Story County is a county located in the state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population is 79,981. Its county seat is Nevada, Iowa⁶.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,486 km² (574 mi²). 1,484 km² (573 mi²) of it is land and 2 km² (1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.15% water.

History

The land that today is known as Story County was originally prairie with the exception of some groves along the larger streams in the area. In 1846 the boundaries of Story County were established. The County has an area of 576 square miles and is square in shape.

The county was named after Joseph Story, a preeminent United States Supreme Court Justice, in 1853.

The first settlers in Story County came mainly from Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania. Later, many Norwegians, Germans and Danes came directly from overseas and inhabited the area. The first large population influx occurred during the 1850's. Story County was not mentioned in the Federal Census in 1850, but figures from the State of Iowa put the population at 214 in 1852. By 1860 the population had increased to 4,501.

Three commissioners appointed by the Iowa legislature selected the location of county seat on June, 27 1853. The location was Nevada, Iowa. Nevada (pronounced Nah-Vay-Dah) was named after the Sierra Nevada mountain range in western California. What does the Sierra Nevada have to do with Iowa, you may ask? Many prominent locations from the Mexican-American War of the late 1840's inspired the naming of towns and counties in Iowa during this period.

Railroad construction did more to develop Story County, as it did for the entire American West, than anything else. The first railroad came to the county in 1864. Railroads were such a decisive factor in determining the location of towns that several communities in Story County moved to be closer to the rail line. Some flourishing little towns that were bypassed by the railroad soon disappeared.

Although Nevada was long the population center of the county, Ames was the most widely known of the towns because of the busy railroad depot where travelers changed trains for all points north, south, east and west.

Story County consists of 16 townships and 15 incorporated cities, and 4 unincorporated towns. The population was 79,981 in the 2000 census. 71,114 in urban areas and 8867 in rural areas.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 79,981 people, 29,383 households, and 17,042 families residing in the county. The population density is 54/km² (140/mi²). There are 30,630 housing units at an average density of 21/km² (54/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 91.14% White, 1.83% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 5.10% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.55% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 29,383 households out of which 27.30% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.60% are married couples living together, 5.90% have a female householder with no husband present, and 42.00% are non-families. 26.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.60% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 2.94.

Bales of hay on a farm near Ames, Story County, Iowa

In the county the population is spread out with 19.10% under the age of 18, 28.30% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 17.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 26 years. For every 100 females there are 104.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 104.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $40,442, and the median income for a family is $55,472. Males have a median income of $36,756 versus $26,941 for females. The per capita income for the county is $19,949. 14.10% of the population and 5.50% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.80% of those under the age of 18 and 4.30% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Cities and towns

• Ames
• Cambridge
• Collins
• Colo
• Gilbert
• Huxley
• Kelley
• Maxwell
• McCallsburg
• Nevada
• Roland
• Slater
• Story City
• Zearing

External links

• http://www.storycounty.com/