Bremer County, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bremer County
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Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
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 Iowa's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Named for | Fredrika Bremer |
| Seat | Waverly |
| Largest city | Waverly |
| Area | |
| • Total | 439 sq mi (1,140 km2) |
| • Land | 435 sq mi (1,130 km2) |
| • Water | 3.9 sq mi (10 km2) 0.9% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 24,988 |
| • Density | 56.92/sq mi (21.977/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Bremer County (pronounced 'BREE-mer') is a special area, or county, in the northeastern part of Iowa. It's like a district within the state. In 2020, about 24,988 people lived here. The main town, called the county seat, is Waverly.
The county was named after Fredrika Bremer. She was a Swedish writer who believed strongly in equal rights for women. Bremer County is also part of the larger Waterloo and Cedar Falls city area.
Contents
What is Bremer County Like?
Land and Water
Bremer County covers about 439 square miles. Most of this area, about 435 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3.9 square miles, is water. Two important rivers, the Cedar River and the Wapsipinicon River, flow through the county.
Main Roads
Several major roads help people travel through Bremer County. These roads connect the county to other parts of Iowa and beyond.
U.S. Highway 63
U.S. Highway 218
Iowa Highway 3
Iowa Highway 27
Iowa Highway 93
Iowa Highway 188
Neighboring Counties
Bremer County shares its borders with several other counties. These are:
- Chickasaw County (to the north)
- Fayette County (to the east)
- Floyd County (to the northwest)
- Black Hawk County (to the south)
- Buchanan County (to the southeast)
- Butler County (to the west)
Who Lives in Bremer County?
Population Over Time
The number of people living in Bremer County has changed a lot over the years. The U.S. Census counts the population every ten years. You can see how the population has grown since 1860 in the chart below.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 4,915 | — | |
| 1870 | 12,528 | 154.9% | |
| 1880 | 14,081 | 12.4% | |
| 1890 | 14,630 | 3.9% | |
| 1900 | 16,305 | 11.4% | |
| 1910 | 15,843 | −2.8% | |
| 1920 | 16,728 | 5.6% | |
| 1930 | 17,046 | 1.9% | |
| 1940 | 17,932 | 5.2% | |
| 1950 | 18,884 | 5.3% | |
| 1960 | 21,108 | 11.8% | |
| 1970 | 22,737 | 7.7% | |
| 1980 | 24,820 | 9.2% | |
| 1990 | 22,813 | −8.1% | |
| 2000 | 23,325 | 2.2% | |
| 2010 | 24,276 | 4.1% | |
| 2020 | 24,988 | 2.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 25,307 | 4.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018 |
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2020 Census Snapshot
In 2020, the census counted 24,988 people in Bremer County. Most people, about 92.39%, identified as non-Hispanic White. Other groups included 0.96% Black, 2.04% Hispanic, 0.18% Native American, and 0.78% Asian.
There were 10,484 homes in the county, and 9,646 of them were lived in.
Cities and Towns by Population
Here are the main cities and towns in Bremer County, listed by how many people live in them. The symbol † means it's the county seat, which is the main administrative town.
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
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| 1 | † Waverly | City | 10,394 |
| 2 | Sumner (partially in Fayette County) | City | 2,030 |
| 3 | Denver | City | 1,919 |
| 4 | Tripoli | City | 1,191 |
| 5 | Janesville (partially in Black Hawk County) | City | 1,034 |
| 6 | Readlyn | City | 845 |
| 7 | Plainfield | City | 393 |
| 8 | Frederika | City | 204 |
Learning in Bremer County
Colleges and Schools
Bremer County has good educational opportunities. Wartburg College, a four-year college, is located in Waverly.
There are also several public school districts that serve the younger students:
- Waverly-Shell Rock School District (website)
- Waverly-Shell Rock High School
- Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School
- Margaretta Carey Elementary School
- Shell Rock Elementary
- WSR Southeast Elementary
- WSR West Cedar Elementary
- WSR Lied Campus
- St. Paul's Lutheran School (a private school)
- Denver School District (website)
- High School
- Middle School
- Elementary School
- Discoveries Preschool
- Janesville Consolidated School District (website)
- Sumner School District (website)
- S-F High School
- S-F Middle School
- Fredericksburg Elementary
- Durant Elementary
- Fredericksburg Preschool
- Sumner Preschool
- Tripoli School District (website)
Fun Things to Do and See
Bremer County Fair
The Bremer County Fair is a big event held every year in early August in Waverly. It's been happening for over 135 years! You can see farm animals, crafts, and enjoy truck and tractor pulls. There are also many shows, contests, and concerts.
Historic Buildings
Bremer County has some interesting historic buildings.
- The Bremer County Court House opened in 1937. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building recognized for its history.
- The Bremer County Historical Society and Museum was built in 1862. It used to be a stop for stagecoaches and a hotel. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Towns and Areas
Cities
Small Communities
These are smaller areas that are not officially cities or towns.
- Buck Creek
- Klinger
- Siegel
- Horton
- Waverly Junction
- Bremer
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Bremer para niños
