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Cedar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,505.[1] Its county seat is Tipton.[2] The county is named for the Cedar River, which runs through the county.
Cedar County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Iowa | |
 Iowa's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 41°46′05″N 91°07′43″W | |
| 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) | |
• Total | 18,505  |
| • Density | 32/sq mi (12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | cedarcounty |
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.
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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.[3]
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.[4] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
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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.[5] Rock Creek flows through Cedar County.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Jones County (north)
- Clinton County (northeast)
- Scott County (southeast)
- Muscatine County (south)
- Johnson County (west)
- Linn County (northwest)
National protected area
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | [6] | −1.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[11] | |||
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.[1]
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.[12]
2000 census
As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 18,187 people, 7,147 households, and 5,138 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 7,570 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.47% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,147 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,198, and the median income for a family was $48,850. Males had a median income of $32,008 versus $23,260 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,200. About 4.00% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.00% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.
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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:
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Cedar County.[1] † county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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- 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.
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Cedar County, like nearby Louisa County, is a reliable bellwether for the state of Iowa, having voted for the statewide winner in every presidential election since 1952.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 6,390 | 60.03% | 4,075 | 38.28% | 179 | 1.68% |
| 2020 | 6,161 | 57.56% | 4,337 | 40.52% | 205 | 1.92% |
| 2016 | 5,295 | 55.50% | 3,599 | 37.72% | 647 | 6.78% |
| 2012 | 4,529 | 46.94% | 4,972 | 51.53% | 148 | 1.53% |
| 2008 | 4,289 | 44.38% | 5,221 | 54.02% | 155 | 1.60% |
| 2004 | 4,869 | 50.23% | 4,747 | 48.97% | 78 | 0.80% |
| 2000 | 4,031 | 48.31% | 4,033 | 48.33% | 280 | 3.36% |
| 1996 | 2,966 | 38.64% | 3,856 | 50.23% | 854 | 11.13% |
| 1992 | 2,965 | 35.98% | 3,296 | 40.00% | 1,979 | 24.02% |
| 1988 | 3,373 | 45.10% | 4,032 | 53.91% | 74 | 0.99% |
| 1984 | 4,617 | 59.59% | 3,086 | 39.83% | 45 | 0.58% |
| 1980 | 4,398 | 56.41% | 2,589 | 33.21% | 810 | 10.39% |
| 1976 | 4,308 | 55.08% | 3,354 | 42.88% | 160 | 2.05% |
| 1972 | 4,452 | 63.39% | 2,465 | 35.10% | 106 | 1.51% |
| 1968 | 4,494 | 59.02% | 2,675 | 35.13% | 445 | 5.84% |
| 1964 | 3,106 | 40.16% | 4,617 | 59.69% | 12 | 0.16% |
| 1960 | 5,217 | 61.92% | 3,203 | 38.02% | 5 | 0.06% |
| 1956 | 5,344 | 64.71% | 2,912 | 35.26% | 2 | 0.02% |
| 1952 | 6,176 | 71.48% | 2,447 | 28.32% | 17 | 0.20% |
| 1948 | 3,957 | 56.40% | 2,958 | 42.16% | 101 | 1.44% |
| 1944 | 4,673 | 63.95% | 2,610 | 35.72% | 24 | 0.33% |
| 1940 | 5,521 | 62.45% | 3,293 | 37.25% | 26 | 0.29% |
| 1936 | 3,686 | 44.76% | 4,385 | 53.25% | 164 | 1.99% |
| 1932 | 3,277 | 40.62% | 4,718 | 58.48% | 73 | 0.90% |
| 1928 | 4,856 | 65.49% | 2,517 | 33.94% | 42 | 0.57% |
| 1924 | 4,625 | 60.74% | 1,478 | 19.41% | 1,512 | 19.86% |
| 1920 | 5,697 | 77.88% | 1,420 | 19.41% | 198 | 2.71% |
| 1916 | 2,862 | 63.56% | 1,595 | 35.42% | 46 | 1.02% |
| 1912 | 1,036 | 23.44% | 1,938 | 43.85% | 1,446 | 32.71% |
| 1908 | 2,455 | 54.17% | 1,986 | 43.82% | 91 | 2.01% |
| 1904 | 2,691 | 56.94% | 1,926 | 40.75% | 109 | 2.31% |
| 1900 | 2,740 | 55.19% | 2,131 | 42.92% | 94 | 1.89% |
| 1896 | 2,717 | 54.50% | 2,128 | 42.69% | 140 | 2.81% |
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