Cerro Gordo County was formed in 1851 and takes its name from the Battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican–American War, where General Winfield Scott defeated the Mexican General Santa Anna on April 18, 1847. In 1851 the first white settlers came into the area of the present county and settled on Clear Lake. Four years later, on August 7, 1855, the first elections were held and the first legal proceedings occurred in 1857. In the summer of the same year, Livonia was chosen as the new county seat. In 1858, the seat was returned to Mason City. In 1866, the first courthouse was erected, which was used until 1900. The courthouse still used today opened on November 17, 1960. Cerro Gordo County was the site of the airplane crash north of the city of Clear Lake, in which rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, along with their pilot Roger A. Peterson, were killed on February 3, 1959. The site is in Grant Township, in the northwestern part of the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Law enforcement
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office is headed by Sheriff Kevin Pals. The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement, performs investigations, executes legal processes such as writs, and is responsible for operating the county jail and for inmates in custody. The Sheriff's Office is at 17262 Lark Ave, Mason City, IA 50401.
The 2010 census recorded a population of 44,151 in the county, with a population density of. There were 22,163 housing units, of which 19,350 were occupied.
At the 2000 census there were 46,447 people, 19,374 households, and 12,399 families in the county. The population density was 82 people per square mile. There were 21,488 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 96.26% White, 0.80% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 2.78%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 19,374 households 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.90% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.00% were non-families. 30.90% of households were one person and 13.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91. The age distribution was 23.80% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males. The median household income was $35,867 and the median family income was $46,099. Males had a median income of $31,790 versus $21,781 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,184. About 5.90% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Cerro Gordo County. †county seat
Rank
City/Town/etc.
Municipal type
Population
1
†Mason City
City
28,079
2
Clear Lake
City
7,777
3
Nora Springs
City
1,431
4
Rockwell
City
1,039
5
Ventura
City
717
6
Thornton
City
422
7
Plymouth
City
382
8
Meservey
City
256
9
Swaledale
City
165
10
Rock Falls
City
155
11
Dougherty
City
58
12
Burchinal
CDP
40
13
Portland
CDP
35
Economy
In September 2016 Cerro Gordo County supervisors voted to appeal the Iowa Department of Natural Resources's decision to approve construction of a hog confinement facility near Ventura, Iowa.
