Butler County, Iowa

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Butler County, Iowa
Map
Map of Iowa highlighting Butler 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 Allison
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

582 sq mi (1,507 km²)
580 sq mi (1,502 km²)
1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.20%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

15,305
26/sq mi (10/km²)
Website: www.butlercoiowa.org

Butler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It was organized in 1854 and named for General William O. Butler.[1] As of 2000, the population is 15,305. Its county seat is Allison.[2]

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 582 square miles (1,506 km²), of which, 580 square miles (1,503 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.20%) is water.

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] History

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.

When the tracks of the Dubuque and Dakota Railroad were laid through Allison, the seat was moved there on January 10, 1881. Allison was named after the Dubuque native Republican politician, lawyer and senator William B. Allison.[1]

[edit] Demographics

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Butler County.
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Butler County.
Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1900 17,955
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%
IA Counties 1900-1990

As of the census[3] 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.

[edit] Cities and towns

[edit] Unincorporated

[edit] Townships

Butler County is divided into sixteen townships:

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b History of Butler County. Butler County, Iowa. Retrieved on 2008-01-18.
  2. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

Coordinates: 42°43′54″N, 92°47′29″W