Iowa County, Iowa | Census & Population History

Iowa

16,662

2020 population

1850

first census record

census records

About Iowa

Iowa, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 822. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,662.

Its recorded population peaked at 19,544 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 15 percent.

On the ground today, 11 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	16,662
2010	16,355
2000	15,671
1990	14,630
1980	15,429
1970	15,419
1960	16,396
1950	15,835
1940	17,016
1930	17,332
1920	18,600
1910	18,409
1900	19,544
1890	18,270
1880	19,221
1870	16,644
1860	8,029
1850	822

Source

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

Historic places in Iowa

National Register of Historic Places listings in Iowa, Iowa.

Hughes, David and M. Maria, House

St. Michael's Church, Cemetery, Rectory and Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall

Parnell

Lenox Township Church of the New Jersalem

Norway

Turner, Fred G., House

North English

Plagmann Round Barn

Conroy

Iowa County Courthouse

Marengo

Other counties in Iowa

Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

Audubon Benton Black Hawk Boone Bremer Buchanan Buena Vista Butler Calhoun Carroll Cass Cedar Cerro Gordo Cherokee Chickasaw Clarke Clay Clayton Clinton Crawford

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Everything a full report reveals about Iowa County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Iowa 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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Iowahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Iowa›

Frequently asked about Iowa

When does Iowa first appear in the US census?

Iowa, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 822.

What is the population of Iowa?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Iowa had a recorded population of 16,662.

When did Iowa's population peak?

Iowa's recorded population peaked at 19,544 in 1900.

How many historic places are in Iowa?

11 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa, Iowa.

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