Poweshiek County, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Poweshiek 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 | 1843 |
| Named for | Poweshiek, Meskwaki chief |
| Seat | Montezuma |
| Largest city | Grinnell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 586 sq mi (1,520 km2) |
| • Land | 585 sq mi (1,520 km2) |
| • Water | 1.1 sq mi (3 km2) 0.2% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,662 |
| • Density | 31.846/sq mi (12.296/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Poweshiek County is a county in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,662. The county seat is Montezuma. The county is named for the chief of the Fox tribe who signed the treaty ending the Black Hawk War. It lies along Interstate 80 between Des Moines and Iowa City. Poweshiek County's largest city is Grinnell.
Contents
History
Poweshiek County was formed in 1843. It was named for Meskwaki Chief Poweshiek (1791–1854), a chief of the Meskwaki people. The Poweshiek County Courthouse, completed in 1859, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Poweshiek County Elected Officials
- County Supervisors: Chairman Jeff Tindle (R), Vice-Chair Jason Roudabush (D), Jacki Bolen (R)
- County Attorney: Bart Klaver (R)
- County Auditor: Missy Eilander (R)
- County Recorder: Lora Wyckoff (R)
- County Sheriff: Matt Maschmann (R)
- County Treasurer: Sandy Ross (R)
Healthcare
Poweshiek County is served by Grinnell Regional Medical Center, an acute care hospital licensed for 81 beds. GRMC was established in 1967 after the merger of two hospitals.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 586 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 585 square miles (1,520 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.2%) is water. It is drained by the north fork of Skunk River, which crosses the southwest corner, and by English River and other streams.
Major highways
Interstate 80
U.S. Highway 6
U.S. Highway 63
Iowa Highway 21
Iowa Highway 85
Iowa Highway 146
Transit
- List of intercity bus stops in Iowa
Adjacent counties
- Tama County (north)
- Iowa County (east)
- Keokuk County (southeast)
- Mahaska County (south)
- Jasper County (west)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 615 | — | |
| 1860 | 5,668 | 821.6% | |
| 1870 | 15,581 | 174.9% | |
| 1880 | 18,936 | 21.5% | |
| 1890 | 18,394 | −2.9% | |
| 1900 | 19,414 | 5.5% | |
| 1910 | 19,589 | 0.9% | |
| 1920 | 19,910 | 1.6% | |
| 1930 | 18,727 | −5.9% | |
| 1940 | 18,758 | 0.2% | |
| 1950 | 19,344 | 3.1% | |
| 1960 | 19,300 | −0.2% | |
| 1970 | 18,803 | −2.6% | |
| 1980 | 19,306 | 2.7% | |
| 1990 | 19,033 | −1.4% | |
| 2000 | 18,815 | −1.1% | |
| 2010 | 18,914 | 0.5% | |
| 2020 | 18,662 | −1.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 18,453 | −2.4% | |
| 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 18,662 in the county, with a population density of 31.7989/sq mi (12.2776/km2). 96.55% of the population reported being of one race. There were 8,906 housing units, of which 7,536 were occupied.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 17,004 | 91.11% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 320 | 1.7% |
| Native American (NH) | 53 | 0.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 221 | 1.2% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 21 | 0.11% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 514 | 2.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 529 | 2.83% |
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 18,914 in the county, with a population density of 32.3300/sq mi (12.4827/km2). There were 8,949 housing units, of which 7,555 were occupied.
Education
Poweshiek County is served by three community school districts:
| District | Location | Num of campuses (inc. parochial) |
Num of students |
Student– teacher ratio |
High school | District web site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGM Community School District (Brooklyn–Guernsey–Malcom) |
Brooklyn | 1 | 532 | - | BGM | BGM |
| Grinnell–Newburg Community School District | Grinnell | 6 | 1,475 | - | Grinnell | Grinnell |
| Montezuma Community School District | Montezuma | 1 | 537 | - | Montezuma | Montezuma |
Poweshiek County is home to Grinnell College, a small liberal arts college founded in 1846.
There is one private school in the county, Central Iowa Christian School, in Grinnell.
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated communities
- Ewart
Population
Census-designated places
- Holiday Lake
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Poweshiek County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
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| 1 | Grinnell | City | 9,564 |
| 2 | Brooklyn | City | 1,502 |
| 3 | † Montezuma | City | 1,442 |
| 4 | Victor (mostly in Iowa County) | City | 875 |
| 5 | Holiday Lake | CDP | 473 |
| 6 | Malcom | City | 270 |
| 7 | Deep River | City | 249 |
| 8 | Barnes City (partially in Mahaska County) | City | 156 |
| 9 | Searsboro | City | 129 |
| 10 | Hartwick | City | 92 |
| 11 | Guernsey | City | 63 |
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Poweshiek para niños
