Iowa

Van Buren

7,203
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Van Buren

Van Buren, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 6,146. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 7,203.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,672 in 1870, and has since declined by roughly 59 percent.

On the ground today, 20 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20207,203
20107,570
20007,809
19907,676
19808,626
19708,643
19609,778
195011,007
194012,053
193012,603
192014,060
191015,020
190017,354
189016,253
188017,043
187017,672
186017,081
185012,270
18406,146
Source

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

Historic places in Van Buren

National Register of Historic Places listings in Van Buren, Iowa.

Martin, Abner, House
Mount Zion
Bentonsport (Additional Documentation)
Keosauqua
Eisenhower Bridge
Milton
Bonaparte Pottery Archeological District
Bonaparte
Van Buren County Courthouse
Keosauqua
Kilbourn Bridge
Kilbourn
Hotel Manning
Keosauqua
Des Moines River Locks No. 5 and No. 7
Bonaparte and Keosauqua
Aunty Green Hotel
Bonaparte
Vernon School
Vernon
Burg Wagon Works Building
Farmington
Meek's Flour Mill
Bonaparte
Wickfield Round Barn
Cantril
Bonaparte Historic Riverfront District
Bonaparte
Twombley, Voltaire, Building
Keosauqua
Pearson, Franklin, House
Keosauqua
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Other counties in Iowa

Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Van Buren County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Van Buren 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 Van Buren

When does Van Buren first appear in the US census?
Van Buren, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 6,146.
What is the population of Van Buren?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Van Buren had a recorded population of 7,203.
When did Van Buren's population peak?
Van Buren's recorded population peaked at 17,672 in 1870.
How many historic places are in Van Buren?
20 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Van Buren, Iowa.
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