Cedar County, Iowa

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Wikipedia

Cedar County, Iowa
County
Cedar County Courthouse
Cedar County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Cedar County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Coordinates: 41°46′05″N 91°07′43″W / 41.768055555556°N 91.128611111111°W / 41.768055555556; -91.128611111111
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1837
Named afterCedar River
SeatTipton
Largest cityTipton
Area
 • Total
582 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land579 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
18,505
 • Estimate 
(2024)
18,231 Decrease
 • Density32.0/sq mi (12.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitecedarcounty.iowa.gov
  • Iowa county number 16[1]

Cedar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,505.[2] Its county seat is Tipton.[3] The county is named for the Cedar River, which runs through the county.

Cedar County is located between the Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, and Iowa City metropolitan areas, also known as the "Tri-Metro" county. It is the only Iowa county that shares its name with a tree.

History

Cedar County was formed on December 21, 1837, from sections of Dubuque County. It was named for the Cedar River.

In 1840, the City of Tipton, the current county seat, was established.

Before the Civil War, the area around West Branch was an active focal point of the Underground Railroad, a network for the freeing of slaves from the southern states.

The former US President Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) was born in West Branch in Cedar County.[4]

In 1931, Cedar County was the battleground for the Iowa Cow War, where multiple violent disputes over the testing of cattle for bovine tuberculosis occurred.[5]

The Cedar County Sheriff's House and Jail is believed to be the last jail and residence combination still in use when it closed in 2001.[6] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 582 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 579 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7] Rock Creek flows through Cedar County.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,941—
186012,949228.6%
187019,73152.4%
188018,936−4.0%
189018,253−3.6%
190019,3716.1%
191017,765−8.3%
192017,560−1.2%
193016,760−4.6%
194016,8840.7%
195016,9100.2%
196017,7915.2%
197017,655−0.8%
198018,6355.6%
199017,444−6.4%
200018,1874.3%
201018,4991.7%
202018,5050.0%
2024 (est.)18,231[8]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[13]
Population of Cedar County from US census data

2020 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Cedar County from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 18,505 and a population density of 31.7/sq mi (12.3/km2). The median age was 43.6 years, 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.0 males age 18 and over.[14]

96.29% of the population reported being of one race.[14] The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.5% of the population.[15]

There were 7,594 households in the county, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.4% were married-couple households, 17.3% 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 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 8,190 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.2% were owner-occupied and 19.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[14]

Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,956 in the county, with a population density of 31.9/sq mi (12.3/km2). There were 8,064 housing units, of which 7,511 were occupied.[17]

2000 census

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 18,187 people, 7,147 households, and 5,138 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 7,570 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.47% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,147 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,198, and the median income for a family was $48,850. Males had a median income of $32,008 versus $23,260 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,200. About 4.00% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.00% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Cedar County is divided into seventeen townships:

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Cedar County.[2] † county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Tipton City 3,149
2 Wilton (mostly in Muscatine County) City 2,924
3 West Branch (partially in Johnson County) City 2,509
4 Durant (partially in Muscatine and Scott Counties) City 1,871
5 Clarence City 1,039
6 Mechanicsville City 1,020
7 Lowden City 807
8 Stanwood City 637
9 Bennett City 347
10 Rochester CDP 142

Notable people

Politics

Cedar County, like nearby Louisa County, is a reliable bellwether for the state of Iowa, having voted for the statewide winner in every presidential election since 1952.

United States presidential election results for Cedar County, Iowa[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1896 2,717 54.50% 2,128 42.69% 140 2.81%
1900 2,740 55.19% 2,131 42.92% 94 1.89%
1904 2,691 56.94% 1,926 40.75% 109 2.31%
1908 2,455 54.17% 1,986 43.82% 91 2.01%
1912 1,036 23.44% 1,938 43.85% 1,446 32.71%
1916 2,862 63.56% 1,595 35.42% 46 1.02%
1920 5,697 77.88% 1,420 19.41% 198 2.71%
1924 4,625 60.74% 1,478 19.41% 1,512 19.86%
1928 4,856 65.49% 2,517 33.94% 42 0.57%
1932 3,277 40.62% 4,718 58.48% 73 0.90%
1936 3,686 44.76% 4,385 53.25% 164 1.99%
1940 5,521 62.45% 3,293 37.25% 26 0.29%
1944 4,673 63.95% 2,610 35.72% 24 0.33%
1948 3,957 56.40% 2,958 42.16% 101 1.44%
1952 6,176 71.48% 2,447 28.32% 17 0.20%
1956 5,344 64.71% 2,912 35.26% 2 0.02%
1960 5,217 61.92% 3,203 38.02% 5 0.06%
1964 3,106 40.16% 4,617 59.69% 12 0.16%
1968 4,494 59.02% 2,675 35.13% 445 5.84%
1972 4,452 63.39% 2,465 35.10% 106 1.51%
1976 4,308 55.08% 3,354 42.88% 160 2.05%
1980 4,398 56.41% 2,589 33.21% 810 10.39%
1984 4,617 59.59% 3,086 39.83% 45 0.58%
1988 3,373 45.10% 4,032 53.91% 74 0.99%
1992 2,965 35.98% 3,296 40.00% 1,979 24.02%
1996 2,966 38.64% 3,856 50.23% 854 11.13%
2000 4,031 48.31% 4,033 48.33% 280 3.36%
2004 4,869 50.23% 4,747 48.97% 78 0.80%
2008 4,289 44.38% 5,221 54.02% 155 1.60%
2012 4,529 46.94% 4,972 51.53% 148 1.53%
2016 5,295 55.50% 3,599 37.72% 647 6.78%
2020 6,161 57.56% 4,337 40.52% 205 1.92%
2024 6,390 60.03% 4,075 38.28% 179 1.68%

Education

School districts include:[20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Iowa County Names and Numbers". Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Burner, David (1996). Herbert Hoover: A Public Life. Easton Press.
  5. ↑ "Cow War". Iowa State University - University Library Online Exhibits. Iowa State University Library. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  6. ↑ Oltrogge, Sarah. "Properties Listed on National Register of Historic Places Earn Recognition". State Historical Society of Iowa. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  13. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  15. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  16. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 – State – County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  20. ↑ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Cedar County, IA (PDF) (Map). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2025. - Text list

41°46′N 91°08′W / 41.767°N 91.133°W / 41.767; -91.133