Buena Vista County, Iowa

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Buena Vista County, Iowa
Map
Map of Iowa highlighting Buena Vista County
Location in the state of Iowa
Map of the U.S. highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded 1851
Seat Storm Lake
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

580 sq mi (1,502 km²)
575 sq mi (1,489 km²)
5 sq mi (14 km²), 0.91%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

20,411
36/sq mi (14/km²)
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website: www.co.buena-vista.ia.us

Buena Vista County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is named for the final victory field of General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War. As of 2000, the population was 20,411. Its county seat is Storm Lake.[1]

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 square miles (1,502 km²), of which, 575 square miles (1,489 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (14 km²) of it (0.91%) is water.

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] History

Buena Vista County was formed on January 15, 1851 from open land. It was named in memory of the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican-American War.[2]

[edit] Demographics

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Buena Vista County.
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Buena Vista County.
Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1900 16,975
1910 15,981 -5.9%
1920 18,556 16.1%
1930 18,667 0.6%
1940 19,838 6.3%
1950 21,113 6.4%
1960 21,189 0.4%
1970 20,693 -2.3%
1980 20,774 0.4%
1990 19,965 -3.9%
2000 20,411 2.2%
IA Counties 1900-1990

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 20,411 people, 7,499 households, and 5,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 8,145 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.00% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 4.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 5.75% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 12.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2005 Census estimates of the racial origins of Buena Vista County's population indicated it had the lowest percentage of non-Hispanic Whites of any county in Iowa. The non-Hispanic whites constituted 76.1% of the county's population, with African-Americans being 1.3%, Asians 3.9% and Latinos 18.6% of the population.[4]

There were 7,499 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,300, and the median income for a family was $41,549. Males had a median income of $29,172 versus $20,252 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,042. About 7.60% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.60% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Cities and towns

[edit] Townships

Buena Vista County is divided into sixteen townships:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ Buena Vista County
  3. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Buena Vista County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 42°44′06″N, 95°09′01″W