Des Moines County, Iowa


Des Moines County is located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,910, and was estimated to be 38,411 in 2024. The county seat and largest city is Burlington. It is one of Iowa's two original counties along with Dubuque County; both were organized by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1834. Des Moines County is part of the Burlington micropolitan statistical area.
Des Moines County sits on Iowa's eastern border alongside the Mississippi River. The city of Des Moines is in Polk County in central Iowa. Both places derive their name from the Des Moines River, which flows through the city of Des Moines and originally flowed through the county. When the county was divided early in Iowa's history, the river ended up further west, forming the border between Lee County, Iowa and the state of Missouri.

History

At an extra session of the Sixth Legislative Assembly of Michigan Territory held in September 1834, the Iowa District was divided into two counties by running a line due west from the lower end of Rock Island in the Mississippi River. The territory north of this line was named Dubuque County, and all south of it was Demoine County. It was named after the Des Moines River. From July 3, 1836, until July 3, 1838, Des Moines County was part of Wisconsin Territory. The county underwent various border changes during this time. July 4, 1838, the named county became part of Iowa Territory.
The current Des Moines County Court House was completed in 1940. The Iowa Army Ammunition Plant was also established in 1940.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the 93rd largest county in Iowa by total area.
The Mississippi River forms the east border; Skunk River, the south border; and the county is drained by Flint Creek.

Major highways

The Southeast Iowa Regional Airport, is located on the southern side of Burlington.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

As of the second quarter of 2025, the median home value in Des Moines County was $154,139.
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 17,188 estimated households in Des Moines County with an average of 2.21 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $60,662. Approximately 14.1% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Des Moines County has an estimated 59.3% employment rate, with 23.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 94.0% holding a high school diploma. There were 18,778 housing units at an average density of.
The top five reported languages were English, Spanish, Indo-European, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Other.
The median age in the county was 42.2 years.
Race / ethnicity Pop. 1980Pop. 1990Pop. 2000Pop. 2010
White alone 44,476
40,506
39,308
36,059
32,753
Black or African American alone 1,003
1,310
1,488
2,005
2,501
Native American or Alaska Native alone 63
68
93
88
67
Asian alone 122
221
245
285
398
Pacific Islander alone ——11
18
21
Other race alone 74
17
39
25
128
Mixed race or multiracial ——427
803
1,797
Hispanic or Latino 465
492
740
1,042
1,245
Total46,203
42,614
42,351
40,325
38,910

2024 estimate

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 38,411 people, 17,188 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 18,778 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 87.9% White , 6.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.1% of the population.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 38,910 people, 16,751 households, and 10,297 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 18,782 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 85.23% White, 6.51% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from some other races and 5.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.20% of the population.
The median age was 42.9 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.
There were 16,751 households in the county, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.9% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 18,782 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.7% were owner-occupied and 29.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.
73.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 27.0% lived in rural areas.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 40,325 people, 17,003 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 18,535 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 91.02% White, 5.08% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from some other races and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.58% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 42,351 people, 17,270 households, and 11,536 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 18,643 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 93.69% White, 3.57% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from some other races and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.75% of the population.
There were 17,270 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,790, and the median income for a family was $45,089. Males had a median income of $34,880 versus $22,530 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,701. About 8.20% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Des Moines County.
† county seat
RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation
Population
1† 'BurlingtonCity23,98223,637
2West BurlingtonCity3,1973,249
3MediapolisCity1,6881,679
4DanvilleCity927910
5BeaverdaleCDP880905
6MiddletownCity363365
7Oak HillsCDP186111
8YarmouthCDP6194
9SperryCDP12493
10KingstonCDP8170
11Augusta'CDP5147

Politics

From 1896 through 1960, Des Moines County was a primarily Republican county, backing Democratic nominees only four times in the period. From 1964 through 2012, it became a Democratic stronghold, backing the Democratic nominee in every election in this period save in Nixon's 1972 landslide. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican since 1972 to carry the county, despite narrowly losing the overall national popular vote; the county swung over 25% in his favor relative to its 2012 vote. The change to the GOP happened while the county experienced an economic decline. In 2020 and 2024, Trump again carried the county, with an increased vote share each time, the first time the county has voted Republican three times in a row since between 1952 and 1960.