Iowa County, Wisconsin
County in Wisconsin, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iowa County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,709.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Dodgeville.[2] When created, it was part of the Michigan Territory. Iowa County is part of the Madison, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Iowa County, Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
Iowa County Courthouse in March 2013 | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin | |
| Coordinates: 43°00′N 90°08′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Founded | 1830 |
| Named after | Iowa people |
| Seat | Dodgeville |
| Largest city | Dodgeville |
| Area | |
• Total | 768 sq mi (1,990 km2) |
| • Land | 763 sq mi (1,980 km2) |
| • Water | 5.4 sq mi (14 km2) 0.7% |
| Population | |
• Total | 23,709 |
• Estimate (2025) | 23,951  |
| • Density | 31.1/sq mi (12.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
History
The county organized under the Michigan Territory government[3][4] in 1830.[5] It was named for the Iowa tribe.[6][7]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 768 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 763 square miles (1,980 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (0.7%) is water.[8] It is drained by tributaries of the Pecatonica River,[9] which has its headwaters in the county. The highest point in the county is West Blue Mound at 1,716 ft. above sea level. The lowest point is the Wisconsin river at the Grant County line at 667 ft. above sea level.
Rivers and streams
Major highways
Railroads
Buses
Iowa County is served by Lamers Connect which offers two buses a day, one traveling east to Madison and Milwaukee and one west to Dubuque via its Dodgeville stop.
Airport
- Iowa County Airport (KMRJ) serves the county and surrounding communities.
Adjacent counties
- Richland County - northwest
- Sauk County - northeast
- Dane County - east
- Green County - southeast
- Lafayette County - south
- Grant County - west
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 3,978 | — | |
| 1850 | 9,525 | 139.4% | |
| 1860 | 18,967 | 99.1% | |
| 1870 | 24,544 | 29.4% | |
| 1880 | 23,628 | −3.7% | |
| 1890 | 22,117 | −6.4% | |
| 1900 | 23,114 | 4.5% | |
| 1910 | 22,497 | −2.7% | |
| 1920 | 21,504 | −4.4% | |
| 1930 | 20,039 | −6.8% | |
| 1940 | 20,595 | 2.8% | |
| 1950 | 19,610 | −4.8% | |
| 1960 | 19,631 | 0.1% | |
| 1970 | 19,306 | −1.7% | |
| 1980 | 19,802 | 2.6% | |
| 1990 | 20,150 | 1.8% | |
| 2000 | 22,780 | 13.1% | |
| 2010 | 23,687 | 4.0% | |
| 2020 | 23,709 | 0.1% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 23,951 | [10] | 1.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[1] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[16] | Pop 1990[17] | Pop 2000[18] | Pop 2010[19] | Pop 2020[20] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 19,680 | 20,051 | 22,428 | 22,904 | 22,203 | 99.38% | 99.51% | 98.45% | 96.69% | 93.65% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 10 | 7 | 36 | 86 | 114 | 0.05% | 0.03% | 0.16% | 0.36% | 0.48% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 29 | 20 | 25 | 35 | 26 | 0.15% | 0.10% | 0.11% | 0.15% | 0.11% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 27 | 19 | 78 | 124 | 178 | 0.14% | 0.09% | 0.34% | 0.52% | 0.75% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [21] | x [22] | 3 | 5 | 12 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 5 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 50 | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.21% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [23] | x [24] | 123 | 185 | 671 | x | x | 0.54% | 0.78% | 2.83% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 51 | 48 | 75 | 336 | 455 | 0.26% | 0.24% | 0.33% | 1.42% | 1.92% |
| Total | 19,802 | 20,150 | 22,780 | 23,687 | 23,709 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 23,709, a median age of 44.5 years, 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18, and 20.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.2 males.[25]
The population density was 31.1 people per square mile (12.0 people/km2). There were 10,905 housing units at an average density of 14.3 units per square mile (5.5 units/km2).[1]
There were 9,901 households in the county, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.4% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[25]
There were 10,905 housing units, of which 9.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.3% were owner-occupied and 23.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.[25]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.[26]
20.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 79.3% lived in rural areas.[27]
2000 census
As of the census[28] of 2000, there were 22,780 people, 8,764 households, and 6,213 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 9,579 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.70% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.6% were of German, 17.2% Norwegian, 11.6% English, 11.3% Irish and 7.9% American ancestry.
There were 8,764 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% 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 3.06.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 2,274 | 45.53% | 2,336 | 46.77% | 385 | 7.71% |
| 1896 | 3,115 | 57.42% | 2,060 | 37.97% | 250 | 4.61% |
| 1900 | 3,270 | 62.51% | 1,743 | 33.32% | 218 | 4.17% |
| 1904 | 3,328 | 64.58% | 1,639 | 31.81% | 186 | 3.61% |
| 1908 | 2,986 | 56.18% | 2,077 | 39.08% | 252 | 4.74% |
| 1912 | 1,886 | 40.26% | 2,103 | 44.90% | 695 | 14.84% |
| 1916 | 2,271 | 48.78% | 2,230 | 47.90% | 155 | 3.33% |
| 1920 | 5,428 | 81.42% | 942 | 14.13% | 297 | 4.45% |
| 1924 | 3,291 | 40.07% | 689 | 8.39% | 4,233 | 51.54% |
| 1928 | 5,484 | 63.26% | 3,129 | 36.09% | 56 | 0.65% |
| 1932 | 3,113 | 39.63% | 4,621 | 58.82% | 122 | 1.55% |
| 1936 | 3,623 | 39.84% | 4,988 | 54.85% | 483 | 5.31% |
| 1940 | 4,978 | 54.46% | 4,025 | 44.04% | 137 | 1.50% |
| 1944 | 4,608 | 56.00% | 3,585 | 43.57% | 35 | 0.43% |
| 1948 | 3,745 | 48.05% | 3,917 | 50.26% | 132 | 1.69% |
| 1952 | 6,211 | 69.38% | 2,722 | 30.41% | 19 | 0.21% |
| 1956 | 5,201 | 61.79% | 3,176 | 37.73% | 40 | 0.48% |
| 1960 | 5,143 | 59.16% | 3,547 | 40.80% | 4 | 0.05% |
| 1964 | 3,275 | 41.42% | 4,620 | 58.43% | 12 | 0.15% |
| 1968 | 4,005 | 54.03% | 2,897 | 39.08% | 511 | 6.89% |
| 1972 | 4,387 | 57.53% | 3,131 | 41.06% | 108 | 1.42% |
| 1976 | 4,195 | 48.34% | 4,252 | 49.00% | 231 | 2.66% |
| 1980 | 4,068 | 45.24% | 4,154 | 46.20% | 770 | 8.56% |
| 1984 | 4,983 | 56.01% | 3,843 | 43.19% | 71 | 0.80% |
| 1988 | 4,240 | 49.60% | 4,268 | 49.93% | 40 | 0.47% |
| 1992 | 3,288 | 32.39% | 4,467 | 44.01% | 2,396 | 23.60% |
| 1996 | 2,866 | 32.14% | 4,690 | 52.60% | 1,360 | 15.25% |
| 2000 | 4,221 | 40.04% | 5,842 | 55.42% | 478 | 4.53% |
| 2004 | 5,348 | 42.64% | 7,122 | 56.79% | 72 | 0.57% |
| 2008 | 3,829 | 31.99% | 7,987 | 66.73% | 153 | 1.28% |
| 2012 | 4,287 | 34.20% | 8,105 | 64.66% | 142 | 1.13% |
| 2016 | 4,809 | 39.18% | 6,669 | 54.33% | 797 | 6.49% |
| 2020 | 5,909 | 42.23% | 7,828 | 55.95% | 255 | 1.82% |
| 2024 | 6,631 | 45.18% | 7,750 | 52.80% | 296 | 2.02% |
Iowa County historically tilted Republican for much of the 20th century. However, it has swung heavily to the Democrats since the 1970s. It has supported the Democratic presidential candidate in all but one election since 1976, and is one of the most Democratic counties in Wisconsin. However, Donald Trump's 2024 performance of over 45% was the best by a Republican since George H. W. Bush lost the county by only 28 votes in 1988. This was also the first time since 1988 that a Republican held a Democratic winner of the county to a single-digit margin of victory.[30]
Parks and recreation
The county has several parks, including Arena Pines-Sand Barrens State Natural Area, Pine Cliff State Natural Area, Blue Mound State Park, Tower Hill State Park, Black Hawk Lake Recreation Area and Governor Dodge State Park.[31][32]
Communities
Cities
- Dodgeville (county seat)
- Mineral Point
Villages
- Arena
- Avoca
- Barneveld
- Blanchardville (mostly in Lafayette County)
- Cobb
- Highland
- Hollandale
- Linden
- Livingston (mostly in Grant County)
- Montfort (mostly in Grant County)
- Muscoda (mostly in Grant County)
- Rewey
- Ridgeway
Towns
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns
- Adamsville
- Dirty Hollow
- Minersville
- Pendarvis
Notable people
- Gilbert L. Laws, Nebraska Secretary of State and US Congressman[33]
