According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 702 square miles (1,820km2), of which 697 square miles (1,810km2) is land and 4.8 square miles (12km2) (0.7%) is water.[7]
The median age was 43.5 years. 23.4% 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 101.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.3 males age 18 and over.[14]
There were 5,951 households in the county, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.4% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 6,665 housing units, of which 10.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.0% were owner-occupied and 24.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.[14]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,928 in the county, with a population density of 21.4/sqmi (8.3/km2). There were 6,731 housing units, of which 5,987 were occupied.[17]
2000 census
As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 15,666 people, 6,115 households, and 4,304 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 peopleper square mile (8.5 people/km2). There were 6,602 housing units at an average density of 10 unitsper square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,115 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 26.10% 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 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,141, and the median income for a family was $44,586. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $21,663 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,662. About 5.00% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.70% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.
Harrison County is strongly Republican in presidential elections. Only seven Democratic Party candidates have won the county from 1880 to the present, the most recent of whom was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
United States presidential election results for Harrison County, Iowa[20]
