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Mills County, Iowa

Coordinates: 41°01′59″N 95°37′08″W / 41.03306°N 95.61889°W / 41.03306; -95.61889
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Mills County
County
Mills County Courthouse
Mills County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Mills County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°01′59″N 95°37′08″W / 41.033055555556°N 95.618888888889°W / 41.033055555556; -95.618888888889
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1851
SeatGlenwood
Largest cityGlenwood
Area
 • Total441 sq mi (1,140 km2)
 • Land437 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,484
 • Density33/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.millscountyiowa.gov

Mills County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,484.[1] The county seat is Glenwood.[2] The county was formed in 1851 and named for Major Frederick Mills of Burlington, Iowa who was killed at the Battle of Churubusco during the Mexican–American War.[3]

Mills County is included in the Omaha–Council Bluffs, NE–IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4]

History

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The future county's first permanent settlement was Rushville, founded in 1846 by persecuted members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they were being driven out of Nauvoo, Illinois. This is not to be confused with the state's present-day Rushville in Jasper County. A nearby settlement, also founded by the Mormon settlers, was called Coonsville after Dr. Liberius Coons, one of the first arrivals. That settlement continued after the Mormons moved on; its name was changed to Glenwood in 1853.

In Glenwood, the first courthouse was a small frame building which served until 1857. It was replaced by a two-story building, which was enlarged in the 1900s and received a clock tower in 1910. In 1959 this building was replaced with the present building, dedicated on August 29, 1959.[5]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 441 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.7%) is water.[6]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18604,481—
18708,71894.6%
188014,13762.2%
189014,5482.9%
190016,76415.2%
191015,811−5.7%
192015,422−2.5%
193015,8662.9%
194015,064−5.1%
195014,064−6.6%
196013,050−7.2%
197011,832−9.3%
198013,40613.3%
199013,202−1.5%
200014,54710.2%
201015,0593.5%
202014,484−3.8%
2023 (est.)14,633[7]1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[12]
Population of Mills County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 14,484 in the county, with a population density of 32.9065/sq mi (12.7053/km2). 95.16% of the population reported being of one race. 90.05% were non-Hispanic White, 0.53% were Black, 3.18% were Hispanic, 0.21% were Native American, 0.33% were Asian, 0.07% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 5.63% were some other race or more than one race. There were 6,110 housing units, of which 5,512 were occupied.[1]

2010 census

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The 2010 census recorded a population of 15,059 in the county, with a population density of 34.4971/sq mi (13.3194/km2). There were 6,109 housing units, of which 5,605 were occupied.[13]

2000 census

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As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 14,547 people, 5,324 households, and 3,939 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 5,671 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.97% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,324 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,428, and the median income for a family was $49,592. Males had a median income of $31,721 versus $24,938 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,736. About 5.80% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.30% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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The Loess Hills and Missouri River Valley south of Glenwood

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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  • Rushville

Census-designated place

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Townships

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Mills County.[1]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Glenwood City 5,073
2 Malvern City 1,046
3 Emerson City 403
4 Silver City City 245
5 Mineola CDP 154
6 Hastings City 152
7 Henderson City 144
8 Pacific Junction City 96
9 Tabor (mostly in Fremont County) City 86 (1,014 total)

Law enforcement

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The first Mills County Sheriff was W.W. Noyes[15] who was appointed by the Iowa General Assembly on August 1, 1851. He was succeeded by James Hardy who served as the first elected sheriff of the county and assumed the office on August 31, 1851.

The current Sheriff of Mills County is Interim Sheriff Joshua England. He and his 11 full-time deputies patrol approximately 447 square miles in the county. The Mills County Sheriff's Office provides police services under contract for all of the towns and cities and Mills County except for the City of Glenwood which has its own police department.[citation needed]

Politics

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Mills County is one of the most consistently Republican counties in Iowa. It has backed the Republican in all but five elections in its history, its inaugural election in 1852 prior to the founding of the Republican Party, in 1912 when former Republican turned Progressive Theodore Roosevelt caused a split in the vote, allowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson to take the county with a sub-40% plurality, in the two landslide victories for Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936, and for Lyndon B. Johnson in his 1964 landslide, who even then barely took Mills County by only 39 votes and less than 1%.

Local Government

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Board of Supervisors

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The Board of Supervisors is elected according to Plan One of the 1984 Code of Iowa, Chapter 331.208. It is composed of three members elected at large. Vacancies in the Board of Supervisors are filled by appointment made by the County Auditor, County Recorder, and the Clerk of District Court.

Current Board of Supervisors

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  • Richard Crouch, Board Chair
    • Term expires 2026
  • Carol Vinton, Vice Chair
    • Term expires 2024
  • Lonnie Mayberry, Board Member
    • Term expires 2024

2024 Election

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There are two open seats on the Mills County Board of Supervisors that will be elected in the November 2024 General Election. Primary Vote Count[16]

Board of Supervisors Nominees
Name Party Affiliation Primary Votes
Jack A. Sayers Republican 890
Lonnie Mayberry

(Incumbent)

Republican 777
Bruce Wray Democrat 30

County Attorney

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DeShawne Bird-Sell is the current Mills County, IA county attorney. Their term ends in 2026.

County Auditor

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Ami Petersen is the current Mills County, IA county auditor. Their term ends in 2024

2024 Election

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County Auditor Nominees
Name Party Affiliation Primary Votes
Amber Farnan Republican 814

County Recorder

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Lu Anne Christiansen is the current Mills County, IA county reporter. Their term ends in 2026.

County Sheriff

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Josh England is the current Mills County, IA sheriff. Their term ends in 2024.

2024 Election

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County Sheriff Nominees
Name Party Affiliation Primary Votes
Greg Schultz Republican 1,345

County Treasurer

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Jill Ford is the current Mills County, IA county treasurer. Their term ends in 2026.

United States presidential election results for Mills County, Iowa[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,585 67.55% 2,508 30.33% 175 2.12%
2016 5,067 65.82% 2,090 27.15% 541 7.03%
2012 4,216 58.46% 2,848 39.49% 148 2.05%
2008 4,183 57.44% 2,976 40.86% 124 1.70%
2004 4,556 65.65% 2,308 33.26% 76 1.10%
2000 3,684 62.28% 2,039 34.47% 192 3.25%
1996 2,958 51.25% 2,068 35.83% 746 12.92%
1992 2,699 43.77% 1,798 29.16% 1,669 27.07%
1988 3,212 59.82% 2,092 38.96% 65 1.21%
1984 3,994 72.80% 1,434 26.14% 58 1.06%
1980 3,581 69.09% 1,244 24.00% 358 6.91%
1976 2,722 57.79% 1,908 40.51% 80 1.70%
1972 3,531 74.94% 1,060 22.50% 121 2.57%
1968 2,916 62.41% 1,216 26.03% 540 11.56%
1964 2,424 49.58% 2,463 50.38% 2 0.04%
1960 3,436 65.37% 1,820 34.63% 0 0.00%
1956 3,539 64.89% 1,897 34.78% 18 0.33%
1952 4,028 69.04% 1,792 30.72% 14 0.24%
1948 2,921 57.20% 2,155 42.20% 31 0.61%
1944 3,288 60.65% 2,106 38.85% 27 0.50%
1940 3,873 57.39% 2,862 42.41% 14 0.21%
1936 3,424 48.40% 3,610 51.02% 41 0.58%
1932 2,420 38.07% 3,861 60.75% 75 1.18%
1928 3,429 60.86% 2,179 38.68% 26 0.46%
1924 3,348 57.38% 1,750 29.99% 737 12.63%
1920 3,683 69.00% 1,592 29.82% 63 1.18%
1916 1,707 50.58% 1,600 47.41% 68 2.01%
1912 850 25.41% 1,312 39.22% 1,183 35.37%
1908 1,959 55.01% 1,522 42.74% 80 2.25%
1904 2,252 61.06% 1,274 34.54% 162 4.39%
1900 2,212 55.00% 1,733 43.09% 77 1.91%
1896 2,153 51.93% 1,958 47.23% 35 0.84%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Mills County[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
  5. ^ ""History" - Mills County". Archived from the original on August 11, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau – American FactFinder. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ^ History of Mills County Sheriff's Office Archived October 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Election Night Reporting". electionresults.iowa.gov. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
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