Fayette County, Iowa

Fayette County
County
Fayette County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°51′54″N91°50′58″W / 42.865°N 91.849444444444°W / 42.865; -91.849444444444
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1837
Named for	Marquis de Lafayette
Seat	West Union
Largest city	Oelwein
Area
• Total	731 sq mi (1,890 km2)
• Land	731 sq mi (1,890 km2)
• Water	0.5 sq mi (1 km2)  0.07%
Population  (2020)
• Total	19,509
• Density	27/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	fayettecounty.iowa.gov

Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,509. ^[1] The county seat is West Union. ^[2]

History

Fayette County was founded on December 21, 1837, as a part of Wisconsin Territory. It was named after Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette, ^[3] a French general and politician, who came to America in 1777 to fight in the Revolutionary War, and who was named Major General of the Continental Army. The county was formed as part of a large reorganization of Dubuque County, which at that time comprised most of the northern half of Iowa, Minnesota, and parts of the Dakotas. Fayette County was granted the Minnesota and Dakotas territory on that date. It became part of Iowa Territory when it was formed on July 4, 1838. ^[4] Fayette County's size was drastically reduced into land that was part of the modern state of Iowa in 1843, then further split in 1847 after Iowa had achieved statehood. The county was organized in 1850. ^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 731 square miles (1,890 km²), of which 731 square miles (1,890 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) (0.07%) is water. ^[6]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 18
• Iowa Highway 3
• Iowa Highway 56
• Iowa Highway 93
• Iowa Highway 150
• Iowa Highway 187
• Iowa Highway 281

Adjacent counties

• Allamakee County (northeast)
• Black Hawk County (southwest)
• Buchanan County (south)
• Bremer County (west)
• Chickasaw County (northwest)
• Clayton County (east)
• Delaware County (southeast)
• Winneshiek County (north)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	825		—
1860	12,073		1,363.4%
1870	16,973		40.6%
1880	22,258		31.1%
1890	23,141		4.0%
1900	29,845		29.0%
1910	27,919		−6.5%
1920	29,251		4.8%
1930	29,145		−0.4%
1940	29,151		0.0%
1950	28,294		−2.9%
1960	28,581		1.0%
1970	26,898		−5.9%
1980	25,488		−5.2%
1990	21,843		−14.3%
2000	22,008		0.8%
2010	20,880		−5.1%
2020	19,509		−6.6%
2023 (est.)	19,210	[7]	−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790–1960 [9] 1900–1990 [10] 1990–2000 [11] 2010–2018 [12]

Population of Fayette County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 19,509 in the county, with a population density of 26.7345/sq mi (10.32223/km²). 96.09% of the population reported being of one race. There were 9,298 housing units of which 8,174 were occupied. ^[1]

Fayette County Racial Composition ^[13]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	18,053	92.54%
Black or African American (NH)	200	1.03%
Native American (NH)	40	0.21%
Asian (NH)	78	0.4%
Pacific Islander (NH)	1	0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH)	617	3.2%
Hispanic or Latino	520	2.7%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,880 in the county, with a population density of 28.568/sq mi (11.030/km²). There were 9,558 housing units, of which 8,634 were occupied. ^[14]

2000 census

As of the census ^[15] of 2000, there were 22,008 people, 8,778 households, and 5,951 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km²). There were 9,505 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.71% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,778 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% 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 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,453, and the median income for a family was $39,960. Males had a median income of $27,493 versus $20,099 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,271. About 8.20% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Arlington
• Clermont
• Elgin
• Fayette
• Fairbank
• Hawkeye
• Maynard
• Oelwein
• Randalia
• St. Lucas
• Stanley
• Wadena
• Waucoma
• West Union
• Westgate

Unincorporated communities

• Alpha
• Donnan
• Oran
• Richfield

Townships

Fayette County is divided into twenty townships:

• Auburn
• Banks
• Bethel
• Center
• Clermont
• Dover
• Eden
• Fairfield
• Fremont
• Harlan
• Illyria
• Jefferson
• Oran
• Pleasant Valley
• Putnam
• Scott
• Smithfield
• Union
• Westfield
• Windsor

Population ranking

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

†county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	Oelwein	City	5,920
2	† West Union	City	2,490
3	Sumner (mostly in Bremer County )	City	2,030
4	Fayette	City	1,256
5	Fairbank (partially in Buchanan County )	City	1,111
6	Elgin	City	685
7	Clermont	City	586
8	Maynard	City	476
9	Hawkeye	City	438
10	Arlington	City	419
12	Waucoma	City	229
11	Wadena	City	209
13	Westgate	City	192
14	St. Lucas	City	167
15	Stanley (mostly in Buchanan County)	City	81
16	Randalia	City	50

Politics

United States presidential election results for Fayette County, Iowa ^{[16] [17]}

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	6,325	64.23%	3,334	33.85%	189	1.92%
2020	6,145	60.33%	3,835	37.65%	206	2.02%
2016	5,620	56.34%	3,689	36.98%	666	6.68%
2012	4,492	43.33%	5,732	55.30%	142	1.37%
2008	4,205	40.98%	5,908	57.57%	149	1.45%
2004	5,128	49.35%	5,185	49.89%	79	0.76%
2000	4,747	49.34%	4,640	48.23%	234	2.43%
1996	3,848	39.98%	4,832	50.21%	944	9.81%
1992	3,879	35.71%	4,412	40.62%	2,570	23.66%
1988	4,921	47.84%	5,304	51.56%	62	0.60%
1984	6,505	57.56%	4,677	41.38%	120	1.06%
1980	6,374	55.32%	4,377	37.98%	772	6.70%
1976	6,618	54.69%	5,220	43.13%	264	2.18%
1972	7,263	60.83%	4,413	36.96%	264	2.21%
1968	6,935	59.34%	4,098	35.06%	654	5.60%
1964	5,567	44.60%	6,900	55.28%	15	0.12%
1960	8,330	61.20%	5,256	38.62%	25	0.18%
1956	7,914	61.51%	4,935	38.36%	17	0.13%
1952	9,152	67.35%	4,403	32.40%	34	0.25%
1948	6,296	53.54%	5,303	45.09%	161	1.37%
1944	6,693	56.50%	5,105	43.09%	48	0.41%
1940	8,237	57.43%	6,066	42.30%	39	0.27%
1936	5,891	43.97%	7,210	53.82%	296	2.21%
1932	5,166	39.67%	7,690	59.05%	166	1.27%
1928	8,338	66.66%	4,061	32.46%	110	0.88%
1924	5,974	50.21%	1,272	10.69%	4,652	39.10%
1920	8,265	79.14%	1,941	18.58%	238	2.28%
1916	3,872	60.81%	2,311	36.30%	184	2.89%
1912	1,192	19.14%	2,379	38.20%	2,656	42.65%
1908	3,369	56.83%	2,281	38.48%	278	4.69%
1904	3,978	62.39%	2,070	32.47%	328	5.14%
1900	3,984	58.39%	2,708	39.69%	131	1.92%
1896	3,522	54.69%	2,822	43.82%	96	1.49%

See also

• Iowa portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Fayette County, Iowa

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 3, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  124.
4. "WI: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
5. "State and County Maps of Iowa". March 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
11. "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 17, 2014.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fayette County, Iowa".
14. "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
17. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 2,240 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 250 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 166 votes.

External links

• County website
• Fayette County Economic Development
• Fayette County Health and Demographic Data

42°51′54″N91°50′58″W / 42.86500°N 91.84944°W / 42.86500; -91.84944