Greene County, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greene County
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Greene 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 | Nathanael Greene |
| Seat | Jefferson |
| Largest city | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 571 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
| • Land | 570 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Water | 1.6 sq mi (4 km2) 0.3% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,771 |
| • Density | 15.361/sq mi (5.931/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Greene County is a county found in the state of Iowa in the United States. In 2020, about 8,771 people lived here. The main town and county seat (where the county government is) is Jefferson. The county is named after a famous general from the Revolutionary War, Nathanael Greene.
Contents
History of Greene County
Greene County was officially created on January 15, 1851. By 1854, it started to govern itself. It was named after General Nathanael Greene, who was a hero during the American Revolutionary War.
The very first person to settle in this area was Truman Davis. He built his home near the Raccoon River.
The first building used for court was made of wood in 1856. Before that, court meetings were held in a small log cabin. Later, a second courthouse made of red brick was built in 1870. The courthouse that people use today was built in 1917.
Geography of Greene County
Greene County covers a total area of about 571 square miles. Most of this area, about 570 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 1.6 square miles, is water.
Main Roads in Greene County
U.S. Highway 30
Iowa Highway 4
Iowa Highway 25
Iowa Highway 144
Neighboring Counties
Greene County shares borders with these other counties:
- Calhoun County (to the northwest)
- Webster County (to the northeast)
- Boone County (to the east)
- Dallas County (to the southeast)
- Guthrie County (to the south)
- Carroll County (to the west)
Population of Greene County
A census is like a big count of all the people living in an area. It happens every ten years. Here's how the population of Greene County has changed over time:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,374 | — | |
| 1870 | 4,627 | 236.8% | |
| 1880 | 12,727 | 175.1% | |
| 1890 | 15,797 | 24.1% | |
| 1900 | 17,820 | 12.8% | |
| 1910 | 16,023 | −10.1% | |
| 1920 | 16,467 | 2.8% | |
| 1930 | 16,528 | 0.4% | |
| 1940 | 16,599 | 0.4% | |
| 1950 | 15,544 | −6.4% | |
| 1960 | 14,379 | −7.5% | |
| 1970 | 12,716 | −11.6% | |
| 1980 | 12,119 | −4.7% | |
| 1990 | 10,045 | −17.1% | |
| 2000 | 10,366 | 3.2% | |
| 2010 | 9,336 | −9.9% | |
| 2020 | 8,771 | −6.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 8,584 | −8.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900–1990 1990-2000 2010–2018 |
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2020 Census Information
The 2020 census counted 8,771 people living in Greene County. This means there were about 15 people per square mile. Most people reported being of one race. About 91% were non-Hispanic White.
2010 Census Information
The 2010 census found that 9,336 people lived in the county. There were 4,546 homes, and 3,996 of them were lived in.
Cities and Towns in Greene County
Unincorporated Community
An unincorporated community is a place that doesn't have its own local government.
Townships in Greene County
Townships are smaller areas within a county.
- Bristol
- Cedar
- Dawson
- Franklin
- Grant
- Greenbrier
- Hardin
- Highland
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Junction
- Kendrick
- Paton
- Scranton
- Washington
- Willow
Population Ranking of Towns
This table shows the population of cities and towns in Greene County, from largest to smallest, based on the 2020 census.
† county seat (the main town)
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Type | Population (2020 Census) |
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| 1 | † Jefferson | City | 4,182 |
| 2 | Grand Junction | City | 725 |
| 3 | Scranton | City | 511 |
| 4 | Churdan | City | 365 |
| 5 | Rippey | City | 220 |
| 6 | Paton | City | 221 |
| 7 | Ralston (partially in Carroll County) | City | 81 |
| 8 | Dana | City | 38 |
Famous People from Greene County
- George Horace Gallup (1901–1984): He used to live here. He was an American statistician who created the Gallup poll. This is a way to measure what people think using surveys.
- Loren Shriver (born 1944): He also lived here. He is an American astronaut and a retired United States Air Force colonel.
- Warren Allen Smith (1921–2017): He was a writer and a humanist who used to live in Greene County.
- Doreen Wilber (1930–2008): She was an American archer who won an Olympic gold medal. She also lived in this area.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Greene (Iowa) para niños
