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Muscatine County, Iowa
Muscatine County Courthouse in Muscatine
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Founded	December 7, 1836
Seat	Muscatine
Largest city	Muscatine
Area
• Total	449 sq mi (1,163 km2)
• Land	437 sq mi (1,132 km2)
• Water	12 sq mi (31 km2), 2.6%
Population
• (2010)	42,745
• Density	98/sq mi (38/km2)
Congressional district	2nd
Time zone	Central: UTC−6/−5

Muscatine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42,745.^[1] The county seat is Muscatine.^[2] The southeastern border is formed by the Mississippi River.

Muscatine County comprises the Muscatine, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL Combined Statistical Area.^[3]

History

Muscatine County was formed in December 1836 as a part of Wisconsin Territory, partitioned from Des Moines County, which had been organized two years previous.^[4] One history suggests that the county was named for Muscatine Island in the Mississippi River. The island lies opposite Muscatine County and was believed to be named after the Mascouten tribe, Algonquian-speaking Native Americans who lived in the area before being driven west by settler encroachment and other tribes.^[5]

Colonel George Davenport of Illinois sent three representatives into the territory in 1833 to establish a trade post. They were the first European Americans to settle there. In the same year, James W. Casey and John Vanatta came to the area. They opened a supply depot for steamboats on June 1, 1833, and named it Casey’s Woodpile (since steamboats used wood as fuel). Muscatine County officially became a part of Iowa Territory on July 4, 1836, when Iowa Territory was established by partitioning off this area from Wisconsin Territory.^[4] The first public land sale was held in November 1838. One year later, officials began construction of the first courthouse and associated jail. A second jail, known as the "Old Jail", was built in 1857.^[6]

The first courthouse was destroyed by fire on December 23, 1864. By 1866 a new replacement stood at the same site. The present courthouse was built in the twentieth century, being first used on September 26, 1907.^[7]

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 449 square miles (1,160 km²), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (2.6%) is water.^[8]

Adjacent counties

• 
  Cedar County (north)


• 
  Johnson County (northwest)


• 
  Louisa County (south, southwest)


• 
  Rock Island County, Illinois (east), across the Mississippi River
  


• 
  Scott County (northeast)

Transportation

Major highways

• 
  US Highway 6 – enters from Cedar County, west of Wilton. Runs south 2 miles, then runs west and WNW to NW corner of county, exiting into Johnson County.


• 
  US Highway 61 – enters from Louisa County SW of Fruitland. Runs NE through county, passing Muscatine. Turns east to enter Scott County at Blue Grass.


• 
  Iowa Highway 22 – begins at intersection with Iowa 70, three miles east of Nichols. Runs east and SE to intersection with US 61 west of Muscatine.


• 
  Iowa Highway 38 – begins at intersection with US 6, three miles south of Wilton. Runs south to intersection with US 61 north of Muscatine.


• 
  Iowa Highway 70 – enters from Louisa County at SW corner of Muscatine County. Runs north, northeast and east to Cedar County, passing Nichols and West Liberty.


• 
  Iowa Highway 92 - enters Muscatine County (and state of Iowa) running NW across historic Norbert F. Beckey Bridge into central Muscatine. Runs SW along river to intersection with US 61 southwest of Muscatine.^[9]
  

Other roadway designations

• 
  Great River Road - system of roadways marking north–south routes across the conterminous US, and generally passing through Iowa.

County highways

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 42,745 in the county, with a population density of 99.71539999.7154/sq mi (38.50033138.5003/km²). There were 17,910 housing units, of which 16,412 were occupied.^[15]

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Adair County

As of the census^[16] of 2000, there were 41,722 people, 15,847 households, and 11,283 families residing in the county. The population density was 95 people per square mile (37/km²). There were 16,786 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.72% White, 0.70% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 6.05% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 11.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,847 households out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,803, and the median income for a family was $48,373. Males had a median income of $36,329 versus $24,793 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,625. About 6.30% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.70% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

C.S. Barclay farm illustration in 1875

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the table is based on the 2010 census of Muscatine County.^[17]

† county seat

Politics

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Muscatine County, Iowa

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Muscatine County, Iowa.

• Muscatine County website

Coordinates: 41°28′52″N 91°07′11″W / 41.48111°N 91.11972°W / 41.48111; -91.11972