Hardin County, Iowa

Hardin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,878. The county seat is Eldora. The county was named in honor of Col. John J. Hardin, of Illinois, who was killed in the Mexican–American War.

WWW co.hardin.ia.us 𝕏 hardincountyia

History

Hardin County was formed in 1851. It was named after Colonel John J. Hardin, who died in the Mexican–American War.
In its history the county has had three courthouses. The first was a small wood-framed building, which burned down in the 1850s. The second courthouse was a two-story building and stood on the site of the current office of the county sheriff. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1892 and opened on September 19, 1893. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Hardin County, along with Story County, was also a primary filming location for the 1996 movie Twister, starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,878 and a population density of. 95.71% of the population reported being of one race.
As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 91.6% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.4% from some other race, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.8% of the population.

Race	Number	Percent
White alone	15,292	90.60%
Black or African American alone	144	0.85%
Native American or Alaska Native alone	25	0.15%
Asian alone	86	0.51%
Pacific Islander alone	2	0.01%
Other race alone	32	0.19%
Mixed race or multiracial	479	2.84%
Hispanic or Latino	818	4.85%

As of the 2020 census, the median age was 43.5 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.9 males age 18 and over.
As of the 2020 census, there were 7,070 households in the county, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.1% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 8,032 housing units, of which 12.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.8% were owner-occupied and 25.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.
As of the 2020 census, 30.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.0% lived in rural areas.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,534 in the county, with a population density of. There were 8,224 housing units, of which 7,296 were occupied.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,812 people, 7,628 households, and 5,087 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 8,318 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 97.14% White, 0.62% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.24% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 2.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,628 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,429, and the median income for a family was $41,891. Males had a median income of $30,515 versus $21,068 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,537. About 5.50% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 6.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Garden City

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Hardin County.
† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population
1	Iowa Falls	City	5,106
2	† 'Eldora	City	2,663
3	Ackley	City	1,599
4	Hubbard	City	860
5	Alden	City	763
6	Radcliffe	City	555
7	Union	City	399
8	Steamboat Rock	City	264
9	New Providence	City	236
10	Whitten	City	100
11	Garden City	CDP	100
12	Buckeye	City	86
13	Owasa'	City	34

Politics

For most of its history, Hardin County has primarily supported the Republican Party in presidential elections, with only five of the party's candidates failing to win the county in the period from 1880 to 1984. The only Democrat since 1996 to win the county has been Barack Obama in 2008, winning by only 78 votes.