Iowa County, Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
 Iowa County Courthouse in March 2013 | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWisconsin | |
 Wisconsin's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:43°00′N90°08′W / 43°N 90.13°W /43; -90.13 | |
| 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 (2024) | 23,963 |
| • Density | 31.1/sq mi (12.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Iowa County is acounty in theU.S. state ofWisconsin. As of the2020 census, the population was 23,709.[1] Itscounty seat and largest city isDodgeville.[2] When created, it was part of theMichigan Territory. Iowa County is part of theMadison, Wisconsin,Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The county organized under theMichigan Territory government[3][4] in 1830.[5] It was named for theIowa tribe.[6][7]
According to theU.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 thePecatonica River,[9] which has itsheadwaters 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.
Iowa County is served by Lamers Connect which offers two buses a day, one traveling east to Madison andMilwaukee and one west toDubuque via its Dodgeville stop.
| 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% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 23,963 | [10] | 1.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[1] | |||
As of thecensus of 2020,[1] the population was 23,709. Thepopulation 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 orAfrican American, 0.2%Native American, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 0.9% fromother races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.9%Hispanic orLatino of any race.
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 22,780 people, 8,764 households, and 6,213 families residing in the county. Thepopulation 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 orAfrican American, 0.11%Native American, 0.34%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.11% fromother races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.33% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 33.6% were ofGerman, 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% weremarried 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.
| 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 sinceGeorge 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 Democrat winner of the county to a single-digit margin of victory.[18]
The county has several parks, includingArena Pines-Sand Barrens State Natural Area, Pine Cliff State Natural Area,Blue Mound State Park,Tower Hill State Park, Black Hawk Lake Recreation Area andGovernor Dodge State Park.[19][20]
Places adjacent to Iowa County, Wisconsin | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofIowa County, Wisconsin,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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