Fremont County, Iowa

Not to be confused with Fremont, Iowa.

Fremont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census the population was 6,605, making it the state's seventh-least populous county.^[1] The county seat is Sidney.^[2] The county was formed in 1847 and named for the military officer John C. Frémont.^[3]

Fremont County
County
Fremont County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°44′38″N 95°36′31″W
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1847
Named after	John C. Fremont
Seat	Sidney
Largest city	Sidney
Area
• Total	517 sq mi (1,340 km2)
• Land	511 sq mi (1,320 km2)
• Water	5.5 sq mi (14 km2)  1.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,605
• Density	13/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.fremontcountyia.gov

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 517 square miles (1,340 km²), of which 511 square miles (1,320 km²) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km²) (1.1%) is water.^[4]

Major highways

• Interstate 29
• U.S. Highway 59
• U.S. Highway 275
• Iowa Highway 2
• Iowa Highway 333

Adjacent counties

• Mills County (north)
• Page County (east)
• Atchison County, Missouri (south)
• Otoe County, Nebraska (southwest)
• Cass County, Nebraska (northwest)

History

Fremont County was impacted by the 2019 Midwestern U.S. floods. Buyouts are under discussion for residents in Hamburg and McPaul.^[5]

On April 17, 2025, several homes and businesses Fremont County were damaged by an intense hailstorm^[6]. The hail was caused by a larger storm system that spawned a tornado in southwestern Iowa.^[7]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	1,244		—
1860	5,074		307.9%
1870	11,174		120.2%
1880	17,652		58.0%
1890	16,842		−4.6%
1900	18,546		10.1%
1910	15,623		−15.8%
1920	15,447		−1.1%
1930	15,533		0.6%
1940	14,645		−5.7%
1950	12,323		−15.9%
1960	10,282		−16.6%
1970	9,282		−9.7%
1980	9,401		1.3%
1990	8,226		−12.5%
2000	8,010		−2.6%
2010	7,441		−7.1%
2020	6,605		−11.2%
2023 (est.)	6,458	[8]	−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[13]

Population of Fremont County from US census data

2020 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Fremont County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 6,605 in the county, with a population density of 12.7663/sq mi (4.9291/km²). 95.65% of the population reported being of one race. 91.01% were non-Hispanic White, 0.17% were Black, 2.88% were Hispanic, 0.29% were Native American, 0.17% were Asian, 0.08% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 5.42% were some other race or more than one race. There were 3,110 housing units, of which 2,720 were occupied.^[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,441 in the county, with a population density of 14.5599/sq mi (5.6216/km²). There were 3,431 housing units, of which 3,064 were occupied.^[14]

2000 census

As of the census^[15] of 2000, there were 8,010 people, 3,199 households, and 2,242 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km²). There were 3,514 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.01% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.96% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 2.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,199 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,345, and the median income for a family was $46,547. Males had a median income of $30,822 versus $23,003 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,081. About 6.50% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Farragut
• Hamburg
• Imogene
• Randolph
• Riverton
• Shenandoah (part)
• Sidney
• Tabor
• Thurman

Census-designated places

• Anderson
• Bartlett
• Percival

Other unincorporated places

• McPaul

Townships

Fremont County is divided into thirteen townships:

• Benton
• Fisher
• Green
• Locust Grove
• Madison
• Monroe
• Prairie
• Riverside
• Riverton
• Scott
• Sidney
• Walnut
• Washington

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Fremont County.^[1]

† county seat

Rank	City, town, etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Sidney	City	1,070
2	Hamburg	City	890
3	Tabor (partially in Mills County)	City	928 (1,014 total)
4	Farragut	City	490
5	Riverton	City	245
6	Randolph	City	189
7	Thurman	City	167
8	Percival	CDP	53
9	Imogene	City	39
10	Anderson	CDP	37
11	Bartlett	CDP	5
12	Shenandoah (mostly in Page County)	City	0 (4,925 total)

Politics

Prior to 1944, Fremont County was a swing county in presidential elections, voting for the national winner in every election from 1912 to 1940. Starting with the 1944 election, the county has become a Republican Party stronghold, only failing to back a Republican presidential candidate in 1964 amidst Lyndon B. Johnson's national landslide.

United States presidential election results for Fremont County, Iowa^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,711	71.44%	1,023	26.96%	61	1.61%
2020	2,711	70.29%	1,080	28.00%	66	1.71%
2016	2,407	66.95%	963	26.79%	225	6.26%
2012	1,972	53.76%	1,637	44.63%	59	1.61%
2008	1,989	51.05%	1,848	47.43%	59	1.51%
2004	2,362	60.39%	1,510	38.61%	39	1.00%
2000	2,069	57.22%	1,459	40.35%	88	2.43%
1996	1,576	44.24%	1,481	41.58%	505	14.18%
1992	1,459	37.31%	1,422	36.36%	1,030	26.34%
1988	1,946	55.17%	1,547	43.86%	34	0.96%
1984	2,686	64.77%	1,426	34.39%	35	0.84%
1980	2,693	65.19%	1,203	29.12%	235	5.69%
1976	2,163	51.80%	1,964	47.03%	49	1.17%
1972	2,642	67.62%	1,210	30.97%	55	1.41%
1968	2,385	55.85%	1,484	34.75%	401	9.39%
1964	2,044	42.93%	2,703	56.77%	14	0.29%
1960	3,027	56.73%	2,307	43.23%	2	0.04%
1956	3,241	58.81%	2,254	40.90%	16	0.29%
1952	3,802	64.51%	2,085	35.37%	7	0.12%
1948	2,698	50.17%	2,637	49.03%	43	0.80%
1944	3,113	52.97%	2,747	46.74%	17	0.29%
1940	3,825	49.27%	3,914	50.41%	25	0.32%
1936	3,291	43.21%	4,301	56.47%	25	0.33%
1932	2,339	33.47%	4,585	65.60%	65	0.93%
1928	3,597	55.71%	2,822	43.70%	38	0.59%
1924	3,313	53.24%	2,525	40.58%	385	6.19%
1920	3,776	59.33%	2,524	39.66%	64	1.01%
1916	1,732	44.38%	2,085	53.42%	86	2.20%
1912	973	26.30%	1,762	47.63%	964	26.06%
1908	1,949	48.63%	1,979	49.38%	80	2.00%
1904	2,227	56.94%	1,511	38.63%	173	4.42%
1900	2,170	46.59%	2,399	51.50%	89	1.91%
1896	1,948	40.21%	2,857	58.97%	40	0.83%

Education

School districts include:^[17]

• Fremont-Mills Community School District
• Hamburg Community School District
• Shenandoah Community School District
• Sidney Community School District

Former school districts:^[18]

• Farragut Community School District

See also

• Iowa portal

• Fremont County Courthouse (Iowa)
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Fremont County, Iowa