Iowa County, Wisconsin

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
Iowa County Courthouse in March 2013
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Iowa County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°00′N 90°08′W / 43°N 90.13°W / 43; -90.13
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1830
Named forIowa people
SeatDodgeville
Largest cityDodgeville
Area
 • Total
768 sq mi (1,990 km2)
 • Land763 sq mi (1,980 km2)
 • Water5.4 sq mi (14 km2)  0.7%
Population
 • Total
23,709
 • Estimate 
(2023)
23,956 Increase
 • Density31.1/sq mi (12.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.iowacounty.org

History

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Pendarvis House (left) and Trelawny House (right) at the Pendarvis historic site
 
Mineral Point high street

The county organized under the Michigan Territory government[3][4] in 1830.[5] It was named for the Iowa tribe.[6][7]

Geography

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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

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Major highways

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Railroads

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Buses

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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

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18403,978
18509,525139.4%
186018,96799.1%
187024,54429.4%
188023,628−3.7%
189022,117−6.4%
190023,1144.5%
191022,497−2.7%
192021,504−4.4%
193020,039−6.8%
194020,5952.8%
195019,610−4.8%
196019,6310.1%
197019,306−1.7%
198019,8022.6%
199020,1501.8%
200022,78013.1%
201023,6874.0%
202023,7090.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 23,709. 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). The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% White, 0.8% Asian, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

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2000 Census Age Pyramid for Iowa County.

As of the census[15] 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

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United States presidential election results for Iowa County, Wisconsin[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 6,631 45.18% 7,750 52.80% 296 2.02%
2020 5,909 42.23% 7,828 55.95% 255 1.82%
2016 4,809 39.18% 6,669 54.33% 797 6.49%
2012 4,287 34.20% 8,105 64.66% 142 1.13%
2008 3,829 31.99% 7,987 66.73% 153 1.28%
2004 5,348 42.64% 7,122 56.79% 72 0.57%
2000 4,221 40.04% 5,842 55.42% 478 4.53%
1996 2,866 32.14% 4,690 52.60% 1,360 15.25%
1992 3,288 32.39% 4,467 44.01% 2,396 23.60%
1988 4,240 49.60% 4,268 49.93% 40 0.47%
1984 4,983 56.01% 3,843 43.19% 71 0.80%
1980 4,068 45.24% 4,154 46.20% 770 8.56%
1976 4,195 48.34% 4,252 49.00% 231 2.66%
1972 4,387 57.53% 3,131 41.06% 108 1.42%
1968 4,005 54.03% 2,897 39.08% 511 6.89%
1964 3,275 41.42% 4,620 58.43% 12 0.15%
1960 5,143 59.16% 3,547 40.80% 4 0.05%
1956 5,201 61.79% 3,176 37.73% 40 0.48%
1952 6,211 69.38% 2,722 30.41% 19 0.21%
1948 3,745 48.05% 3,917 50.26% 132 1.69%
1944 4,608 56.00% 3,585 43.57% 35 0.43%
1940 4,978 54.46% 4,025 44.04% 137 1.50%
1936 3,623 39.84% 4,988 54.85% 483 5.31%
1932 3,113 39.63% 4,621 58.82% 122 1.55%
1928 5,484 63.26% 3,129 36.09% 56 0.65%
1924 3,291 40.07% 689 8.39% 4,233 51.54%
1920 5,428 81.42% 942 14.13% 297 4.45%
1916 2,271 48.78% 2,230 47.90% 155 3.33%
1912 1,886 40.26% 2,103 44.90% 695 14.84%
1908 2,986 56.18% 2,077 39.08% 252 4.74%
1904 3,328 64.58% 1,639 31.81% 186 3.61%
1900 3,270 62.51% 1,743 33.32% 218 4.17%
1896 3,115 57.42% 2,060 37.97% 250 4.61%
1892 2,274 45.53% 2,336 46.77% 385 7.71%

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.

Parks and recreation

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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.[17][18]

Communities

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Iowa County Department of Transportation building in Dodgeville

Cities

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Villages

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Iowa County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Iowa County Wisconsin". Wisconsin Travel. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  4. ^ Pioneer Lawmakers' Association of Iowa (1894). Reunion. G.H. Ragsdal. p. 32.
  5. ^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  6. ^ "Profile for Iowa County, Wisconsin, WI". ePodunk. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  7. ^ "Term: Iowa County [origin of place name]". Wisconsin Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  9. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Iowa. I. A S. W. county of Wisconsin" . The American Cyclopædia.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "Iowa County, Wisconsin (WI)". City-Data.com. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  18. ^ "Iowa County Attractions". explore Wisconsin. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  19. ^ "LAWS, Gilbert Lafayette, (1838 - 1907)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 30, 2014.

Further reading

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43°00′N 90°08′W / 43.00°N 90.13°W / 43.00; -90.13