Cedar County, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cedar County
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Cedar 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 | Cedar River |
| Seat | Tipton |
| Largest city | Tipton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 582 sq mi (1,510 km2) |
| • Land | 579 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Water | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) 0.4% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,505  |
| • Density | 32/sq mi (12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Cedar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,505. Its county seat is Tipton. The county is named for the Cedar River, which runs through the county.
Cedar County is located between the Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities and Iowa City metropolitan areas, areas also known as the "Tri-Metro" county. It is the only Iowa county which shares the name of a tree. Cedar County was the focus of the Iowa Cow War of 1931.
Contents
History
Cedar County was formed on December 21, 1837, from sections of Dubuque County. It was named for the Cedar River.
In 1840, the City of Tipton, the current county seat, was established.
Before the Civil War, the area around West Branch was an active focal point of the Underground Railroad, a network for the freeing of slaves from the southern states.
The former US President Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) was born in West Branch in Cedar County.
The Cedar County Sheriff's House and Jail is believed to be the last jail and residence combination still in use when it closed in 2001. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 582 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 579 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) (0.4%) is water. Rock Creek flows through Cedar County.
Major highways
Interstate 80
U.S. Highway 6
U.S. Highway 30
Iowa Highway 38
Iowa Highway 130
Adjacent counties
- Jones County (north)
- Clinton County (northeast)
- Scott County (southeast)
- Muscatine County (south)
- Johnson County (west)
- Linn County (northwest)
National protected area
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 3,941 | — | |
| 1860 | 12,949 | 228.6% | |
| 1870 | 19,731 | 52.4% | |
| 1880 | 18,936 | −4.0% | |
| 1890 | 18,253 | −3.6% | |
| 1900 | 19,371 | 6.1% | |
| 1910 | 17,765 | −8.3% | |
| 1920 | 17,560 | −1.2% | |
| 1930 | 16,760 | −4.6% | |
| 1940 | 16,884 | 0.7% | |
| 1950 | 16,910 | 0.2% | |
| 1960 | 17,791 | 5.2% | |
| 1970 | 17,655 | −0.8% | |
| 1980 | 18,635 | 5.6% | |
| 1990 | 17,444 | −6.4% | |
| 2000 | 18,187 | 4.3% | |
| 2010 | 18,499 | 1.7% | |
| 2020 | 18,505 | 0.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 18,302 | −1.1% | |
| 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 18,505 in the county, with a population density of 31.7402/sq mi (12.2550/km2). 96.29% of the population reported being of one race. 91.92% were non-Hispanic White, 0.45% were Black, 2.50% were Hispanic, 0.28% were Native American, 0.34% were Asian, 0.01% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.51% were some other race or more than one race. There were 8,190 housing units of which 7,594 were occupied.
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,956 in the county, with a population density of 31.89/sq mi (12.31/km2). There were 8,064 housing units, of which 7,511 were occupied.
Communities
Cities
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
- Buchanan
- Cedar Bluff
- Cedar Valley
- Centerdale
- Downey
- Lime City
- Plato
- Massillon
- Springdale
- Sunbury
- Wald
Townships
Cedar County is divided into seventeen townships:
- Cass
- Center
- Dayton
- Fairfield
- Farmington
- Fremont
- Gower
- Inland
- Iowa
- Linn
- Massillon
- Pioneer
- Red Oak
- Rochester
- Springdale
- Springfield
- Sugar Creek
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Cedar County. † county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
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| 1 | † Tipton | City | 3,149 |
| 2 | Wilton (mostly in Muscatine County) | City | 2,924 |
| 3 | West Branch (partially in Johnson County) | City | 2,509 |
| 4 | Durant (partially in Muscatine and Scott Counties) | City | 1,871 |
| 5 | Clarence | City | 1,039 |
| 6 | Mechanicsville | City | 1,020 |
| 7 | Lowden | City | 807 |
| 8 | Stanwood | City | 637 |
| 9 | Bennett | City | 347 |
| 10 | Rochester | CDP | 142 |
Notable people
- Herbert Hoover (1874–1964), the 31st President of the United States (1929–1933) and the first president born west of the Mississippi River (born in West Branch in 1874).
- John Brown (1800–1859), abolitionist, maintained his headquarters at William Maxson's house near the small community of Springdale in Cedar County while planning his Harpers Ferry raid; Edwin and Barclay Coppock of Springdale participated in the raid.
- Lawrie Tatum (1822–1900), an Indian Agent to the Kiowa and Comanche tribes and, beginning in 1884, guardian to future President Herbert Hoover.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Cedar (Iowa) para niños
