Dallas County, Iowa

Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 99,678, making it the seventh-most populous county in Iowa. Between 2010 and 2020, it was the fastest growing county in Iowa and one of the fastest growing in the country.<ref name=cen2020>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Adel,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and its largest city is Waukee. The county was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States under James K. Polk, the namesake of neighboring Polk County.

Dallas County is included in the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The land that now forms Dallas County was ceded by the Sac and Fox nation to the United States in a treaty signed on October 11, 1842.

On January 13, 1846, the legislative body of the Iowa Territory authorized the creation of twelve counties in the Iowa Territory,<ref>The counties were Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marshall, Polk, Story, Warren, and Wayne.</ref> with general descriptions of their boundaries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Dallas County's name referred to United States Vice President George M. Dallas, who served from 1845 to 1849.

In 1847 the county residents voted to designate Penoch as the county seat (the name was changed to Adel in 1849). The county's population grew rapidly, with settlers coming to claim homesteads. By 1870, the population had crossed the 12,000 mark.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.5%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

• Interstate 80 – runs east-northeast across the southern portion of the county, passing Dexter and De Soto on its way to Des Moines
• U.S. Highway 6 – from its starting point in Adel, runs east across the midsection of the county on its way to Des Moines
• U.S. Highway 169 – runs north–south through the center of the county, from Bouton to Adel to De Soto
• Iowa Highway 17 – from its starting point (intersection with Iowa 141) at Granger, runs north along the county's eastern boundary, into Boone County
• Iowa Highway 44 – runs east–west through the center of the county, through Dallas Center
• Iowa Highway 141 – runs east across northern portion of county, through Dawson, Perry, Bouton and Woodward, then southeast to exit into Polk County at Granger
• Iowa Highway 144 - from its starting point (intersection w Iowa 141) at Perry, runs north into Boone County
• Iowa Highway 210 – from its starting point (intersection w Iowa 141), runs north to Woodward and continues into Boone County<ref>Dallas County, Iowa Google Maps (accessed 20 August 2018)</ref>

Adjacent counties

• Adair County – southwest
• Boone County – north
• Greene County – north and northwest
• Guthrie County – west
• Madison County – south
• Polk County – east
• Warren County – southeast

Demographics

Population of Dallas County from US census data

2020 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Dallas County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 99,678 in the county, with a population density of Template:Pop density. 94.19% of the population reported being of one race. There were 41,125 housing units of which 38,291 were occupied.<ref name=cen2020/>

Dallas County Racial Composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	81,708	82%
Black or African American (NH)	2,657	2.7%
Native American (NH)	137	0.14%
Asian (NH)	4,987	5%
Pacific Islander (NH)	32	0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)	3,642	3.7%
Hispanic or Latino	6,515	6.54%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 66,135 in the county, with a population density of Template:Pop density. There were 27,260 housing units, of which 25,240 were occupied.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the census<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 40,750 people, 15,584 households, and 11,173 families in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 16,529 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 94.75% White, 0.74% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.79% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 5.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 15,584 households, 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 23.60% of households were one person and 8.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 28.20% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median household income was $48,528 and the median family income was $58,293. Males had a median income of $37,243 versus $27,026 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,970. About 4.00% of families and 5.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Adel
• Bouton
• Clive ‡
• Dallas Center
• Dawson
• De Soto
• Dexter
• Granger‡
• Grimes ‡
• Linden
• Minburn
• Perry
• Redfield
• Urbandale ‡
• Van Meter
• Waukee
• West Des Moines ‡
• Woodward

‡ partly in Polk County

Unincorporated communities

• Booneville
• Kennedy Station
• Moran
• Ortonville
• Panther
• Wiscotta
• Xenia
• Zook Spur

Townships

• Adams
• Adel
• Beaver
• Boone
• Colfax
• Dallas
• Des Moines
• Grant
• Lincoln
• Linn
• Spring Valley
• Sugar Grove
• Union
• Van Meter
• Walnut
• Washington

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Dallas County.<ref name=cen2020/>

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	West Des Moines (mostly in Polk County)	City	68,723
2	Urbandale (partially in Polk County)	City	45,580
3	Waukee	City	23,940
4	Clive (partially in Polk County)	City	18,601
5	Grimes (mostly in Polk County)	City	15,392
6	Perry	City	7,836
7	† Adel	City	6,153
8	Dallas Center	City	1,901
9	Granger (partially in Polk County)	City	1,654
10	Van Meter	City	1,484
11	Woodward	City	1,346
12	De Soto	City	915
13	Redfield	City	731
14	Dexter	City	640
15	Minburn	City	325
16	Linden	City	200
17	Dawson	City	116
18	Bouton	City	127

Politics

Prior to 1932, Dallas County was strongly Republican in presidential elections. From 1932 to 1996, it was a swing county, having a Republican lean until 1960 & a Democratic lean from 1964 to 1996, especially after 1980. Since 2000, it has been consistently Republican, though no Republican presidential candidate has won over 58% of the vote nor has a Democrat won less than 41% since then. Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallas County, Iowa
• Raccoon River Valley Trail

Further reading

• Meyer, Theodoric. "Two Iowa counties an hour apart show America’s growing political divide: Rural Decatur County has moved sharply red, while suburban Dallas County has shifted the other direction" Washington Post January 12, 2024, online

External links

• Dallas County government's website (Template:Webarchive)
• HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY, IOWA 1879 Online book