# Tama County, Iowa > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tama_County,_Iowa > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tama_County,_Iowa.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tama_County%2C_Iowa > Source revision: 1356751668 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Tama County** /ˈteɪmə/ is a [county](/source/County_(United_States)) located in the [U.S. state](/source/U.S._state) of [Iowa](/source/Iowa). As of the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census), the population was 17,135.[1] The [county seat](/source/County_seat) is [Toledo](/source/Toledo,_Iowa) and the largest city is [Tama](/source/Tama,_Iowa).[2] ## History Tama county was formed on February 17, 1843[3] and named for [Taimah](/source/Taimah), a leader of the [Meskwaki](/source/Meskwaki) people.[4] ## Geography According to the [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau), the county has a total area of 722 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 721 square miles (1,870 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.[5] ### Major highways - [U.S. Highway 30](/source/U.S._Route_30_in_Iowa) - [U.S. Highway 63](/source/U.S._Route_63_in_Iowa) - [Iowa Highway 8](/source/Iowa_Highway_8) - [Iowa Highway 21](/source/Iowa_Highway_21) - [Iowa Highway 96](/source/Iowa_Highway_96) - [Iowa Highway 146](/source/Iowa_Highway_146) ### Adjacent counties - [Grundy County](/source/Grundy_County,_Iowa) (northwest) - [Black Hawk County](/source/Black_Hawk_County,_Iowa) (northeast) - [Benton County](/source/Benton_County,_Iowa) (east) - [Poweshiek County](/source/Poweshiek_County,_Iowa) (south) - [Marshall County](/source/Marshall_County,_Iowa) (west) - [Iowa County](/source/Iowa_County,_Iowa) (southeast) - [Jasper County](/source/Jasper_County,_Iowa) (southwest) ## Demographics ### 2020 census As of the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census), the county had a population of 17,135 and a population density of .[6] The median age was 42.0 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.[6] There were 6,784 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.3% were married-couple households, 19.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 7,575 housing units, of which 10.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.8% were owner-occupied and 23.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.[6] 93.80% of residents reported being of one race.[6] The racial makeup of the county was 79.7% [White](/source/White_Americans), 0.8% [Black or African American](/source/African_Americans), 8.3% [American Indian and Alaska Native](/source/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States), 0.5% [Asian](/source/Asian_Americans), <0.1% [Native Hawaiian](/source/Native_Hawaiians) and [Pacific Islander](/source/Pacific_Islander), 4.5% from some other race, and 6.2% from [two or more races](/source/Multiracial_Americans). [Hispanic or Latino](/source/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans) residents of any race comprised 10.5% of the population.[7] 30.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 69.3% lived in rural areas.[8] Tama County Racial Composition[9] Race Number Percent White (NH) 13,284 77.52% Black or African American (NH) 125 0.73% Native American (NH) 1,258 7.34% Asian (NH) 80 0.5% Pacific Islander (NH) 2 0.01% Other/Mixed (NH) 582 3.4% Hispanic or Latino 1,804 10.53% ### 2010 census As of the [2010 census](/source/2010_United_States_census) recorded a population of 17,767 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,766 housing units, of which 6,947 were occupied.[10] ### 2000 census As of the [2000 census](/source/2000_United_States_census), there were 17,767 people, 7,018 households, and 4,968 families residing in the county. The [population density](/source/Population_density) was 25 /mi2. There were 7,583 housing units at an average density of 10 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 90.38% [White](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 0.25% [Black](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)) or [African American](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 6.09% [Native American](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 0.18% [Asian](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 0.02% [Pacific Islander](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 1.90% from [other races](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), and 1.18% from two or more races. 3.75% of the population were [Hispanic](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)) or [Latino](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)) of any race. There were 7,018 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were [married couples](/source/Marriage) living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $37,419, and the median income for a family was $43,646. Males had a median income of $30,723 versus $22,597 for females. The [per capita income](/source/Per_capita_income) for the county was $17,097. About 7.60% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the [poverty line](/source/Poverty_threshold), including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over. ## Education School districts include:[11] - [Belle Plaine Community School District](/source/Belle_Plaine_Community_School_District) - [Benton Community School District](/source/Benton_Community_School_District) - [East Marshall Community School District](/source/East_Marshall_Community_School_District) - [GMG Community School District](/source/GMG_Community_School_District) - [Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District](/source/Gladbrook-Reinbeck_Community_School_District) - [Grundy Center Community School District](/source/Grundy_Center_Community_School_District) - [North Tama County Community School District](/source/North_Tama_County_Community_School_District) - [South Tama County Community School District](/source/South_Tama_County_Community_School_District) - [Union Community School District](/source/Union_Community_School_District) There is also a [Bureau of Indian Education](/source/Bureau_of_Indian_Education) (BIE)-affiliated tribal school, [Meskwaki Settlement School](/source/Meskwaki_Settlement_School). The largest of which is South Tama Community School District, at the 3A designation. Second largest is North Tama Community Schools. Lastly both GMG and Meskwaki Settlement School with an eight-man designation.[citation needed][12][13][14][15] ## Communities ### Cities - [Chelsea](/source/Chelsea,_Iowa) - [Clutier](/source/Clutier,_Iowa) - [Dysart](/source/Dysart,_Iowa) - [Elberon](/source/Elberon,_Iowa) - [Garwin](/source/Garwin,_Iowa) - [Gladbrook](/source/Gladbrook,_Iowa) - [Le Grand](/source/Le_Grand,_Iowa) - [Lincoln](/source/Lincoln,_Iowa) - [Montour](/source/Montour,_Iowa) - [Tama](/source/Tama,_Iowa) - [Toledo](/source/Toledo,_Iowa) - [Traer](/source/Traer,_Iowa) - [Vining](/source/Vining,_Iowa) ### Unincorporated communities - [Buckingham](/source/Buckingham,_Iowa) - [Dinsdale](/source/Dinsdale,_Iowa) - [Haven](/source/Haven,_Iowa) - [Long Point](/source/Long_Point,_Iowa) - [Meskwaki Settlement](/source/Meskwaki_Settlement,_Iowa) ### Townships Tama County is divided into twenty-one [townships](/source/Township_(United_States)): - [Buckingham](/source/Buckingham_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Carlton](/source/Carlton_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Carroll](/source/Carroll_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Clark](/source/Clark_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Columbia](/source/Columbia_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Crystal](/source/Crystal_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Geneseo](/source/Geneseo_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Grant](/source/Grant_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Highland](/source/Highland_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Howard](/source/Howard_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Indian Village](/source/Indian_Village_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Lincoln](/source/Lincoln_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Oneida](/source/Oneida_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Otter Creek](/source/Otter_Creek_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Perry](/source/Perry_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Richland](/source/Richland_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Salt Creek](/source/Salt_Creek_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Spring Creek](/source/Spring_Creek_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Tama](/source/Tama_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [Toledo](/source/Toledo_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) - [York](/source/York_Township,_Tama_County,_Iowa) ### Population ranking The population ranking of the following table is based on the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census) of Tama County.[1] **†** *county seat* Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census) Population (2024 Estimate) 1 Tama City 3,130 3,125 2 † Toledo City 2,369 2,376 3 Traer City 1,583 1,599 4 Dysart City 1,281 1,279 5 Sac and Fox/Meskwaki Settlement AIAN 1,120 1,137 6 Le Grand (mostly in Marshall County) City 905 891 7 Gladbrook City 799 762 8 Garwin City 481 480 9 Chelsea City 229 216 10 Clutier City 213 209 11 Montour City 203 198 12 Elberon City 184 185 13 Lincoln City 121 127 14 Vining City 54 62 ## Notable people - [George R. Struble](/source/George_R._Struble) (1836–1918). Iowa judge and politician from Toledo. Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, 1881–1883. Ardent [prohibitionist](/source/Prohibition_in_the_United_States). Brother of [John T. Struble](/source/John_T._Struble) of [Johnson County](/source/Johnson_County,_Iowa), and Congressman [Isaac S. Struble](/source/Isaac_S._Struble) of [Plymouth County](/source/Plymouth_County,_Iowa). Biography in the *Journal of the House, memorial resolution of March 23, 1921.* - [Michael Emerson](/source/Michael_Emerson), born in [Cedar Rapids](/source/Cedar_Rapids,_Iowa) and raised in [Toledo](/source/Toledo,_Iowa), Emerson has been on Broadway and appeared on *[Lost](/source/Lost_(2004_TV_series))*.[16] - [Clifford Berry](/source/Clifford_Berry) (1918-1963), born in [Gladbrook](/source/Gladbrook,_Iowa), was a graduate student at [Iowa State](/source/Iowa_State_University) when he and [John Vincent Atanasoff](/source/John_Vincent_Atanasoff) created the [Atanasoff–Berry Computer](/source/Atanasoff%E2%80%93Berry_computer) (ABC), the first digital electronic computer, in 1939. ## Politics Between 1888 and 1984, Tama County was a reliable bellwether county, backing the nationwide winner in every presidential election except for 1916 and 1960. For the next seven election cycles, from 1988 to 2012, Tama County backed the Democratic candidate in each election, although [George W. Bush](/source/George_W._Bush) came extremely close to winning the county in both 2000 and 2004, losing by slim margins of just 11 and 31 votes respectively. In 2016, [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump) moved the county back into the Republican camp, taking nearly 57% of the county's vote and winning it by more than 20%, the best margin in the county for any candidate since [Ronald Reagan](/source/Ronald_Reagan) won the county during his 1980 landslide. Though Trump's margin of victory dropped slightly to just over 19% in 2020, he increased his vote share to almost 59%, the best vote share for a candidate of either party in Tama County since the 1964 landslide victory of [Lyndon B. Johnson](/source/Lyndon_B._Johnson). ## See also - [National Register of Historic Places listings in Tama County, Iowa](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Tama_County,_Iowa) ## References 1. ["2020 Census State Redistricting Data"](https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/). *census.gov*. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021. 1. ["Find a County"](https://ce.naco.org/?find=true). [National Association of Counties](/source/National_Association_of_Counties). Retrieved February 18, 2026. 1. ["City Community Description Congressional district Overview Population District type Geographical location/Climate Closest major city Political structure History Cultural institutions/events Distinguishing features Existing ties with Russia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100919170213/http://ccfrussia.ru/?mod=city&id=131). *ccfrussia.ru*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ccfrussia.ru/?mod=city&id=131) on September 19, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2018. 1. [Tama County](https://archive.today/20070703140822/http://www.iowacounties.org/About%20Us/AboutCoGov/County%20Pages/Tama.htm) 1. ["US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990"](https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011. 1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A171&in=state%3A19). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025. 1. ["2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A171&in=state%3A19). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025. 1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A171&in=state%3A19). *United States Census Bureau*. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025. 1. ["P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Tama County, Iowa"](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Tama%20County,%20Iowa&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2) 1. ["Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State – County"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150929225050/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau) American FactFinder. Archived from [the original](http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table) on September 29, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2011. 1. ["2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Tama County, IA"](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st19_ia/schooldistrict_maps/c19171_tama/DC20SD_C19171.pdf). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220721161949/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st19_ia/schooldistrict_maps/c19171_tama/DC20SD_C19171.pdf) July 21, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 21, 2022. - [Text list](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st19_ia/schooldistrict_maps/c19171_tama/DC20SD_C19171_SD2MS.txt) - [2010 Map](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st19_ia/c19171_tama/DC10SD_C19171_001.pdf), [2010 Text list](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st19_ia/c19171_tama/DC10SD_C19171_SD2MS.txt) 1. South Tama County | Home of the Trojans! Web. March 26, 2011.<[http://www.s-tama.k12.ia.us/](http://www.s-tama.k12.ia.us/)> 1. Meskwaki Settlement School. Web. March 26, 2011.<[http://www.msswarriors.org/](http://www.msswarriors.org/)> 1. Welcome to North Tama County Community Schools. Web. March 26, 2011.<[http://www.n-tama.k12.ia.us/](http://www.n-tama.k12.ia.us/)> 1. New Page 1. Web. March 26, 2011.<[http://www.garwin.k12.ia.us/](http://www.garwin.k12.ia.us/)>. 1. ["Michael Emerson"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0256237/bio). *IMDb*. Retrieved April 28, 2018. ## External links - [IAGenWeb](http://iagenweb.org/tama/) History, Biographies, Records and more --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tama County, Iowa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tama_County%2C_Iowa) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tama_County%2C_Iowa?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.