[2] The county was organized in 1857 and is named in honor of Daniel S. Dickinson,[3] a U.S.

Dickinson County comprises the Spirit Lake, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

A region known as the Iowa Great Lakes is in Dickinson County, making it a popular vacation destination for Iowans, and explaining the recent high population growth in the area.

[11] As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 16,424 people, 7,103 households, and 4,759 families residing in the county.

There were 11,375 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2).

The racial makeup of the county was 98.90% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races.

28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.