Montgomery County, Iowa

Montgomery County is a county located in the southwestern area of the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 10,330,^[2] and was estimated to be 10,063 in 2024.^[3] Its population has declined since a peak in 1900, since urbanization and decline of family farms. The county seat is Red Oak.^[4] The county was founded by European-American migrants from eastern areas in 1851.^[5] It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while trying to capture Quebec City, Canada.

The county has been largely rural and devoted to agriculture. The county was first surveyed in 1852. It is famous as the location of the unsolved Villisca axe murders committed in 1912. Clyde Cessna, the founder of the Cessna Aircraft Company was born here.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 425.028 square miles (1,100.82 km²), of which 424.097 square miles (1,098.41 km²) is land and 0.931 square miles (2.41 km²) (0.22%) is water.^[6] It is the 90th largest county in Iowa by total area.^[7]

• U.S. Highway 34
• U.S. Highway 71
• Iowa Highway 48

• Pottawattamie County (northwest)
• Cass County (northeast)
• Adams County (east)
• Page County (south)
• Mills County (west)

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,330 and a population density of 24.3/sq mi (9.4/km²). The median age was 45.1 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.1 males age 18 and over.^[13]

The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.6% of the population. 96.38% of the population reported being of one race, with 90.29% non-Hispanic White, 0.24% Black, 0.34% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.02% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 5.27% some other race or more than one race.^[14]

53.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 46.6% lived in rural areas.^[15]

There were 4,456 households in the county, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.6% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[13]

There were 5,007 housing units, of which 11.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.8% were owner-occupied and 28.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%.^[13]

As of the 2010 census recorded a population of 10,740 in the county, with a population density of 25.3/sq mi (9.8/km²). There were 5,239 housing units, of which 4,558 were occupied.^[16]

As of the 2000 census there were 11,771 people, 4,886 households, and 3,258 families in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km²). There were 5,399 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5.0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.20% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 1.30%.^[17] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,886 households 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 29.50% of households were one person and 14.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 25.00% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.30% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.30 males.

The median household income was $33,214 and the median family income was $40,129. Males had a median income of $28,531 versus $20,835 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,373. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 6.00% of those age 65 or over.

• Coburg
• Elliott
• Grant
• Red Oak
• Stanton
• Villisca

• Pittsburg
• Tenville

• Alix (Douglas Township) 1895–98
• Arlington (Washington Township)
• Biddick (Pilot Grove Township) 1893–1902
• Carr's Point (West Township) 1865–70
• Climax (West Township) 1871–1901
• Coe's Grove 1858–69
• Flora 1859
• Frankfort (County seat from 1864 to 1865) (Frankfort Township) 1856–78
• Hawthorne 1871–1908
• Oro 1856–1858
• Ross Grove (Jackson Township) 1855–63
• Rossville (Jackson Township) 1855
• Sciola (Washington Township) 1855–1905
• Wales (Lincoln Township) 1886–1901
• Wallace (Douglas Township) 1875–78
• Wilson (Pilot Grove Township) 1870–79

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census.

† county seat

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Montgomery County, Iowa

• Official website