Wright County, Iowa

Infobox U.S. County
county = Wright County
state = Iowa


seallink =


map size = 250
founded =
seat = Clarion
largest city =
area_total_sq_mi = 583
area_total_km2 = 1509
area_land_sq_mi = 581
area_land_km2 = 1504
area_water_sq_mi = 2
area_water_km2 = 5
area percentage = 0.31%
census yr = 2000
pop = 14334
density_sq_mi = 25
density_km2 = 10
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset= -5
footnotes =
web = www.wrightcounty.org|

Wright County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population is 14,334. Its county seat is Clarion.GR|6

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 583 square miles (1,509 km²), of which, 581 square miles (1,504 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) of it (0.31%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Hancock County (north)
*Franklin County (east)
*Hamilton County (south)
*Webster County (southwest)
*Humboldt County (west)

History

Wright County was formed on January 15, 1851. It was named after Silas Wright, a Governor of New York and for Joseph Albert Wright, a Governor of Indiana. [ [http://www.iowacounties.org/About%20Us/AboutCoGov/County%20Pages/Wright.htm Wright County ] ]

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 18227
1910= 17951
1920= 20348
1930= 20216
1940= 20038
1950= 19652
1960= 19447
1970= 17294
1980= 16319
1990= 14269
2000= 14334
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt IA Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 14,334 people, 5,940 households, and 3,938 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 6,559 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.93% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 2.90% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 4.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,940 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,197, and the median income for a family was $44,043. Males had a median income of $29,398 versus $21,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,247. About 4.20% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.70% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Belmond *Clarion

*Dows *Eagle Grove

*Galt *Goldfield

*Rowan *Woolstock

Education

Primary and secondary

There are three school districts in Wright County with three high schools:
*Clarion-Goldfield and Dows Community School District, in Clarion, Dows, and Goldfield [ [http://www.clargold.k12.ia.us Clarion-Goldfield Community School District] ]
*Eagle Grove Community School District, in Eagle Grove [ [http://www.eagle-grove.k12.ia.us Eagle Grove Community School District] ]
*Belmond-Klemme Community School District, in Belmond, Klemme, Goodell, and Rowan. [ [http://www.belmond-klemme.k12.ia.us Belmond-Klemme Community School District] ]

Tertiary

Iowa State University operates an extension office in Clarion, and the Iowa Central Community College and Buena Vista University plan to maintain a continuing education there. The county is part of the Iowa Central Community College district, except for the Belmond-Klemme school district, which is in the North Iowa Area Community College district.

Wright County Fair

The first Wright County Fair was held in Clarion. The old fairgrounds were located where Clarion's USA Healthcare Center stands today. For some unknown reason, in 1924 the fair in Clarion closed. It was moved to Goldfield in 1925 and then to its present location in Eagle Grove in 1926. The Wright County Fair was later renamed the Wright County District Junior Fair. Entries are open to children in Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster, Hardin, Franklin, and Wright Counties. [ [http://www.wrightcofair.com/ Wright County District Junior Fair] ]

Newspapers

Several small newspapers are published in Wright County, including the "Wright County Monitor" of Clarion. Other newspapers include the "Eagle Grove Eagle", the "Belmond Independent", the "Dows Advocate, and the "Clarion Monthly.

References

External links

* [http://www.wrightcounty.org/ Wright County website]