Iowa

Wright

12,943
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Wright

Wright, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 653. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 12,943.

Its recorded population peaked at 20,348 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 36 percent.

On the ground today, 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202012,943
201013,229
200014,334
199014,269
198016,319
197017,294
196019,447
195019,652
194020,038
193020,216
192020,348
191017,951
190018,227
189012,057
18805,062
18702,392
1860653
Source

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

Historic places in Wright

National Register of Historic Places listings in Wright, Iowa.

Fillmore Block
Dows
Cornelia Lake Bridge
Clarion
Boone River Bridge
Goldfield
Eagle Grove Public Library
Eagle Grove
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad Passenger Station
Clarion
Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Passenger Depot-Dows
Dows
Quasdorf Blacksmith and Wagon Shop
Dows
Wright County Courthouse
Clarion

Other counties in Iowa

Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Wright County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Wright 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 Wright

When does Wright first appear in the US census?
Wright, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 653.
What is the population of Wright?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wright had a recorded population of 12,943.
When did Wright's population peak?
Wright's recorded population peaked at 20,348 in 1920.
How many historic places are in Wright?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wright, Iowa.
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