Decatur County, Iowa

 

Founding: 1850 (declared in 1846)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: Stephen Decatur, U.S. naval commander
Seat: Decatur (1850–1853); Leon (1853–)

Land area: 532 square miles

Population (2020): 7,645

Population (historic): 965 (1850); 12,018 (1870); 15,643 (1890); 16,347 (1910); 14,903 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1900; 1910s; 1990s

Subdivisions: Ten cities; 16 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,326 (34.4%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 34.5%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 2.3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 15.4%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.4%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,458
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,192
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.9 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,029
Average farm size (1920): 130.2 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Hungary
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Leon

Namesake: Uncertain—perhaps León, Spain

Founding: 1853 (platting); 1855 (post office); 1858 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 1,822

Population (historic): 820 (1870); 1,422 (1890); 1,991 (1910); 2,006 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1853–1920; 1930s; 1960s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 337 (34.9%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Liberty Hall / Joseph Smith House (1881). 1138 West Main Street. Fayette. Italianate.

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