Iowa

Cedar

18,505
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Cedar

Cedar, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 1,253. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 18,505.

Its recorded population peaked at 19,731 in 1870, and has since declined by roughly 6 percent.

On the ground today, 21 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202018,505
201018,499
200018,187
199017,381
198018,635
197017,655
196017,791
195016,910
194016,884
193016,760
192017,560
191017,765
190019,371
189018,253
188018,936
187019,731
186012,949
18503,941
18401,253
Source

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

Historic places in Cedar

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cedar, Iowa.

Lincoln Hotel
Lowden
Reichert, John Christian and Bertha Landrock, House
Tipton
St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Parish Hall
Durant
Hotel Tipton (Additional Documentation)
Tipton
West Branch Commercial Historic District
West Branch
Downey Savings Bank
Downey
Green, William, House
Rochester
Mill Creek Bridge
Clarence
Tipton State Bank
Tipton
Floral Hall
Tipton
Hardacre Theater
Tipton
West Branch Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase)
West Branch
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
West Branch
Hall, Hannah Morse Fowler, House
Buchanan
Kreinbring Phillips 66 Gas Station
Lowden
West Branch Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase)
West Branch
Cedar County Sheriff's House and Jail
Tipton
Downey School
Downey
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (Boundary Increase)
West Branch
Gruwell and Crew General Store
West Branch
Red Oak Grove Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Tipton

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Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Cedar County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Cedar 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 Cedar

When does Cedar first appear in the US census?
Cedar, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 1,253.
What is the population of Cedar?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Cedar had a recorded population of 18,505.
When did Cedar's population peak?
Cedar's recorded population peaked at 19,731 in 1870.
How many historic places are in Cedar?
21 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Cedar, Iowa.
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