Audubon County, Iowa
County in Iowa, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Audubon County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,674,[2] making it Iowa's third-least populous county. Its county seat is Audubon.[3] The county was named after John James Audubon, the naturalist and artist.[4]
Audubon County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
Audubon County Courthouse in Audubon | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Iowa | |
| Coordinates: 41°41′05″N 94°54′29″W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Named for | John James Audubon |
| Seat | Audubon |
| Largest city | Audubon |
| Area | |
• Total | 443 sq mi (1,150 km2) |
| • Land | 443 sq mi (1,150 km2) |
| • Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2) 0.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,674 |
• Estimate (2025) | 5,509  |
| • Density | 12.8/sq mi (4.95/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
| |
History
Audubon County was formed on January 15, 1851, from sections of Pottawattamie County. It was named after John James Audubon.[5] The current Audubon County Court House was opened in 1940.[6]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 443 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 443 square miles (1,150 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.1%) is water.[7]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Carroll County (north)
- Guthrie County (east)
- Cass County (south)
- Shelby County (west)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 454 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,212 | 167.0% | |
| 1880 | 7,448 | 514.5% | |
| 1890 | 12,412 | 66.6% | |
| 1900 | 13,626 | 9.8% | |
| 1910 | 12,671 | −7.0% | |
| 1920 | 12,520 | −1.2% | |
| 1930 | 12,264 | −2.0% | |
| 1940 | 11,790 | −3.9% | |
| 1950 | 11,579 | −1.8% | |
| 1960 | 10,919 | −5.7% | |
| 1970 | 9,595 | −12.1% | |
| 1980 | 8,559 | −10.8% | |
| 1990 | 7,334 | −14.3% | |
| 2000 | 6,830 | −6.9% | |
| 2010 | 6,119 | −10.4% | |
| 2020 | 5,674 | −7.3% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 5,509 | [8] | −2.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[13] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,674 and a population density of 12.8/sq mi (4.9/km2). The median age was 47.3 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.2 males age 18 and over.[14]
The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population. The census also reported that 97.41% of residents reported being of one race, of whom 94.87% were non-Hispanic White, 0.30% were Black, 1.52% were Hispanic, 0.09% were Native American, 0.09% were Asian, 0.02% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 3.12% were some other race or more than one race.[15]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 2,498 households in the county, of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.6% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 2,787 housing units, of which 10.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.6% were owner-occupied and 19.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.8%.[14]
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 6,119 in the county, with a population density of 13.8/sq mi (5.3/km2). There were 2,972 housing units, of which 2,617 were occupied.[17]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 6,830 people, 2,773 households, and 1,927 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 2,995 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.17% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.03% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 0.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,773 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 23.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,215, and the median income for a family was $37,288. Males had a median income of $28,090 versus $17,528 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,489. About 6.70% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.20% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Townships
Audubon County is divided into twelve townships:
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Audubon County.[2] † county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
Population (2024 Estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Audubon | City | 2,053 | 1,995 |
| 2 | Exira | City | 787 | 763 |
| 3 | Kimballton | City | 291 | 281 |
| 4 | Brayton | City | 143 | 132 |
| 5 | Gray | City | 61 | 54 |
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 1,705 | 54.14% | 1,417 | 45.00% | 27 | 0.86% |
| 1900 | 1,821 | 57.86% | 1,301 | 41.34% | 25 | 0.79% |
| 1904 | 1,843 | 64.99% | 934 | 32.93% | 59 | 2.08% |
| 1908 | 1,701 | 60.86% | 1,050 | 37.57% | 44 | 1.57% |
| 1912 | 692 | 26.15% | 963 | 36.39% | 991 | 37.45% |
| 1916 | 1,581 | 55.61% | 1,247 | 43.86% | 15 | 0.53% |
| 1920 | 2,963 | 67.68% | 1,405 | 32.09% | 10 | 0.23% |
| 1924 | 2,475 | 53.86% | 965 | 21.00% | 1,155 | 25.14% |
| 1928 | 2,340 | 49.44% | 2,364 | 49.95% | 29 | 0.61% |
| 1932 | 1,604 | 34.62% | 2,986 | 64.45% | 43 | 0.93% |
| 1936 | 2,344 | 40.14% | 3,448 | 59.05% | 47 | 0.80% |
| 1940 | 2,632 | 44.80% | 3,236 | 55.08% | 7 | 0.12% |
| 1944 | 2,346 | 43.07% | 3,094 | 56.80% | 7 | 0.13% |
| 1948 | 2,177 | 42.25% | 2,840 | 55.11% | 136 | 2.64% |
| 1952 | 3,605 | 61.85% | 2,220 | 38.09% | 4 | 0.07% |
| 1956 | 3,057 | 54.16% | 2,585 | 45.80% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1960 | 2,935 | 53.05% | 2,595 | 46.91% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1964 | 1,871 | 38.30% | 3,011 | 61.64% | 3 | 0.06% |
| 1968 | 2,592 | 57.55% | 1,710 | 37.97% | 202 | 4.48% |
| 1972 | 2,515 | 61.61% | 1,533 | 37.56% | 34 | 0.83% |
| 1976 | 1,978 | 47.86% | 2,104 | 50.91% | 51 | 1.23% |
| 1980 | 2,523 | 57.96% | 1,546 | 35.52% | 284 | 6.52% |
| 1984 | 2,306 | 54.97% | 1,854 | 44.20% | 35 | 0.83% |
| 1988 | 1,478 | 43.84% | 1,863 | 55.27% | 30 | 0.89% |
| 1992 | 1,373 | 35.45% | 1,589 | 41.03% | 911 | 23.52% |
| 1996 | 1,314 | 37.67% | 1,827 | 52.38% | 347 | 9.95% |
| 2000 | 1,909 | 50.45% | 1,780 | 47.04% | 95 | 2.51% |
| 2004 | 1,958 | 54.51% | 1,608 | 44.77% | 26 | 0.72% |
| 2008 | 1,634 | 47.56% | 1,739 | 50.61% | 63 | 1.83% |
| 2012 | 1,802 | 52.13% | 1,611 | 46.60% | 44 | 1.27% |
| 2016 | 2,136 | 62.60% | 1,080 | 31.65% | 196 | 5.74% |
| 2020 | 2,295 | 67.11% | 1,071 | 31.32% | 54 | 1.58% |
| 2024 | 2,214 | 68.14% | 970 | 29.86% | 65 | 2.00% |
