Buchanan County, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buchanan County
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Buchanan County Courthouse
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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 | 1837 |
| Named for | James Buchanan |
| Seat | Independence |
| Largest city | Independence |
| Area | |
| • Total | 573 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
| • Land | 571 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
| • Water | 2.1 sq mi (5 km2) 0.4% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 20,565 |
| • Density | 35.89/sq mi (13.857/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Buchanan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,565. Its county seat is Independence. The county was created in 1837 and was named in honor of Senator James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States.
Contents
History
Buchanan County was formed on December 21, 1837, from parts of Dubuque County. It was named after US Senator James Buchanan, who would later go on to be President of the United States.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (0.4%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 380
U.S. Highway 20
Iowa Highway 27
Iowa Highway 150
Iowa Highway 187
Iowa Highway 281
Adjacent counties
- Clayton County (northeast)
- Fayette County (north)
- Delaware County (east)
- Linn County (southeast)
- Benton County (southwest)
- Black Hawk County (west)
- Bremer County (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 517 | — | |
| 1860 | 7,906 | 1,429.2% | |
| 1870 | 17,034 | 115.5% | |
| 1880 | 18,546 | 8.9% | |
| 1890 | 18,997 | 2.4% | |
| 1900 | 21,427 | 12.8% | |
| 1910 | 19,748 | −7.8% | |
| 1920 | 19,890 | 0.7% | |
| 1930 | 19,550 | −1.7% | |
| 1940 | 20,991 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 21,927 | 4.5% | |
| 1960 | 22,293 | 1.7% | |
| 1970 | 21,746 | −2.5% | |
| 1980 | 22,900 | 5.3% | |
| 1990 | 20,844 | −9.0% | |
| 2000 | 21,093 | 1.2% | |
| 2010 | 20,958 | −0.6% | |
| 2020 | 20,565 | −1.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 20,691 | −1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018 |
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2020 census
The 2020 census recorded a population of 20,565 in the county, with a population density of 35.9886/sq mi (13.8953/km2). 97.06% of the population reported being of one race. 94.13% were non-Hispanic White, 0.35% were Black, 1.64% were Hispanic, 0.14% were Native American, 0.25% were Asian, 0.06% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 3.43% were some other race or more than one race. There were 8,886 housing units of which 8,198 were occupied.
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,958 in the county, with a population density of 36.70/sq mi (14.17/km2). There were 8,968 housing units, of which 8,161 were occupied.
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated communities
- Bryantsburg
- Doris
- Gatesville
- Littleton
- Monti
- Otterville
- Shady Grove
A number of historic communities in Buchanan County once appeared on state maps, but no longer exist. Hamerville was located east of Brandon at the intersection of Highway 150. Today, the site is the location of three farmhouses. Vista, once located between Brandon and Independence, appeared on maps frequently until the 1950s. This site is not even accessed by paved road. Kier, between Fairbank and Littleton, appeared on many maps in the 19th century and early 20th century. The area is now settled by Amish. Several towns named Middlefield existed southeast of Winthrop, but none are populated today. Newtonville was located a few miles south of Monti. The houses at Castleville were later moved to Aurora. Wise, once located between Independence and Jesup just north of Highway 939, was a train-stop between the 1920s and the 1950s. Little remains at the site. Kiene was founded in 1911 between Quasqueton and Monti, but was empty by 1955. Few or even no houses remain at any of these sites.
Townships
Buchanan County is divided into sixteen townships:
- Buffalo
- Byron
- Cono
- Fairbank
- Fremont
- Hazleton
- Homer
- Jefferson
- Liberty
- Madison
- Middlefield
- Newton
- Perry
- Sumner
- Washington
- Westburg
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Buchanan County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
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| 1 | † Independence | City | 6,064 |
| 2 | Jesup (partially in Black Hawk County) | City | 2,508 |
| 3 | Fairbank (partially in Fayette County) | City | 1,111 |
| 4 | Winthrop | City | 823 |
| 5 | Hazleton | City | 713 |
| 6 | Quasqueton | City | 570 |
| 7 | Lamont | City | 429 |
| 8 | Brandon | City | 341 |
| 9 | Rowley | City | 270 |
| 10 | Aurora | City | 169 |
| 11 | Stanley (partially in Fayette County) | City | 81 |
Education
School districts in the county include:
- East Buchanan Community School District
- Independence Community School District
- Jesup Community School District
- North Linn Community School District
- Oelwein Community School District
- Starmont Community School District
- Union Community School District
- Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District
- Wapsie Valley Community School District
- West Delaware County Community School District
In the period prior to July 1966 the county had two school districts, serving Amish groups, which did not operate high schools. The Iowa legislature had passed a law requiring school districts which did not operate school districts to merge into ones that did.
Amish community
Buchanan County is home to the Hazleton Old Order Amish settlement, founded in 1914, that in 1987 had to six church districts (congregations) with an estimated population of about 1,200 Amish. The Buchanan Amish affiliation is named after Buchanan County.
Notable people
- James "Jim" Smith, murdered Iowa State Trooper
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Buchanan (Iowa) para niños
