Iowa

Buena Vista

20,823
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Buena Vista

Buena Vista, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 57. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 20,823.

Its recorded population peaked at 21,189 in 1960, and has since declined by roughly 2 percent.

On the ground today, 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202020,823
201020,260
200020,411
199019,965
198020,774
197020,693
196021,189
195021,113
194019,838
193018,667
192018,556
191015,981
190016,975
189013,548
18807,537
18701,585
186057
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Buena Vista

National Register of Historic Places listings in Buena Vista, Iowa.

Sioux Theatre
Sioux Rapids
Harker House
Storm Lake
Danish Lutheran Church
Alta
Chicago, Milwaukee and Pacific Railroad-Albert City Station
Albert City
Chan-Ya-Ta Site
Linn Grove
Storm Lake High School
Storm Lake
Illinois Central Passenger Depot-Storm Lake
Storm Lake
Browse all Iowahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Iowa

Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Buena Vista County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Buena Vista County, Iowa. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Buena Vista

When does Buena Vista first appear in the US census?
Buena Vista, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 57.
What is the population of Buena Vista?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Buena Vista had a recorded population of 20,823.
When did Buena Vista's population peak?
Buena Vista's recorded population peaked at 21,189 in 1960.
How many historic places are in Buena Vista?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Buena Vista, Iowa.
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