[2] The county is named after Maj. Samuel Ringgold, a hero of the Battle of Palo Alto fought in May 1846, during the Mexican–American War.

It is one of the 26 Iowa counties with a name that is unique across the nation.

94.32% were non-Hispanic White, 0.06% were Black, 1.52% were Hispanic, 0.15% were Native American, 0.17% were Asian, 0.02% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 3.75% were some other race or more than one race.

The racial makeup of the county was 99.07% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races.

Of the 2,245 households 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families.

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