Clinton County

County comprises the Clinton, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Davenport–Moline–Clinton, Muscatine, Iowa–Illinois Combined Statistical Area.

• County — Clinton County • State — Iowa • Founded — 1837 • Seat Wl — Clinton • Largest City Wl — Clinton • Area Total Sq Mi — 710 • Area Land Sq Mi — 695 • Area Water Sq Mi — 15 • Area Water Percent — 2.1 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 46460 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 46002 • Population Density Sq Mi — auto • Time Zone — Central • Website — www.clintoncounty-ia.gov • District — 1st • Named For — DeWitt Clinton • Footnotes — * Iowa county number 23

Clinton County was formed on December 21, 1837. It was named for DeWitt Clinton, a Governor of New York and most ardent advocate for the construction of the Erie Canal. The cities of DeWitt and Clinton were also named after him. In 1835, Elijah Buell built a log cabin for himself and his family and was thus the first settler of the region. In 1854, the first newspaper was issued. In 1858, the Lyons Female College for girls opened its doors; the tuition was set at per student. The county has used three courthouses in its history. The structure currently in use was constructed in Romanesque style and opened in 1897.

Clinton county was first settled in 1836, by Mr. Bourne, who located upon Sec. 1, T. 80, R. 4, East. The county was surveyed in 1837, by the Messrs. Burtz. The Surveyor General's office was then at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1840, the county was organized by Sheriff Bourne. In 1841, R. R. Bed ford and others formed a little settlement at De Witt, and during the same year Messrs. Wheeler and Evans erected a log court-house. In stepping from the past to the present, we quote the language of one of the "oldest inhabitants." He says: "Clinton County was originally settled by the poorest class of people on God's earth; and it is with great pleasure that I have witnessed their progress, slow but sure, and now find the most of them very comfortably situated." The population of this County in 1840, was 821; in 1850, 2822; in 1854, 7000; and in 1856, 11,000. The population of Lyons in 1850, was 453. In 1856 the population increased to 2700.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 710 sqmi, of which 695 sqmi is land and 15 sqmi (2.1%) is water. It includes the easternmost point in the state of Iowa, on the Mississippi River in Elk River township in the northeast section of the county.

• Clinton Municipal Transit Administration

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• Jackson County (north) • Carroll County, Illinois (northeast) • Whiteside County, Illinois (east) • Rock Island County, Illinois (southeast) • Scott County (south) • Cedar County (southwest) • Jones County (northwest)

• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (part)

• Illustration — Population of Clinton County from US census data

• Illustration — 2022 US Census population pyramid for Clinton County from ACS 5-year estimates As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 46,460 and a population density of sqmi; 94.95% of the population reported being of one race. The median age was 42.6 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.6 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 89.9% White, 3.1% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population. 69.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 30.1% lived in rural areas. There were 19,483 households in the county, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.2% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 21,517 housing units, of which 9.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.6% were owner-occupied and 26.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.8%. Clinton County Racial Composition • Race — Number — Percent • White (NH) — 41,226 — 88.73% • Black or African American (NH) — 1,392 — 3% • Native American (NH) — 103 — 0.22% • Asian (NH) — 252 — 0.54% • Pacific Islander (NH) — 10 — 0.02% • Other/Mixed (NH) — 1,938 — 4.2% • Hispanic or Latino — 1,539 — 3.31%

The 2010 census recorded a population of 49,116 in the county, with a population density of sqmi. There were 21,733 housing units, of which 20,223 were occupied.

As of the census of 2000, there were 50,149 people, 20,105 households, and 13,671 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 /mi2. There were 21,585 housing units at an average density of 31 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 95.87% White, 1.89% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 20,105 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $37,423, and the median income for a family was $46,450. Males had a median income of $35,049 versus $21,333 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,724. About 7.70% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

• Andover • Calamus • Camanche • Charlotte • Clinton • DeWitt • Delmar • Goose Lake • Grand Mound • Lost Nation • Low Moor • Toronto • Welton • Wheatland

• Almont • Big Rock (mostly in Scott County) • Bryant • Buena Vista • Elvira • Elwood • Folletts • Malone • Petersville • Teeds Grove

Clinton County is divided into these townships: • Bloomfield • Brookfield • Camanche • Center • De Witt • Deep Creek • Eden • Elk River • Grant • Hampshire • Liberty • Olive • Orange • Sharon • Spring Rock • Washington • Waterford • Welton

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 United States census of Clinton County. † county seat • Rank — City/Town/etc. — Municipal type — Population (2020 Census) • 1 — Clinton † — City — 24,469 • 2 — DeWitt — City — 5,514 • 3 — Camanche — City — 4,570 • 4 — Wheatland — City — 775 • 5 — Grand Mound — City — 615 • 6 — Delmar — City — 542 • 7 — Lost Nation — City — 434 • 8 — Charlotte — City — 389 • 9 — Calamus — City — 356 • 10 — Low Moor — City — 250 • 11 — Goose Lake — City — 239 • 12 — Welton — City — 121 • 13 — Andover — City — 109 • 14 — Toronto — City — 102

Similar to many other counties in Iowa, Clinton County was reliably Democratic from Michael Dukakis's win in 1988 until 2016, when Donald Trump flipped many counties in Iowa. He improved on his results in 2020 and improved even more in 2024. Despite this, at the local level Clinton County voters are more divided, supporting Democrat Mike Zimmer over Republican Katie Whittington in the 2025 state senate election.

School districts include: • Calamus–Wheatland Community School District • Camanche Community School District • Central DeWitt Community School District • Clinton Community School District • Delwood Community School District • Easton Valley Community School District • Maquoketa Community School District • Midland Community School District • Northeast Community School District