Webster County, Iowa

Webster County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,999. The county seat is Fort Dodge. The county was established in January 1851, one of 43 counties established by a legislative package. This county was named after Daniel Webster, an American statesman noted for his moving oratory.
Webster County comprises the Fort Dodge, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

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

Major highways

U.S. Highway 20 – runs east–west across central Webster County, through Moorland and Coalville.
U.S. Highway 169 – enters northern Webster County at mid-county and runs south to Harcourt. It runs four miles east, then turns south to exit the county.
Iowa Highway 7 – enters western Webster County running east from Manson. It runs east to its terminus at US Highway 169 at Fort Dodge.
Iowa Highway 175 – enters southeastern Webster County, running west from Stratford. It runs west and south–north to its connection to US Highway 169, four miles east of Harcourt.
Iowa Highway 144 – enters southern Webster County near its midpoint. It runs north to its connection to Iowa Highway 175, three miles west of Harcourt.

Transit

Dodger Area Rapid Transit

Airport

The Fort Dodge Regional Airport is located just north of Fort Dodge. It is primarily a general aviation airport. Daily direct flights are operated to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, with connecting service through Mason City to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 36,999 and a population density of. The median age was 40.2 years, with 21.1% of residents under the age of 18 and 19.8% 65 years of age or older.
For every 100 females there were 107.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 107.1 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup was 86.8% White, 4.9% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.8% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino] residents of any race comprised 5.6% of the population.

Race	Num.	Perc.
White	31,372	84.8%
Black or African American	1,773	4.8%
Native American	112	0.3%
Asian	295	0.8%
Pacific Islander	16	0.04%
Other/Mixed	1,368	3.7%
Hispanic or Latino	2,063	5.6%

The county's DHC data show that 66.8% of residents lived in urban areas while 33.2% lived in rural areas, and 94.86% reported being of one race.
There were 15,046 households in the county, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.7% were married-couple households, 21.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 16,937 housing units, of which 11.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.0% were owner-occupied and 30.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.6%.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 38,013 in the county, with a population density of. There were 17,035 housing units, of which 15,580 were occupied.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 40,235 people, 15,878 households, and 10,304 families in the county. The population density was. There were 16,969 housing units at an average density of. The Race and ethnicity in [the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup] of the county was 93.39% White, 3.39% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 2.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 15,878 households 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 30.30% of households were one person and 13.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.
The age distribution was 24.50% under the age of 18, 11.10% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.
The median household income was $35,334 and the median family income was $43,772. Males had a median income of $31,047 versus $23,042 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,857. About 6.70% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

Population ranking

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

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population
1	† 'Fort Dodge	City	24,871
2	Gowrie	City	952
3	Dayton	City	772
4	Coalville	CDP	651
5	Badger	City	522
6	Otho	City	429
7	Lehigh	City	395
8	Duncombe	City	381
9	Callender	City	368
10	Harcourt	City	264
11	Barnum	City	175
12	Moorland	City	168
13	Clare	City	136
14	Vincent	City	130
15	Stratford	City	22
16	Farnhamville'	City	0

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Coalville

Unincorporated communities

Burnside
Judd
Lanyon
Lundgren
Palm Grove
Roelyn
Slifer

Townships

Townships include:

Education

School districts include:

; Former districts:

Prairie Valley Community School District - Merged into Southeast Valley on July 1, 2023.
Southeast Webster-Grand Community School District - Merged into Southeast Valley on July 1, 2023.

Notable people

Robert Schliske, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, 1971–1975, born in Webster County

Politics

In every U.S. presidential election from 1984 to 2012, the Democratic candidate has won a majority in Webster County, but in 2016 the county voted for Republican Donald Trump by a wide margin, a nearly 27 point swing from 2012. In 2020, Trump received a larger percentage of the county's vote than any presidential candidate since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.