Benton County, Iowa
County in Iowa, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benton County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,575.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Vinton.[3] The county is named for Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. Senator from Missouri.
Benton County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
| |
 Location within the U.S. state of Iowa | |
| Coordinates: 42°04′47″N 92°04′03″W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | 1837 |
| Named after | Thomas Hart Benton |
| Seat | Vinton |
| Largest city | Vinton |
| Area | |
• Total | 718 sq mi (1,860 km2) |
| • Land | 716 sq mi (1,850 km2) |
| • Water | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 25,575 |
• Estimate (2025) | 26,004  |
| • Density | 35.7/sq mi (13.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
| |
Benton County is part of the Cedar Rapids, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4]
History
Benton County was formed on December 21, 1837, from sections of Dubuque County. It was named after US Senator Thomas Hart Benton.[5]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 716 square miles (1,850 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.3%) is water.[6]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Black Hawk County (northwest)
- Buchanan County (northeast)
- Linn County (east)
- Iowa County (south)
- Tama County (west)
- Poweshiek County (southwest)
- Johnson County (southeast)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 672 | — | |
| 1860 | 8,496 | 1,164.3% | |
| 1870 | 22,454 | 164.3% | |
| 1880 | 24,888 | 10.8% | |
| 1890 | 24,178 | −2.9% | |
| 1900 | 25,177 | 4.1% | |
| 1910 | 23,156 | −8.0% | |
| 1920 | 24,080 | 4.0% | |
| 1930 | 22,851 | −5.1% | |
| 1940 | 22,879 | 0.1% | |
| 1950 | 22,656 | −1.0% | |
| 1960 | 23,422 | 3.4% | |
| 1970 | 22,885 | −2.3% | |
| 1980 | 23,649 | 3.3% | |
| 1990 | 22,429 | −5.2% | |
| 2000 | 25,308 | 12.8% | |
| 2010 | 26,076 | 3.0% | |
| 2020 | 25,575 | −1.9% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 26,004 | [7] | 1.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[12] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 25,575 and a population density of 35.6/sq mi (13.8/km2). 96.29% of residents reported being of one race.[13][14]
The median age was 42.3 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.2 males age 18 and over.[13]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.9% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population. Of those reporting a single race, 93.04% were non-Hispanic White, 0.45% were Black, 0.13% were Native American, 0.32% were Asian, 0.01% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 4.24% were some other race or more than one race.[14]
18.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 81.3% lived in rural areas.[15]
There were 10,282 households in the county, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.8% were married-couple households, 17.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 11,076 housing units, of which 7.2% were vacant and 10,282 were occupied. Among occupied housing units, 82.5% were owner-occupied and 17.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%.[13]
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 26,076 in the county, with a population density of 36.4/sq mi (14.1/km2). There were 11,095 housing units, of which 10,302 were occupied.[16]
2000 census
As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 25,308 people, 9,746 households, and 7,056 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 inhabitants per square mile (14/km2). There were 10,377 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.84% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,746 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,427, and the median income for a family was $49,701. Males had a median income of $35,044 versus $23,978 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,891. About 4.6% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Townships
Benton County is divided into twenty townships:
Census-designated place
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Benton County.[2]
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Vinton | City | 4,938 |
| 2 | Belle Plaine | City | 2,330 |
| 3 | Atkins | City | 2,056 |
| 4 | Urbana | City | 1,554 |
| 5 | Walford (partially in Linn County) | City | 1,366 |
| 6 | Shellsburg | City | 961 |
| 7 | Newhall | City | 876 |
| 8 | Van Horne | City | 774 |
| 9 | Blairstown | City | 713 |
| 10 | Keystone | City | 599 |
| 11 | Norway | City | 466 |
| 12 | Garrison | City | 344 |
| 13 | Mount Auburn | City | 162 |
| 14 | Watkins | CDP | 116 |
| 15 | Luzerne | City | 112 |
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 3,604 | 57.50% | 2,560 | 40.84% | 104 | 1.66% |
| 1900 | 3,609 | 56.89% | 2,575 | 40.59% | 160 | 2.52% |
| 1904 | 3,609 | 61.10% | 2,057 | 34.82% | 241 | 4.08% |
| 1908 | 3,180 | 55.08% | 2,418 | 41.88% | 175 | 3.03% |
| 1912 | 1,831 | 31.53% | 2,472 | 42.56% | 1,505 | 25.91% |
| 1916 | 3,189 | 54.16% | 2,556 | 43.41% | 143 | 2.43% |
| 1920 | 6,539 | 71.02% | 2,343 | 25.45% | 325 | 3.53% |
| 1924 | 5,314 | 58.13% | 1,459 | 15.96% | 2,369 | 25.91% |
| 1928 | 5,669 | 62.68% | 3,307 | 36.56% | 69 | 0.76% |
| 1932 | 3,424 | 34.87% | 6,070 | 61.82% | 325 | 3.31% |
| 1936 | 4,144 | 41.72% | 5,606 | 56.43% | 184 | 1.85% |
| 1940 | 5,298 | 49.55% | 5,363 | 50.15% | 32 | 0.30% |
| 1944 | 4,378 | 48.43% | 4,619 | 51.10% | 42 | 0.46% |
| 1948 | 3,770 | 45.06% | 4,209 | 50.30% | 388 | 4.64% |
| 1952 | 6,316 | 59.09% | 3,831 | 35.84% | 542 | 5.07% |
| 1956 | 5,634 | 56.31% | 3,946 | 39.44% | 426 | 4.26% |
| 1960 | 5,972 | 56.33% | 4,620 | 43.58% | 9 | 0.08% |
| 1964 | 3,453 | 34.24% | 6,614 | 65.59% | 17 | 0.17% |
| 1968 | 5,016 | 52.06% | 3,944 | 40.93% | 675 | 7.01% |
| 1972 | 5,273 | 54.09% | 4,282 | 43.92% | 194 | 1.99% |
| 1976 | 5,014 | 46.85% | 5,514 | 51.52% | 175 | 1.64% |
| 1980 | 5,329 | 50.11% | 4,223 | 39.71% | 1,083 | 10.18% |
| 1984 | 5,566 | 52.13% | 4,993 | 46.76% | 119 | 1.11% |
| 1988 | 4,011 | 40.20% | 5,873 | 58.87% | 93 | 0.93% |
| 1992 | 3,469 | 33.23% | 4,467 | 42.79% | 2,503 | 23.98% |
| 1996 | 3,835 | 37.31% | 5,546 | 53.95% | 898 | 8.74% |
| 2000 | 5,468 | 46.47% | 5,915 | 50.27% | 383 | 3.26% |
| 2004 | 6,658 | 49.31% | 6,747 | 49.97% | 96 | 0.71% |
| 2008 | 6,447 | 47.00% | 7,058 | 51.45% | 212 | 1.55% |
| 2012 | 6,940 | 49.49% | 6,862 | 48.93% | 221 | 1.58% |
| 2016 | 8,232 | 59.46% | 4,678 | 33.79% | 934 | 6.75% |
| 2020 | 9,188 | 62.75% | 5,160 | 35.24% | 294 | 2.01% |
| 2024 | 9,549 | 65.81% | 4,739 | 32.66% | 221 | 1.52% |
Education
School districts:[19]
- Belle Plaine Community School District
- Benton Community School District
- Center Point-Urbana Community School District
- College Community School District
- Independence Community School District
- North Linn Community School District
- Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District
- Union Community School District
There was formerly a state-operated school, Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School.