 1.37% |
| 1916 | 3,037 | 70.94% | 1,125 | 26.28% | 119 | 2.78% |
| 1912 | 831 | 19.37% | 1,041 | 24.27% | 2,418 | 56.36% |
| 1908 | 2,765 | 68.17% | 1,145 | 28.23% | 146 | 3.60% |
| 1904 | 3,118 | 77.08% | 746 | 18.44% | 181 | 4.47% |
| 1900 | 3,259 | 73.15% | 1,134 | 25.45% | 62 | 1.39% |
| 1896 | 3,074 | 69.25% | 1,300 | 29.29% | 65 | 1.46% |

## Education

School districts include:
* Hubbard-Radcliffe Community School District
* Roland-Story Community School District
* South Hamilton Community School District
* Stratford Community School District
* Webster City Community School District
Former school districts:
* Northeast Hamilton Community School District