# Ringgold County, Iowa

Ringgold County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,663, making it the Iowa county with the second-smallest population. The county seat is Mount Ayr. The county is named after Maj. Samuel Ringgold, a hero of the Battle of Palo Alto fought in May 1846, during the Mexican–American War. It is one of the 26 Iowa counties with a name that is unique across the nation.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 539 square miles (1,400 km$^2$), of which 535 square miles (1,390 km$^2$) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km$^2$) (0.6%) is water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 169
* Iowa Highway 2
* Iowa Highway 25

### Adjacent counties

* Union County (north)
* Decatur County (east)
* Harrison County, Missouri (southeast)
* Worth County, Missouri (southwest)
* Taylor County (west)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 4,663 in the county, with a population density of 8.6265/sq mi (3.3307/km$^2$). 96.68% of the population reported being of one race. 94.32% were non-Hispanic White, 0.06% were Black, 1.52% were Hispanic, 0.15% were Native American, 0.17% were Asian, 0.02% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 3.75% were some other race or more than one race. There were 2,672 housing units, of which 1,945 were occupied.

### 2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,131 in the county, with a population density of 9.5430/sq mi (3.6846/km$^2$). There were 2,613 housing units, of which 2,047 were occupied.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,469 people, 2,245 households, and 1,537 families in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km$^2$). There were 2,789 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 99.07% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 2,245 households 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.60% of households were one person and 17.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.
The age distribution was 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 21.40% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.
The median household income was $29,110 and the median family income was $34,472. Males had a median income of $24,583 versus $20,606 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,023. About 9.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 16.40% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Beaconsfield
* Benton
* Clearfield (pt)
* Diagonal
* Ellston
* Kellerton
* Maloy
* Mount Ayr
* Redding
* Shannon City (pt)
* Tingley

### Census-designated place

* Delphos
* Sun Valley Lake

### Extinct Hamlet

* Knowlton

### Townships

* Athens
* Benton
* Clinton
* Grant
* Jefferson
* Liberty
* Lincoln
* Lotts Creek
* Middle Fork
* Monroe
* Poe
* Rice
* Riley
* Tingley
* Union
* Washington
* Waubonsie

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Ringgold County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
| 1 | † Mount Ayr | City | 1,623 |
| 2 | Diagonal | City | 344 |
| 3 | Kellerton | City | 243 |
| 4 | Sun Valley Lake | CDP | 187 |
| 5 | Tingley | City | 136 |
| 6 | Redding | City | 63 |
| 7 | Benton | City | 39 |
| 8 | Delphos | CDP | 26 |
| 9 | Maloy | City | 22 |
| 10 | Ellston | City | 19 |
| 11 | Beaconsfield | City | 15 |
| 12 | Clearfield (mostly in Taylor County) | City | 6 (278 total) |
| 13 | Shannon City (partially in Union County) | City | 6 (73 total) |

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Ringgold County, Iowa :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,015 | 75.02% | 638 | 23.75% | 33 | 1.23% |
| 2020 | 1,968 | 72.51% | 709 | 26.12% | 37 | 1.36% |
| 2016 | 1,824 | 67.38% | 753 | 27.82% | 130 | 4.80% |
| 2012 | 1,368 | 52.64% | 1,186 | 45.63% | 45 | 1.73% |
| 2008 | 1,401 | 52.10% | 1,236 | 45.97% | 52 | 1.93% |
| 2004 | 1,466 | 52.77% | 1,286 | 46.29% | 26 | 0.94% |
| 2000 | 1,369 | 50.85% | 1,246 | 46.29% | 77 | 2.86% |
| 1996 | 967 | 35.29% | 1,439 | 52.52% | 334 | 12.19% |
| 1992 | 967 | 33.71% | 1,341 | 46.74% | 561 | 19.55% |
| 1988 | 1,110 | 40.64% | 1,609 | 58.92% | 12 | 0.44% |
| 1984 | 1,512 | 48.51% | 1,593 | 51.11% | 12 | 0.38% |
| 1980 | 1,884 | 57.95% | 1,150 | 35.37% | 217 | 6.67% |
| 1976 | 1,543 | 46.25% | 1,739 | 52.13% | 54 | 1.62% |
| 1972 | 2,264 | 68.54% | 1,003 | 30.37% | 36 | 1.09% |
| 1968 | 1,986 | 57.05% | 1,237 | 35.54% | 258 | 7.41% |
| 1964 | 1,571 | 40.91% | 2,260 | 58.85% | 9 | 0.23% |
| 1960 | 2,538 | 58.74% | 1,781 | 41.22% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1956 | 2,713 | 60.42% | 1,775 | 39.53% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1952 | 3,442 | 70.66% | 1,408 | 28.91% | 21 | 0.43% |
| 1948 | 2,487 | 55.77% | 1,922 | 43.10% | 50 | 1.12% |
| 1944 | 2,767 | 59.35% | 1,867 | 40.05% | 28 | 0.60% |
| 1940 | 3,507 | 59.50% | 2,374 | 40.28% | 13 | 0.22% |
| 1936 | 3,316 | 55.31% | 2,615 | 43.62% | 64 | 1.07% |
| 1932 | 2,082 | 45.04% | 2,480 | 53.64% | 61 | 1.32% |
| 1928 | 3,674 | 69.57% | 1,572 | 29.77% | 35 | 0.66% |
| 1924 | 3,147 | 60.68% | 882 | 17.01% | 1,157 | 22.31% |
| 1920 | 3,702 | 72.66% | 1,327 | 26.05% | 66 | 1.30% |
| 1916 | 1,733 | 55.46% | 1,351 | 43.23% | 41 | 1.31% |
| 1912 | 916 | 31.28% | 958 | 32.72% | 1,054 | 36.00% |
| 1908 | 1,940 | 61.94% | 1,092 | 34.87% | 100 | 3.19% |
| 1904 | 2,200 | 69.38% | 835 | 26.33% | 136 | 4.29% |
| 1900 | 2,319 | 62.19% | 1,311 | 35.16% | 99 | 2.65% |
| 1896 | 2,209 | 56.47% | 1,651 | 42.20% | 52 | 1.33% |

## Education

School districts include:
* Bedford Community School District
* Creston Community School District
* Diagonal Community School District
* East Union Community School District
* Lamoni Community School District
* Lenox Community School District
* Mount Ayr Community School District
Former school districts:
* Clearfield Community School District - Dissolved on July 1, 2014.