Benton County, Iowa

Not to be confused with Benton, Iowa.

Benton County
County
Benton County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°04′47″N92°04′03″W / 42.079722222222°N 92.0675°W / 42.079722222222; -92.0675
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1837
Named for	Thomas Hart Benton
Seat	Vinton
Largest city	Vinton
Area
• Total	718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Land	716 sq mi (1,850 km2)
• Water	2.2 sq mi (6 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	25,575
• Density	36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.bentoncountyia.gov

Benton County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,575. ^[1] Its county seat and largest city is Vinton. ^[2] The county is named for Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. Senator from Missouri.

Benton County is part of the Cedar Rapids, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area. ^[3]

History

Benton County was formed on December 21, 1837, from sections of Dubuque County. It was named after US Senator Thomas Hart Benton. ^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km²), of which 716 square miles (1,850 km²) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) (0.3%) is water. ^[5]

Major highways

• Interstate 380
• U.S. Highway 30
• U.S. Highway 151
• U.S. Highway 218
• Iowa Highway 8
• Iowa Highway 21
• Iowa Highway 27
• Iowa Highway 150

Adjacent counties

• Black Hawk County (northwest)
• Buchanan County (northeast)
• Linn County (east)
• Iowa County (south)
• Tama County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	672		—
1860	8,496		1,164.3%
1870	22,454		164.3%
1880	24,888		10.8%
1890	24,178		−2.9%
1900	25,177		4.1%
1910	23,156		−8.0%
1920	24,080		4.0%
1930	22,851		−5.1%
1940	22,879		0.1%
1950	22,656		−1.0%
1960	23,422		3.4%
1970	22,885		−2.3%
1980	23,649		3.3%
1990	22,429		−5.2%
2000	25,308		12.8%
2010	26,076		3.0%
2020	25,575		−1.9%
2023 (est.)	25,796	[6]	0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2018 [11]

Population of Benton County from US census data

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 25,575 in the county, with a population density of 35.6124/sq mi (13.75001/km²). 96.29% of the population reported being of one race. 93.04% were non-Hispanic White, 0.45% were Black, 1.81% were Hispanic, 0.13% were Native American, 0.32% were Asian, 0.01% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.24% were some other race or more than one race. There were 11,076 housing units of which 10,282 were occupied. ^[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 26,076 in the county, with a population density of 36.419/sq mi (14.061/km²). There were 11,095 housing units, of which 10,302 were occupied. ^[12]

2022 US Census population pyramid for Benton County from ACS 5-year estimates

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 25,308 people, 9,746 households, and 7,056 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 inhabitants per square mile (14/km²). There were 10,377 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.84% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,746 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,427, and the median income for a family was $49,701. Males had a median income of $35,044 versus $23,978 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,891. About 4.6% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Atkins
• Belle Plaine
• Blairstown
• Garrison
• Keystone
• Luzerne
• Mount Auburn
• Newhall
• Norway
• Shellsburg
• Urbana
• Van Horne
• Vinton
• Walford

Townships

Benton County is divided into twenty townships:

• Benton
• Big Grove
• Bruce
• Canton
• Cedar
• Eden
• Eldorado
• Florence
• Fremont
• Harrison
• Homer
• Iowa
• Jackson
• Kane
• Leroy
• Monroe
• Polk
• St. Clair
• Taylor
• Union

Census-designated place

• Watkins

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Benton County. ^[1]

†county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Vinton	City	4,938
2	Belle Plaine	City	2,330
3	Atkins	City	2,056
4	Urbana	City	1,554
5	Walford (partially in Linn County )	City	1,366
6	Shellsburg	City	961
7	Blairstown	City	692
8	Newhall	City	876
9	Van Horne	City	713
10	Keystone	City	599
11	Norway	City	466
12	Garrison	City	344
13	Mount Auburn	City	162
14	Watkins	CDP	116
15	Luzerne	City	112

Politics

United States presidential election results for Benton County, Iowa ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,549	65.81%	4,739	32.66%	221	1.52%
2020	9,188	62.75%	5,160	35.24%	294	2.01%
2016	8,232	59.46%	4,678	33.79%	934	6.75%
2012	6,940	49.49%	6,862	48.93%	221	1.58%
2008	6,447	47.00%	7,058	51.45%	212	1.55%
2004	6,658	49.31%	6,747	49.97%	96	0.71%
2000	5,468	46.47%	5,915	50.27%	383	3.26%
1996	3,835	37.31%	5,546	53.95%	898	8.74%
1992	3,469	33.23%	4,467	42.79%	2,503	23.98%
1988	4,011	40.20%	5,873	58.87%	93	0.93%
1984	5,566	52.13%	4,993	46.76%	119	1.11%
1980	5,329	50.11%	4,223	39.71%	1,083	10.18%
1976	5,014	46.85%	5,514	51.52%	175	1.64%
1972	5,273	54.09%	4,282	43.92%	194	1.99%
1968	5,016	52.06%	3,944	40.93%	675	7.01%
1964	3,453	34.24%	6,614	65.59%	17	0.17%
1960	5,972	56.33%	4,620	43.58%	9	0.08%
1956	5,634	56.31%	3,946	39.44%	426	4.26%
1952	6,316	59.09%	3,831	35.84%	542	5.07%
1948	3,770	45.06%	4,209	50.30%	388	4.64%
1944	4,378	48.43%	4,619	51.10%	42	0.46%
1940	5,298	49.55%	5,363	50.15%	32	0.30%
1936	4,144	41.72%	5,606	56.43%	184	1.85%
1932	3,424	34.87%	6,070	61.82%	325	3.31%
1928	5,669	62.68%	3,307	36.56%	69	0.76%
1924	5,314	58.13%	1,459	15.96%	2,369	25.91%
1920	6,539	71.02%	2,343	25.45%	325	3.53%
1916	3,189	54.16%	2,556	43.41%	143	2.43%
1912	1,831	31.53%	2,472	42.56%	1,505	25.91%
1908	3,180	55.08%	2,418	41.88%	175	3.03%
1904	3,609	61.10%	2,057	34.82%	241	4.08%
1900	3,609	56.89%	2,575	40.59%	160	2.52%
1896	3,604	57.50%	2,560	40.84%	104	1.66%

Education

School districts: ^[15]

• Belle Plaine Community School District
• Benton Community School District
• Center Point-Urbana Community School District
• College Community School District
• Independence Community School District
• North Linn Community School District
• Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District
• Union Community School District

There was formerly a state-operated school, Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School.

See also

• Benton County Courthouse (Iowa)
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Benton County, Iowa
• Civil Bend

References

1. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
4. History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States. 1908. p. 11.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
12. "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State – County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2011.^{[ dead link ‍]}
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Benton County, IA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022. - Text list, 2010 map, 2010 text list

42°04′47″N92°04′03″W / 42.07972°N 92.06750°W / 42.07972; -92.06750