Sac County, Iowa

Sac County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,350.[1] The county seat is Sac City.[2] Both were named for the Sauk people, a local American Indian tribe.

Sac County
U.S. county
Sac County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°22′52″N 95°06′46″W
Country United States
State Iowa
FoundedJanuary 15, 1851
Named forSac and Fox Nation
SeatSac City
Largest citySac City
Area
 • Total578 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Land575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water3.3 sq mi (9 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total10,350
 • Estimate 
(2018)
9,719
 • Density18/sq mi (6.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.saccounty.org

In February 2007, in its third annual list of the “Best Places to Live in Rural America”, Progressive Farmer magazine placed Sac County as #7 in the overall rankings.[3] In 2009, the magazine ranked Sac County as the tenth "Best Place" in the Midwest Region.[4]

History

On January 13, 1846, the legislative body of the Iowa Territory authorized creation of twelve counties,[5] with general descriptions of their boundaries.[6] This brought the number of counties in the Iowa Territory to 22.

By the end of 1846, the territory had been accepted into the Union as the State of Iowa (December 28, 1846). By 1851, the new state had grown to the extent that the original 22 counties needed to be divided into smaller, more accessible units. Accordingly, on January 15, 1851, the Iowa General Assembly enacted an omnibus bill which created 43 new counties[7] by reducing the previous counties. Sac County was named after the Sauk people, at that time called the Sac Indians.

It took some time for the new organization to fully function. Sac City was designated the county seat in 1856, and construction of the first county courthouse was complete in 1862. By 1873 the burgeoning population had outgrown that structure[8] and a larger (85 x 56 feet brick) building was authorized to replace it.

The new courthouse, complete with impressive bell tower, was placed in service in January 1874, and was used until 1888 when it burned.[9]

To replace that structure, the present courthouse was built. It was enlarged and remodeled in the 1980s.[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 578 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 575 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) (0.6%) is water.[10]

Major highways
  • US Route 20 – runs east–west through the northern part of the county, through Early and north of Sac City.
  • US Route 71 – from its intersection with US 20 (east of Sac City), runs south, turns 4 miles east to Auburn, then continues south into Carroll County.
  • Iowa Highway 39 – from its intersection with Iowa 175 at Odebolt, runs south into Crawford County.
  • Iowa Highway 110 – from its intersection with US 20, runs north into Buena Vista County.
  • Iowa Highway 175 – enters west side of county at Odebolt, runs east to intersection with US 71, east of Lake View.[11]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860246—
18701,411473.6%
18808,774521.8%
189014,52265.5%
190017,63921.5%
191016,555−6.1%
192017,5005.7%
193017,6410.8%
194017,6390.0%
195017,518−0.7%
196017,007−2.9%
197015,573−8.4%
198014,118−9.3%
199012,324−12.7%
200011,529−6.5%
201010,350−10.2%
2018 (est.)9,719[12]−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2018[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,350 in the county, with a population density of 17.974/sq mi (6.940/km2). There were 5,429 housing units, of which 4,482 were occupied.[17]

2000 census
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Sac County

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 11,529 people, 4,746 households, and 3,198 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km2). There were 5,460 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.53% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,746 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,874, and the median income for a family was $40,504. Males had a median income of $26,183 versus $19,753 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,902. About 6.80% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Three public school districts are based in Sac County: East Sac County School District (ESC) is the largest school district in Sac County, with the Schaller-Crestland School District serving the northwestern portion of the county and Odebolt-Arthur School District serving the southwest part. Successful completion of the curriculum of these schools leads to graduation from East Sac County High School, OA-BCIG High School, or Ridge View High School respectively. Only ESC HS is located in Sac County, with OA-BCIG HS in Ida Grove and Ridge View in Holstein.

Residents outside the three Sac County-based districts are within either the South Central Calhoun School District in areas around Lytton. A small part of northwestern Sac County is within the Galva–Holstein Community School District, which shares Ridge View High School with Schaller-Crestland SD.[19]

Geocaching

Sac County is a rich area for geocaching. The county was "put on the map" when geocachers hid a series of caches a mile wide and 8 miles high to spell "SAC" along rural roads between Sac City and Lytton in August 2011.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Sac County.[21]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 † Sac City City 2,220
2 Lake View City 1,142
3 Odebolt City 1,013
4 Wall Lake City 819
5 Schaller City 772
6 Early City 557
7 Auburn City 322
8 Nemaha City 85
9 Lytton (partly in Calhoun County) City 272 (315 total)

Politics

The Democrats have only carried Sac County a total of 5 times since 1912: 1932 and 1936 by Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1948 by Harry S. Truman, 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson, and 1988 by Michael Dukakis. Most of these in Democratic landslides, with 1988 being the notable big exception as Dukakis overperformed here, as he had almost everywhere else in Iowa, due to the farm crisis of the 1980s.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 73.4% 4,061 25.1% 1,389 1.5% 85
2016 71.1% 3,703 24.4% 1,270 4.6% 239
2012 58.5% 3,094 40.1% 2,122 1.4% 75
2008 53.5% 2,705 44.7% 2,256 1.8% 92
2004 58.2% 3,128 41.2% 2,215 0.6% 31
2000 55.2% 2,776 41.7% 2,099 3.1% 158
1996 44.2% 2,209 43.4% 2,170 12.4% 618
1992 41.0% 2,138 36.4% 1,896 22.7% 1,181
1988 47.5% 2,411 51.5% 2,613 1.0% 53
1984 57.6% 3,298 41.3% 2,363 1.2% 68
1980 59.5% 3,725 31.6% 1,976 9.0% 563
1976 51.6% 3,347 46.1% 2,996 2.3% 150
1972 61.4% 4,017 37.5% 2,452 1.1% 72
1968 62.6% 4,182 33.1% 2,207 4.3% 287
1964 40.2% 2,937 59.7% 4,358 0.1% 7
1960 61.4% 4,850 38.6% 3,054 0.0% 0
1956 60.0% 4,874 40.0% 3,248 0.0% 3
1952 72.2% 6,417 27.6% 2,451 0.3% 26
1948 47.6% 3,505 50.2% 3,699 2.2% 159
1944 53.6% 3,770 45.9% 3,223 0.5% 37
1940 53.7% 4,358 46.2% 3,754 0.1% 9
1936 42.8% 3,437 55.7% 4,472 1.4% 114
1932 42.5% 3,131 56.5% 4,165 1.0% 73
1928 64.5% 4,461 34.9% 2,414 0.6% 43
1924 60.7% 3,970 10.3% 674 29.1% 1,902
1920 78.7% 4,984 20.0% 1,268 1.3% 82
1916 55.0% 2,057 43.6% 1,629 1.4% 52
1912 17.0% 622 30.7% 1,124 52.4% 1,919
1908 64.0% 2,366 33.3% 1,230 2.7% 100
1904 72.4% 2,609 23.2% 835 4.4% 158
1900 67.4% 2,786 29.4% 1,214 3.3% 135
1896 64.1% 2,513 34.4% 1,346 1.5% 59

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Annual 'Best Places to Live in Rural America' Rankings Released". Scripps Networks. February 7, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  4. Progressive Farmer. Accessed February 26, 2010.
  5. The counties were Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marshall, Polk, Story, Warren, and Wayne.
  6. The History of Polk County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Union Historical Co. 1880. pp. 419, 425.
  7. The new counties: Adair, Adams, Audubon, Bremer, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Howard, Ida, Kossuth, Lyon, Mills, Mitchell, Monona, Montgomery, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Union, Winnebago, Worth, Wright.
  8. "Historic Sac City". Chamber Main Street. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  9. In the jail attached to the courthouse, an inmate attempted escape by starting a fire. The ensuing conflagration destroyed the entire structure.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. Sac County IA Google Maps (accessed August 20, 2018)
  12. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  15. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  17. "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". US Census Bureau - American FactFinder. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  18. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. 2016-2017 Iowa Public School District Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Education. June 30, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  20. Viola Township, Sac County IA Google Maps (accessed August 20, 2018)
  21. Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau – 2010 Census". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 14, 2018.

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