Cerro Gordo County, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cerro Gordo County
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Cerro Gordo County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
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 Iowa's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Named for | Battle of Cerro Gordo |
| Seat | Mason City |
| Largest city | Mason City |
| Area | |
| • Total | 575 sq mi (1,490 km2) |
| • Land | 568 sq mi (1,470 km2) |
| • Water | 6.8 sq mi (18 km2) 1.2% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 43,127 |
| • Density | 75.00/sq mi (28.959/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Cerro Gordo County (/ˈsɛroʊ ˈɡɔːrdoʊ/; Spanish: [ˈsero ˈɣoɾðo]) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,127. Its county seat is Mason City. The county is named for the Battle of Cerro Gordo, which took place during the Mexican–American War.
Cerro Gordo County is part of the Mason City, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Cerro Gordo County was formed in 1851 and takes its name from the Battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican–American War, where General Winfield Scott defeated the Mexican General Santa Anna on April 18, 1847.
In 1851 the first white settlers came into the area of the present county and settled on Clear Lake. Four years later, on August 7, 1855, the first elections were held and the first legal proceedings occurred in 1857. In the summer of the same year, Livonia was chosen as the new county seat. In 1858, the seat was returned to Mason City. In 1866, the first courthouse was erected, which was used until 1900. The courthouse still used today opened on November 17, 1960.
Cerro Gordo County was the site of the airplane crash north of the city of Clear Lake, in which rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, along with their pilot Roger A. Peterson, were killed on February 3, 1959. The site is in Grant Township, in the northwestern part of the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km2) (1.2%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 35
U.S. Highway 18
U.S. Highway 65
Iowa Highway 27
Iowa Highway 122
Transit
- Mason City Transit
Airport
The county also has a municipal airport, Mason City Municipal Airport, (MCW).
Adjacent counties
- Worth County (north)
- Mitchell County (northeast)
- Floyd County (east)
- Franklin County (south)
- Hancock County (west)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 940 | — | |
| 1870 | 4,722 | 402.3% | |
| 1880 | 11,461 | 142.7% | |
| 1890 | 14,864 | 29.7% | |
| 1900 | 20,672 | 39.1% | |
| 1910 | 25,011 | 21.0% | |
| 1920 | 34,675 | 38.6% | |
| 1930 | 38,476 | 11.0% | |
| 1940 | 43,845 | 14.0% | |
| 1950 | 46,053 | 5.0% | |
| 1960 | 49,894 | 8.3% | |
| 1970 | 49,223 | −1.3% | |
| 1980 | 48,458 | −1.6% | |
| 1990 | 46,733 | −3.6% | |
| 2000 | 46,447 | −0.6% | |
| 2010 | 44,151 | −4.9% | |
| 2020 | 43,127 | −2.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 42,406 | −4.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018 |
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2020 census
The 2020 census recorded a population of 43,127 in the county, with a population density of 74.9654/sq mi (28.9443/km2). There were 22,603 housing units of which 19,224 were occupied.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 37,819 | 87.7% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 848 | 2% |
| Native American (NH) | 96 | 0.22% |
| Asian (NH) | 535 | 1.24% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 137 | 0.32% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,449 | 3.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,243 | 5.2% |
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 44,151 in the county, with a population density of 77.73/sq mi (30.01/km2). There were 22,163 housing units, of which 19,350 were occupied.
Communities
Cities
Townships
Cerro Gordo County is divided into sixteen townships:
- Bath
- Clear Lake
- Dougherty
- Falls
- Geneseo
- Grant
- Grimes
- Lake
- Lime Creek
- Lincoln
- Mason
- Mount Vernon
- Owen
- Pleasant Valley
- Portland
- Union
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
- Cameron
- Cartersville
- Emery
- Freeman
- Hurley
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Cerro Gordo County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Mason City | City | 27,338 |
| 2 | Clear Lake | City | 7,687 |
| 3 | Nora Springs (mostly in Floyd County) | City | 1,369 |
| 4 | Rockwell | City | 1,071 |
| 5 | Ventura | City | 711 |
| 6 | Thornton | City | 400 |
| 7 | Plymouth | City | 375 |
| 8 | Meservey | City | 222 |
| 9 | Swaledale | City | 144 |
| 10 | Rock Falls | City | 150 |
| 11 | Dougherty | City | 62 |
| 12 | Burchinal | CDP | 33 |
| 13 | Portland | CDP | 28 |
Economy
In September 2016 Cerro Gordo County supervisors voted to appeal the Iowa Department of Natural Resources's decision to approve construction of a hog confinement facility near Ventura, Iowa.
Law enforcement
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office is headed by Sheriff Kevin Pals. The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement, performs investigations, executes legal processes such as writs, and is responsible for operating the county jail and for inmates in custody.
The Sheriff's Office is at 17262 Lark Ave, Mason City, IA 50401.
See also
In Spanish: Condado Cerro Gordo (Iowa) para niños
