Black Hawk County, Iowa

County in Iowa, United States

U.S. county in Iowa

Black Hawk County

U.S. county

Black Hawk County Courthouse in Waterloo

Location within the U.S. state of Iowa

Iowa's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Iowa
Founded| 1843
Named for| Black Hawk
Seat| Waterloo
Largest city| Waterloo
Area

• Total| 573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
• Land| 566 sq mi (1,470 km2)
• Water| 6.9 sq mi (18 km2)  1.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 131,144
• Density| 230/sq mi (88/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| www.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]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Transit
* 2.3 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2020 census
* 3.2 2010 census
* 3.3 2000 census
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Census-designated place
* 4.3 Other unincorporated communities
* 4.4 Townships
* 4.5 Population ranking
* 5 Politics
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## History

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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

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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

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* Interstate 380
* U.S. Highway 20
* U.S. Highway 63
* U.S. Highway 218
* Iowa Highway 21
* Iowa Highway 27
* Iowa Highway 57
* Iowa Highway 58
* Iowa Highway 175
* Iowa Highway 281

### Transit

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* Metropolitan Transit Authority of Black Hawk County
* List of intercity bus stops in Iowa

### Adjacent counties

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* Bremer County (north)
* Buchanan County (east)
* Benton County (southeast)
* Tama County (southwest)
* Grundy County (west)
* Butler County (northwest)
* Fayette County (northeast)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1850| 135| | —
1860| 8,244| | 6,006.7%
1870| 21,706| | 163.3%
1880| 23,913| | 10.2%
1890| 24,219| | 1.3%
1900| 32,399| | 33.8%
1910| 44,865| | 38.5%
1920| 56,570| | 26.1%
1930| 69,146| | 22.2%
1940| 79,946| | 15.6%
1950| 100,448| | 25.6%
1960| 122,482| | 21.9%
1970| 132,916| | 8.5%
1980| 137,961| | 3.8%
1990| 123,798| | −10.3%
2000| 128,012| | 3.4%
2010| 131,090| | 2.4%
2020| 131,144| | 0.0%
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

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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 non-Hispanic 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

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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

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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

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### Cities

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* Cedar Falls
* Dunkerton
* Elk Run Heights
* Evansdale
* Gilbertville
* Hudson
* Janesville
* Jesup
* La Porte City
* Raymond
* Waterloo

### Census-designated place

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* Washburn

### Other unincorporated communities

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* Blessing
* Dewar
* Eagle Center
* Finchford
* Glasgow
* Voorhies

### Townships

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Black Hawk County is divided into seventeen townships:

* Barclay
* Bennington
* Big Creek
* Black Hawk
* Cedar
* Cedar Falls
* Eagle
* East Waterloo
* Fox
* Lester
* Lincoln
* Mount Vernon
* Orange
* Poyner
* Spring Creek
* Union
* Washington

### Population ranking

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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

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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.

United States presidential election results for Black Hawk County, Iowa[13][14] 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

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Black Hawk County, Iowa
* Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on the meat industry in the United States

## References

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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.
14. ^ http://geoelections.free.fr/. Retrieved January 13, 2021. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)

## External links

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

* Black Hawk County government's website

Places adjacent to Black Hawk County, Iowa

| Butler County | Bremer County | Fayette County

|
|

|  |
Grundy County |

Black Hawk County, Iowa

| Buchanan County
|  |
Tama County |  | Benton County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

County seat: Waterloo

Cities|

* Cedar Falls
* Dunkerton
* Elk Run Heights
* Evansdale
* Gilbertville
* Hudson
* Janesville‡
* Jesup‡
* La Porte City
* Raymond
* Waterloo

Map of Iowa highlighting Black Hawk County

Townships|

* Barclay
* Bennington
* Big Creek
* Black Hawk
* Cedar
* Cedar Falls
* Eagle
* East Waterloo
* Fox
* Lester
* Lincoln
* Mount Vernon
* Orange
* Poyner
* Spring Creek
* Union
* Washington

CDP|

* Washburn

Other
unincorporated
communities|

* Benson
* Blessing
* Dewar
* Eagle Center
* Finchford
* Voorhies

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Iowa

Des Moines (capital)

Topics|

* Archaeology
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Regions|

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Largest cities|

* Ames
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* Iowa City
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* Urbandale
* Waterloo
* West Des Moines

Counties|

* Adair
* Adams
* Allamakee
* Appanoose
* Audubon
* Benton
* Black Hawk
* Boone
* Bremer
* Buchanan
* Buena Vista
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* Monona
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* Muscatine
* O'Brien
* Osceola
* Page
* Palo Alto
* Plymouth
* Pocahontas
* Polk
* Pottawattamie
* Poweshiek
* Ringgold
* Sac
* Scott
* Shelby
* Sioux
* Story
* Tama
* Taylor
* Union
* Van Buren
* Wapello
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Winnebago
* Winneshiek
* Woodbury
* Worth
* Wright

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