Black Hawk County, Iowa

Black Hawk County
County
Black Hawk County Courthouse in Waterloo
Black Hawk County Courthouse in Waterloo
Official logo of Black Hawk County
Logo
Map of Iowa highlighting Black Hawk County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°28′08″N 92°18′19″W / 42.468888888889°N 92.305277777778°W / 42.468888888889; -92.305277777778
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1843
Named forBlack Hawk
SeatWaterloo
Largest cityWaterloo
Area
 • Total573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Land566 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Water6.9 sq mi (18 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total131,144
 • Density230/sq mi (88/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov

Black Hawk County is a county in the northeastern part of U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 131,144,[1] making it Iowa's fifth-most populous county. The county seat is Waterloo.[2]

Black Hawk County is part of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[3]

History

Black Hawk County was formed on February 17, 1853, from sections of Buchanan County. It was named after Black Hawk, a Sauk leader during the 1832 Black Hawk War.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 573 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 566 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 6.9 square miles (18 km2) (1.2%) is water.[5]

The Cedar River roughly divides the county in half from the northwest to the southeast corner. The land is mostly level since much of it is on the river's flood plain.

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850135—
18608,2446,006.7%
187021,706163.3%
188023,91310.2%
189024,2191.3%
190032,39933.8%
191044,86538.5%
192056,57026.1%
193069,14622.2%
194079,94615.6%
1950100,44825.6%
1960122,48221.9%
1970132,9168.5%
1980137,9613.8%
1990123,798−10.3%
2000128,0123.4%
2010131,0902.4%
2020131,1440.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[10]
Population of Black Hawk County from US census data

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 131,144 in the county, with a population density of 229.5011/sq mi (88.6109/km2). 94.55% of the population reported being of one race. 73.49% were White, 10.43% were Black, 4.92% were Hispanic, 0.32% were Native American, 2.61% were Asian, 0.65% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 7.57% were some other race or more than one race. There were 58,559 housing units of which 54,223 were occupied.[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 131,090 in the county, with a population density of 231.20/sq mi (89.27/km2). There were 55,887 housing units, of which 52,470 were occupied.[11]

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Black Hawk County

At the 2000 census there were 128,012 people, 49,683 households, and 31,946 families in the county. The population density was 226 inhabitants per square mile (87/km2). There were 51,759 housing units at an average density of 91 per square mile (35/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.42% White, 7.95% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. 1.84%.[12] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 49,683 households 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.70% were non-families. 27.10% of households were one person and 10.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

Age spread: 23.10% under the age of 18, 15.70% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.

The median household income was $37,266 and the median family income was $47,398. Males had a median income of $33,138 versus $23,394 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,885. About 7.90% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

Black Hawk County is divided into seventeen townships:

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Black Hawk County.[1]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Waterloo City 67,314
2 Cedar Falls City 40,713
3 Evansdale City 4,561
4 Hudson City 2,546
5 Jesup (mostly in Buchanan County) City 193 (2508 total)
6 La Porte City City 2,284
7 Elk Run Heights City 1,069
8 Janesville (mostly in Bremer County) City 115 (1034 total)
9 Washburn CDP 870
10 Dunkerton City 842
11 Gilbertville City 794
12 Raymond City 759

Politics

Black Hawk County has been a Democratic stronghold in Iowa since the late 1980s. In presidential politics, it is one of the most Democratic counties in Iowa. As the state swung hard to the right in the 2010s and 2020s, Black Hawk County — as a major population center, in accordance with most other population centers nationwide — has remained staunchly Democratic. In 2016, however, Donald Trump became the first Republican since 1984 to hold the Democratic candidate's margin to under 10 percent, something he repeated in 2020 albeit with reduced margins.

United States presidential election results for Black Hawk County, Iowa[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 29,640 44.51% 35,647 53.53% 1,306 1.96%
2016 27,476 42.66% 32,233 50.05% 4,696 7.29%
2012 26,235 39.07% 39,821 59.31% 1,085 1.62%
2008 24,662 38.07% 39,184 60.48% 941 1.45%
2004 28,046 43.89% 35,392 55.38% 469 0.73%
2000 23,468 42.60% 30,112 54.66% 1,505 2.73%
1996 19,322 36.38% 29,651 55.83% 4,136 7.79%
1992 21,398 34.77% 29,584 48.06% 10,568 17.17%
1988 24,112 42.93% 31,657 56.36% 402 0.72%
1984 32,262 50.23% 31,467 48.99% 504 0.78%
1980 29,627 46.49% 27,443 43.07% 6,652 10.44%
1976 30,994 50.22% 29,508 47.81% 1,213 1.97%
1972 30,929 57.51% 21,721 40.39% 1,132 2.10%
1968 25,594 51.65% 21,097 42.57% 2,863 5.78%
1964 19,744 39.08% 30,716 60.80% 56 0.11%
1960 28,435 54.11% 24,078 45.82% 38 0.07%
1956 28,250 57.99% 20,403 41.88% 66 0.14%
1952 28,671 62.01% 17,360 37.55% 203 0.44%
1948 16,041 44.28% 19,603 54.11% 586 1.62%
1944 15,687 48.37% 16,593 51.16% 154 0.47%
1940 17,132 49.61% 17,305 50.11% 95 0.28%
1936 13,666 43.14% 16,793 53.01% 1,222 3.86%
1932 14,746 49.54% 14,660 49.25% 359 1.21%
1928 19,409 69.35% 8,467 30.25% 113 0.40%
1924 15,813 65.29% 2,981 12.31% 5,427 22.41%
1920 16,920 76.56% 4,000 18.10% 1,181 5.34%
1916 6,742 59.34% 4,270 37.58% 349 3.07%
1912 1,601 15.03% 3,702 34.76% 5,346 50.20%
1908 5,437 59.67% 3,127 34.32% 548 6.01%
1904 5,236 66.90% 1,861 23.78% 730 9.33%
1900 5,010 64.39% 2,512 32.28% 259 3.33%
1896 4,643 66.05% 2,167 30.83% 220 3.13%
1892 3,483 57.08% 2,544 41.69% 75 1.23%
1888 3,106 58.50% 2,127 40.06% 76 1.43%
1884 3,153 60.21% 2,084 39.79% 0 0.00%
1880 3,014 64.57% 1,558 33.38% 96 2.06%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
  4. ^ Black Hawk County Online Archived October 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State – County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Black Hawk County, Iowa.

42°28′08″N 92°18′19″W / 42.46889°N 92.30528°W / 42.46889; -92.30528