Population History of Clinton County

Clinton County was among the first of the counties in Iowa to be settled and, by 1860, became  one of the top-ten most populous counties until 2010 when it moved to number 11. At the time of the 1850 Federal Census, Clinton County was basically farm communities. In ten short years, Clinton County moved up to number 7.  This was undoubtedly due to the advantage of navigation and trade on the Mississippi River and the logging industry as well as the fact that there was a railroad bridge across the Mississippi at Clinton. With the end of logging as well as the railroad shops, it's interesting that Clinton County has maintained it's population.

Year Population Rank
1850 2,822 26
1860 18,938 7
1870 35,357 4
1880 36,763 6
1890 41,199 7
1900 43,832 7
1910 45,394 7
1920 43,371 8
1930 44,377 8
1940 44,722 8
1950 49,664 8
1960 55,060 8
1970 56,749 10
1980 57,122 10
1990 51,040 10
2000 50,149 10
2010 49,116 11

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Decennial Census
1900-1990 Cenuses: Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 Compiled
and edited by Richard L. Forstall, Population Division U.S. Bureau of the Census
1850-1890 Censuses: Eleventh Census of the United States - 1890, Table 4
Prepared By: State Library of Iowa, State Data Center Program, 800-248-4483