Des Moines County, Iowa

Founding: 1834
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: The Des Moines River
Seat: Burlington (1834–)

Land area: 416 square miles

Population (2020): 38,910

Population (historic): 12,988 (1850); 27,256 (1870); 35,989 (1900); 38,162 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1910; 1920s; 1940–1970

Subdivisions: Five cities; one CDP; 12 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 7,401 (39.9%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 69.2%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 10.9%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 7.6%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.6%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,382
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,090
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.6 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,926
Average farm size (1920): 94 acres
Sources of settlement: Germany, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York
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Burlington

Namesake: Burlington, Vermont

Founding: 1833 (platting); 1834 (post office); 1845 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 23,982

Population (historic): 4,082 (1850); 14,930 (1870); 23,201 (1900); 26,755 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1910; 1920s; 1940–1960
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 5,883 (48.3%)
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