Iowa County, Iowa


Iowa County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,662. The county seat is Marengo. Iowa County is one of seven counties in the United States to share the same name as the state in which they are located. The other six counties are Arkansas County, Hawaii County, Idaho County, New York County, Oklahoma County, and Utah County.

History

Iowa County was formed on February 17, 1843. It was named for the Iowa River, which flows through the county. The first courthouse was a log cabin built in 1847. It was rented by the county until 1850 when a second courthouse was completed. In 1861 construction of a third courthouse was begun. The current courthouse was built in 1892 after the county had outgrown the previous one.
Iowa County is home to the Amana Colonies, a group of settlements of German Pietists comprising seven villages. Calling themselves the Ebenezer Society or the Community of True Inspiration, they first settled in New York state near Buffalo in what is now West Seneca. However, in order to live out their beliefs in more isolated surroundings they moved west, to Iowa County in 1855, living a communal life until the mid-1930s. Today, Amana is a major tourist attraction known mainly for its restaurants and craft shops, and the colonies as a whole have been listed as a National Historic Landmark since 1965.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The county is intersected by the Iowa River and the north fork of the English River.

Major highways

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,662, a population density of, and 96.24% of residents reported being of one race. The median age was 42.6 years; 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 6,811 households in the county, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.3% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 7,341 housing units, of which 6,811 were occupied; 7.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.1% were owner-occupied and 20.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,355 in the county, with a population density of. There were 7,258 housing units, of which 6,677 were occupied.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,671 people, 6,163 households, and 4,301 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 6,545 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 98.70% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,163 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03. In the county the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,222, and the median income for a family was $48,946. Males had a median income of $31,220 versus $24,652 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,884. About 3.40% of families and 5.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.50% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the 2008 US presidential election, a nearly equal number of Iowa County voters voted for each major candidate, with Barack Obama winning the county by a narrow margin of 14 votes.
In the 2012 US presidential election, Mitt Romney received 4,551 votes. In the 2016 US presidential election, Donald Trump received 5,193 votes. In the 2020 US presidential election, Donald Trump received 6,009 votes. In the 2024 US presidential election, Donald Trump received 6,068 votes.

Communities

Cities

  • Ladora
  • Marengo
  • Millersburg
  • North English
  • Parnell
  • Victor
  • Williamsburg

    Census-designated places

  • Amana
  • Conroy
  • East Amana
  • High Amana
  • Homestead
  • Middle Amana
  • South Amana
  • West Amana

    Other unincorporated communities

  • Ambrose
  • Armah
  • Genoa Bluff
  • Holbrook
  • Koszta
  • Upper South Amana

    Townships

  • English
  • Greene
  • Hartford
  • Hilton
  • Iowa
  • Lenox
  • Lincoln
  • Marengo
  • Pilot
  • Sumner
  • Troy
  • Washington
  • York

    Population ranking

Population rankings based on the 2020 census of Iowa County:
† county seat
RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation
1WilliamsburgCity3,346
2† 'MarengoCity2,435
3North English City1,065
4Victor City875
5Middle AmanaCDP543
6AmanaCDP388
7ConroyCDP252
8LadoraCity229
9ParnellCity194
10South AmanaCDP165
11West AmanaCDP140
t-12MillersburgCity135
t-12HomesteadCDP135
13High AmanaCDP113
14East Amana'CDP64

Education

These public school districts are in Iowa County:
  • Belle Plaine Community School District, Belle Plaine
  • Benton Community School District, Van Horne
  • Clear Creek–Amana Community School District, Oxford
  • English Valleys Community School District, North English
  • H-L-V Community School District, Victor
  • Iowa Valley Community School District, Marengo
  • Williamsburg Community School District, Williamsburg