Muscatine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,235. The county seat is Muscatine. The southeastern border is formed by the Mississippi River. Muscatine County comprises the Muscatine, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL Combined Statistical Area.

Muscatine County was formed in December 1836 as a part of Wisconsin Territory, partitioned from Des Moines County, which had been organized two years previously. One history suggests that the county was named for Muscatine Island in the Mississippi River. The island lies opposite Muscatine County and was believed to be named after the Mascouten tribe, Algonquian-speaking Native Americans who lived in the area before being driven west by settler encroachment and other tribes.

Colonel George Davenport of Illinois sent three representatives into the territory in 1833 to establish a trade post. They were the first European Americans to settle there. In the same year, James W. Casey and John Vanatta came to the area. They opened a supply depot for steamboats on June 1, 1833, and named it Casey's Woodpile (since steamboats used wood as fuel). Muscatine County became part of Iowa Territory on July 4, 1838, when it was established by partitioning the area from Wisconsin Territory. The first public land sale was held in November 1838. One year later, officials began construction of the first courthouse and associated jail. A second jail, known as the "Old Jail", was built in 1857.

The first courthouse was destroyed by fire on December 23, 1864. By 1866 a replacement stood on the same site. The present courthouse opened on September 26, 1907.

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 449 square miles (1,160 km), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km) is land and 12 square miles (31 km) (2.6%) is water.

• Cedar County (north)
• Johnson County (northwest)
• Louisa County (south, southwest)
• Rock Island County, Illinois (east), across the Mississippi River
• Scott County (northeast)

• MuscaBus

• U.S. Highway 6 – enters from Cedar County, west of Wilton, runs south two miles, then continues west and west-northwest to the northwest corner of the county, exiting into Johnson County.
• U.S. Highway 61 – enters from Louisa County, southwest of Fruitland. Runs northeast through the county, passing Muscatine, before turning east to enter Scott County at Blue Grass.
• Iowa Highway 22 – begins at an intersection with Iowa 70, three miles east of Nichols. Runs east and southeast to an intersection with US 61, west of Muscatine.
• Iowa Highway 38 – begins at an intersection with US 6, three miles south of Wilton. Runs south to an intersection with US 61, north of Muscatine.
• Iowa Highway 70 – enters from Louisa County at the southwest corner of Muscatine County. Runs north, northeast and east to Cedar County, passing Nichols and West Liberty.
• Iowa Highway 92 - enters Muscatine County (and state of Iowa), running northwest across the historic Norbert F. Beckey Bridge into central Muscatine. Runs southwest along the Mississippi River to intersection with US 61, southwest of Muscatine.

• Great River Road - system of roadways marking north–south routes across the conterminous US, and generally passing through Iowa.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	5,731		—
1860	16,444		186.9%
1870	21,688		31.9%
1880	23,170		6.8%
1890	24,504		5.8%
1900	28,242		15.3%
1910	29,505		4.5%
1920	29,042		−1.6%
1930	29,385		1.2%
1940	31,296		6.5%
1950	32,148		2.7%
1960	33,840		5.3%
1970	37,181		9.9%
1980	40,436		8.8%
1990	39,907		−1.3%
2000	41,722		4.5%
2010	42,745		2.5%
2020	43,235		1.1%
2023 (est.)	42,218		−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018

The 2020 census recorded a population of 43,235 in the county, with a population density of 96.5329/sq mi (37.2716/km). 92.12% of the population reported being of one race. There were 18,366 housing units, of which 16,908 were occupied.

Muscatine County Racial Composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	27,438	75.5%
Black or African American (NH)	1,086	2.5%
Native American (NH)	58	0.13%
Asian (NH)	404	0.93%
Pacific Islander (NH)	0	0%
Other/Mixed (NH)	1,285	3%
Hispanic or Latino	7,769	18%

The 2010 census recorded a population of 42,745 in the county, with a population density of 99.7154/sq mi (38.5003/km). There were 17,910 housing units, of which 16,412 were occupied.

As of the census of 2000, there were 41,722 people, 15,847 households, and 11,283 families residing in the county. The population density was 95 inhabitants per square mile (37/km). There were 16,786 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km). The racial makeup of the county was 90.72% White, 0.70% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 6.05% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 11.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,847 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,803, and the median income for a family was $48,373. Males had a median income of $36,329 versus $24,793 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,625. About 6.30% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.70% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

The population ranking of the table is based on the 2020 census of Muscatine County.

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Muscatine	City	23,797
2	West Liberty	City	3,858
3	Wilton (partially in Cedar County)	City	2,924
4	Durant (mostly in Scott and Cedar Counties)	City	1,871
5	Blue Grass (mostly in Scott County)	City	1,666
6	Walcott (partially in Scott County)	City	1,551
7	Fruitland	City	963
8	Conesville	City	352
9	Nichols	City	340
10	Atalissa	City	296
11	Stockton	City	176

United States presidential election results for Muscatine County, Iowa

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	11,152	56.46%	8,212	41.58%	388	1.96%
2020	10,823	52.36%	9,372	45.34%	476	2.30%
2016	9,584	49.32%	8,368	43.06%	1,482	7.63%
2012	8,168	41.12%	11,323	57.00%	374	1.88%
2008	7,929	41.47%	10,920	57.11%	271	1.42%
2004	9,020	48.19%	9,542	50.98%	155	0.83%
2000	7,483	46.55%	8,058	50.12%	535	3.33%
1996	5,858	38.07%	7,674	49.88%	1,854	12.05%
1992	6,087	36.09%	7,089	42.04%	3,688	21.87%
1988	6,904	48.96%	7,059	50.06%	139	0.99%
1984	9,069	59.79%	5,986	39.46%	113	0.74%
1980	7,829	51.69%	5,597	36.96%	1,719	11.35%
1976	7,697	53.10%	6,567	45.30%	232	1.60%
1972	8,436	61.84%	4,917	36.04%	289	2.12%
1968	7,361	57.18%	4,726	36.71%	787	6.11%
1964	5,547	40.86%	8,020	59.07%	10	0.07%
1960	8,555	58.21%	6,135	41.74%	8	0.05%
1956	8,552	59.81%	5,718	39.99%	28	0.20%
1952	9,361	61.60%	5,772	37.98%	63	0.41%
1948	6,003	51.68%	5,466	47.06%	146	1.26%
1944	7,104	59.38%	4,801	40.13%	58	0.48%
1940	8,543	59.24%	5,825	40.39%	53	0.37%
1936	6,332	47.56%	6,593	49.52%	388	2.91%
1932	6,160	47.69%	6,423	49.73%	334	2.59%
1928	8,604	67.45%	4,055	31.79%	98	0.77%
1924	7,731	64.87%	1,963	16.47%	2,223	18.65%
1920	8,115	70.30%	2,293	19.86%	1,136	9.84%
1916	3,929	54.25%	2,694	37.20%	619	8.55%
1912	789	11.10%	2,679	37.68%	3,642	51.22%
1908	3,525	49.43%	3,038	42.60%	568	7.97%
1904	4,036	57.04%	2,555	36.11%	485	6.85%
1900	3,905	54.92%	3,021	42.49%	184	2.59%
1896	3,627	55.02%	2,863	43.43%	102	1.55%

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Muscatine County, Iowa

• Muscatine County website

41°28′52″N 91°07′11″W / 41.48111°N 91.11972°W / 41.48111; -91.11972