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Buchanan County, Iowa
Buchanan-county-court-house
Buchanan County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Buchanan County
Location in the state of Iowa
Map of the U.S
Iowa's location in the U.S.
Founded 1837
Named for James Buchanan
Seat Independence
Largest city Independence
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

573 sq mi (1,484 km²)
571 sq mi (1,479 km²)
2.1 sq mi (5 km²), 0.4
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

20,565
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.buchanancountyiowa.org
Wapsipinicon River Bridge

Wapsipinicon River Bridge

Buchanan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,565.[1] Its county seat is Independence.[2] The county was created in 1837 and was named in honor of Senator James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States.

History[]

Buchanan County was formed on December 21, 1837, from parts of Dubuque County. It was named after US Senator James Buchanan, who would later go on to be President of the United States.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (0.4%) is water.[3]

Major highways[]

  • I-380 (IA 1961) Interstate 380
  • US 20 (IA) U.S. Route 20
  • Iowa 27 Iowa Highway 27
  • Iowa 150 Iowa Highway 150
  • Iowa 187 Iowa Highway 187
  • Iowa 281 Iowa Highway 281

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1850 517
1860 7,906 1,429.2%
1870 17,034 115.5%
1880 18,546 8.9%
1890 18,997 2.4%
1900 21,427 12.8%
1910 19,748 −7.8%
1920 19,890 0.7%
1930 19,550 −1.7%
1940 20,991 7.4%
1950 21,927 4.5%
1960 22,293 1.7%
1970 21,746 −2.5%
1980 22,900 5.3%
1990 20,844 −9.0%
2000 21,093 1.2%
2010 20,958 −0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2020[8]
BuchananCountyIowaPop2020

Population of Buchanan County from US census data

2020 census[]

The 2020 census recorded a population of 20,565 in the county, with a population density of 35.9886/sq mi (13.8953/km2). 97.06% of the population reported being of one race. 94.13% were non-Hispanic White, 0.35% were Black, 1.64% were Hispanic, 0.14% were Native American, 0.25% were Asian, 0.06% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 3.43% were some other race or more than one race. There were 8,886 housing units of which 8,198 were occupied.[1]

2010 census[]

The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,958 in the county, with a population density of 36.70/sq mi (14.172/km2). There were 8,968 housing units, of which 8,161 were occupied.[9]

2000 census[]

USA Buchanan County, Iowa age pyramid

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Buchanan County

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 21,093 people, 7,933 households, and 5,672 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km2). There were 8,697 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.41% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,933 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 24.70% 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 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,036, and the median income for a family was $45,421. Males had a median income of $30,212 versus $22,356 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,405. About 6.80% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Aurora
  • Brandon
  • Fairbank
  • Hazleton
  • Independence
  • Jesup
  • Lamont
  • Quasqueton
  • Rowley
  • Stanley
  • Winthrop

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Bryantsburg
  • Doris
  • Gatesville
  • Littleton
  • Monti
  • Otterville
  • Shady Grove
Galbraith Rail Service Map1897

This detail of Galbraith's 1897 Rail Service Map of Iowa shows Buchanan County towns of the time. It is a pictorial map rather than a technical map: Shady Grove, for example, is shown next to a man lying under a tree; Masonville is shown next to a Masonic symbol. Some of the towns' locations are slightly altered to make room for the illustrations. Several of these towns, including Hamerville, Vista, Kier, Middlefield, Newtonville, and Castleville no longer exist. A few are nearly ghost towns.

A number of historic communities in Buchanan County once appeared on state maps, but no longer exist. Hamerville was located east of Brandon at the intersection of Highway 150. Today, the site is the location of three farmhouses. Vista, once located between Brandon and Independence, appeared on maps frequently until the 1950s. This site is not even accessed by paved road. Kier, between Fairbank and Littleton, appeared on many maps in the 19th century and early 20th century. The area is now settled by Amish. Several towns named Middlefield existed southeast of Winthrop, but none are populated today. Newtonville was located a few miles south of Monti. The houses at Castleville were later moved to Aurora. Wise, once located between Independence and Jesup just north of Highway 939, was a train-stop between the 1920s and the 1950s. Little remains at the site. Kiene was founded in 1911 between Quasqueton and Monti, but was empty by 1955. Few or even no houses remain at any of these sites.

Townships[]

Buchanan County is divided into sixteen townships:

  • Buffalo
  • Byron
  • Cono
  • Fairbank
  • Fremont
  • Hazleton
  • Homer
  • Jefferson
  • Liberty
  • Madison
  • Middlefield
  • Newton
  • Perry
  • Sumner
  • Washington
  • Westburg

Population ranking[]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Buchanan County.[1]

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 Independence City 6,064
2 Jesup (partially in Black Hawk County) City 2,508
3 Fairbank (partially in Fayette County) City 1,111
4 Winthrop City 823
5 Hazleton City 713
6 Quasqueton City 570
7 Lamont City 429
8 Brandon City 341
9 Rowley City 270
10 Aurora City 169
11 Stanley (partially in Fayette County) City 81

Amish community[]

Buchanan County is home to the Hazleton Old Order Amish settlement, founded in 1914, that in 1987 had to six church districts (congregations) with an estimated population of about 1,200 Amish. The Buchanan Amish affiliation is named after Buchanan County.[11]

Politics[]

United States presidential election results for Buchanan County, Iowa[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 6,420 59.59% 4,169 38.70% 185 1.72%
2016 5,510 53.75% 3,970 38.72% 772 7.53%
2012 4,450 42.24% 5,911 56.11% 174 1.65%
2008 4,139 40.02% 6,050 58.50% 153 1.48%
2004 4,797 45.79% 5,608 53.54% 70 0.67%
2000 4,092 43.49% 5,045 53.61% 273 2.90%
1996 3,043 34.00% 4,997 55.83% 911 10.18%
1992 3,313 34.32% 4,166 43.15% 2,175 22.53%
1988 3,495 42.00% 4,778 57.42% 48 0.58%
1984 4,965 54.25% 4,129 45.12% 58 0.63%
1980 5,041 53.50% 3,605 38.26% 776 8.24%
1976 4,794 51.98% 4,258 46.17% 171 1.85%
1972 5,277 58.32% 3,609 39.89% 162 1.79%
1968 4,541 52.35% 3,670 42.31% 463 5.34%
1964 3,187 36.12% 5,621 63.71% 15 0.17%
1960 5,179 54.90% 4,251 45.07% 3 0.03%
1956 5,512 61.01% 3,513 38.88% 10 0.11%
1952 6,431 67.81% 3,019 31.83% 34 0.36%
1948 4,310 50.57% 4,127 48.42% 86 1.01%
1944 4,653 54.69% 3,841 45.15% 14 0.16%
1940 5,630 54.61% 4,649 45.10% 30 0.29%
1936 4,734 47.85% 5,025 50.79% 135 1.36%
1932 4,401 46.33% 5,004 52.67% 95 1.00%
1928 5,885 65.36% 3,099 34.42% 20 0.22%
1924 5,459 63.10% 1,780 20.58% 1,412 16.32%
1920 6,334 79.20% 1,600 20.01% 63 0.79%
1916 3,000 61.79% 1,808 37.24% 47 0.97%
1912 1,271 26.93% 1,866 39.54% 1,582 33.52%
1908 2,552 55.76% 1,889 41.27% 136 2.97%
1904 2,798 60.93% 1,545 33.65% 249 5.42%
1900 2,958 56.95% 2,053 39.53% 183 3.52%
1896 2,865 55.30% 2,233 43.10% 83 1.60%
1892 2,498 51.86% 2,166 44.97% 153 3.18%
1888 2,343 54.37% 1,880 43.63% 86 2.00%
1884 2,216 53.33% 1,923 46.28% 16 0.39%
1880 2,156 55.51% 1,208 31.10% 520 13.39%



See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". United states Census Bureau. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html. 
  4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt. 
  7. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  8. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19019.html. 
  9. ^ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State -- County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table. 
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  11. ^ Hazleton Old Order Amish Settlement (Hazleton, Iowa, USA) at Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

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Coordinates: 42°28′19″N 91°50′21″W / 42.47194, -91.83917


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Buchanan County, Iowa. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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