Butler County, Iowa

County in Iowa, United States

U.S. county in Iowa

Butler County

U.S. county

Butler County Courthouse

Butler County Courthouse

Map of Iowa highlighting Butler County

Location within the U.S. state of Iowa

Iowa's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Iowa
Founded| 1851
Named for| William Orlando Butler
Seat| Allison
Largest city| Parkersburg
Area

• Total| 582 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Land| 580 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water| 1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.3%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 14,334
• Density| 25/sq mi (9.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| butlercounty.iowa.gov

Butler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,334.[1] Its county seat is Allison.[2] The county was organized in 1854 and named for General William O. Butler.[3]

## Contents

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

## History

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Butler County was formed on January 15, 1851, from open land. It was named after Kentucky native William Orlando Butler, a general and hero of the Mexican–American War, who ran as Vice President of the United States in 1848. Until 1854, the county was governed by other counties. Only at this time did it have enough inhabitants to establish its own local government. The first court proceedings were conducted in a small log cabin of a settler. In 1858, the first courthouse was completed in Clarksville. After it was sold shortly thereafter to the local school district, it was used as a schoolhouse from 1863 until 1903.

Clarksville was the first county seat, from 1854 to 1860, after which Butler Center became the seat. Because locals became disenchanted with Butler Center (partially because of its inaccessibility during the winter), Allison was made the county seat on January 10, 1881, after the tracks of the Dubuque and Dakota Railroad had been laid there.

Butler County is the only county in Iowa that does not have any stop lights, four-lane roads (US Highway or interstate), a hospital, or a movie theatre. There are also no national fast-food chains in Butler county.

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 582 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]

### Major highways

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* Iowa Highway 3
* File:Elongated circle 14.svg Iowa Highway 14
* Iowa Highway 57
* Iowa Highway 188

### Adjacent counties

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* Floyd County (north)
* Bremer County (east)
* Black Hawk County (southeast)
* Grundy County (south)
* Franklin County (west)
* Chickasaw County (northeast)
* Cerro Gordo County (northwest)
* Hardin County (southwest)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 3,724| | —
1870| 9,951| | 167.2%
1880| 14,293| | 43.6%
1890| 15,463| | 8.2%
1900| 17,955| | 16.1%
1910| 17,119| | −4.7%
1920| 17,845| | 4.2%
1930| 17,617| | −1.3%
1940| 17,986| | 2.1%
1950| 17,394| | −3.3%
1960| 17,467| | 0.4%
1970| 16,953| | −2.9%
1980| 17,668| | 4.2%
1990| 15,731| | −11.0%
2000| 15,305| | −2.7%
2010| 14,867| | −2.9%
2020| 14,334| | −3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2018[9]
File:ButlerCountyIowaPop2020.pngPopulation of Butler County from US census data

### 2020 census

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The 2020 census recorded a population of 14,334 in the county, with a population density of 24.5860/sq mi (9.4927/km2). 97.49% of the population reported being of one race. 95.19% were non-Hispanic White, 0.18% were Black, 1.28% were Hispanic, 0.17% were Native American, 0.20% were Asian, 0.00% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 2.99% were some other race or more than one race. There were 6,536 housing units of which 5,992 were occupied.[1]

### 2010 census

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The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,867 in the county, with a population density of 25.63/sq mi (9.90/km2). There were 6,682 housing units, of which 6,120 were occupied.[10]

### 2000 census

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File:USA Butler County, Iowa age pyramid.svg2000 Census Age Pyramid for Butler County

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 15,305 people, 6,175 households, and 4,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10/km2). There were 6,578 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.95% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,175 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.80% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,883, and the median income for a family was $42,209. Males had a median income of $30,356 versus $20,864 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,036. About 6.50% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Allison
* Aplington
* Aredale
* Bristow
* Clarksville
* Dumont
* Greene
* New Hartford
* Parkersburg
* Shell Rock

### Unincorporated communities

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* Austinville
* Kesley

### Townships

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Butler County is divided into sixteen townships:

* Albion
* Beaver
* Bennezette
* Butler
* Coldwater
* Dayton
* Fremont
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Madison
* Monroe
* Pittsford
* Ripley
* Shell Rock
* Washington
* West Point

### Population ranking

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

† county seat

Rank  | City/Town/etc.  | Municipal type  | Population (2020 Census)

|
|
|

1  | Parkersburg | City  | 2,015
2  | Shell Rock | City  | 1,268
3  | Clarksville | City  | 1,264
4  | Aplington | City  | 1,116
5  | Greene (partially in Floyd County)  | City  | 990
6  | † Allison | City  | 966
7  | Dumont | City  | 634
8  | New Hartford | City  | 570
9  | Bristow | City  | 145
10  | Aredale | City  | 62

## Politics

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United States presidential election results for Butler County, Iowa[12] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 5,542  | 68.44% | 2,424  | 29.93%  | 132  | 1.63%
2016 | 4,921  | 65.50% | 2,157  | 28.71%  | 435  | 5.79%
2012 | 4,106  | 54.42% | 3,329  | 44.12%  | 110  | 1.46%
2008 | 3,700  | 51.63% | 3,364  | 46.94%  | 102  | 1.42%
2004 | 4,417  | 59.09% | 3,001  | 40.15%  | 57  | 0.76%
2000 | 3,837  | 57.06% | 2,735  | 40.68%  | 152  | 2.26%
1996 | 3,036  | 45.78%  | 3,061  | 46.16% | 534  | 8.05%
1992 | 3,209  | 44.96% | 2,548  | 35.70%  | 1,380  | 19.34%
1988 | 3,523  | 57.32% | 2,593  | 42.19%  | 30  | 0.49%
1984 | 4,570  | 66.00% | 2,323  | 33.55%  | 31  | 0.45%
1980 | 4,730  | 65.90% | 1,990  | 27.73%  | 457  | 6.37%
1976 | 4,207  | 61.79% | 2,503  | 36.77%  | 98  | 1.44%
1972 | 4,615  | 71.82% | 1,682  | 26.17%  | 129  | 2.01%
1968 | 4,651  | 70.59% | 1,673  | 25.39%  | 265  | 4.02%
1964 | 3,462  | 50.67% | 3,370  | 49.33%  | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 5,345  | 70.18% | 2,268  | 29.78%  | 3  | 0.04%
1956 | 5,669  | 71.21% | 2,289  | 28.75%  | 3  | 0.04%
1952 | 6,360  | 77.47% | 1,836  | 22.36%  | 14  | 0.17%
1948 | 3,380  | 51.90% | 3,008  | 46.18%  | 125  | 1.92%
1944 | 4,182  | 65.03% | 2,225  | 34.60%  | 24  | 0.37%
1940 | 4,848  | 63.56% | 2,760  | 36.18%  | 20  | 0.26%
1936 | 3,604  | 47.73%  | 3,786  | 50.14% | 161  | 2.13%
1932 | 3,012  | 42.33%  | 4,028  | 56.60% | 76  | 1.07%
1928 | 4,789  | 71.50% | 1,876  | 28.01%  | 33  | 0.49%
1924 | 3,823  | 59.57% | 667  | 10.39%  | 1,928  | 30.04%
1920 | 5,900  | 86.69% | 830  | 12.20%  | 76  | 1.12%
1916 | 2,722  | 72.45% | 977  | 26.00%  | 58  | 1.54%
1912 | 903  | 25.82%  | 926  | 26.48%  | 1,668  | 47.70%
1908 | 2,467  | 69.32% | 994  | 27.93%  | 98  | 2.75%
1904 | 2,743  | 74.99% | 815  | 22.28%  | 100  | 2.73%
1900 | 2,902  | 70.01% | 1,167  | 28.15%  | 76  | 1.83%
1896 | 2,670  | 66.07% | 1,302  | 32.22%  | 69  | 1.71%

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Butler County, Iowa

## 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. ^ "Butler County's History". Butler County, Iowa. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
10. ^ "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.[dead link]
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Butler County, Iowa.

* Butler County Tribune-Journal

Places adjacent to Butler County, Iowa

| Cerro Gordo County | Floyd County | Chickasaw County

|
|

|  |
Franklin County |

Butler County

| Bremer County
|  |
Hardin County | Grundy County | Black Hawk County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Butler County, Iowa, United States

County seat: Allison

Cities|

* Allison
* Aplington
* Aredale
* Bristow
* Clarksville
* Dumont
* Greene‡
* New Hartford
* Parkersburg
* Shell Rock

File:Map of Iowa highlighting Butler County.svgMap of Iowa highlighting Butler County

Townships|

* Albion
* Beaver
* Bennezette
* Butler
* Coldwater
* Dayton
* Fremont
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Madison
* Monroe
* Pittsford
* Ripley
* Shell Rock
* Washington
* West Point

Unincorporated
communities|

* Austinville
* Eleanor
* Kesley
* Vilmar

Footnotes|

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

* United States portal

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State of Iowa

Des Moines (capital)

Topics|

* Archaeology
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Regions|

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Largest cities|

* Ames
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Counties|

* Adair
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* Page
* Palo Alto
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* Poweshiek
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* Sac
* Scott
* Shelby
* Sioux
* Story
* Tama
* Taylor
* Union
* Van Buren
* Wapello
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Winnebago
* Winneshiek
* Woodbury
* Worth
* Wright

Coordinates: 42°43′54″N 92°47′29″W﻿ / ﻿42.73167°N 92.79139°W﻿ / 42.73167; -92.79139
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