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Wapello County, Iowa

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County in Iowa, United States Not to be confused with Wapello, Iowa.

County in Iowa
Wapello County
County
The courthouse in OttumwaThe courthouse in Ottumwa
Map of Iowa highlighting Wapello CountyLocation within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting IowaIowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°01′46″N 92°24′32″W / 41.029444444444°N 92.408888888889°W / 41.029444444444; -92.408888888889
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1843
Named forWapello
SeatOttumwa
Largest cityOttumwa
Area
 • Total436 sq mi (1,130 km)
 • Land432 sq mi (1,120 km)
 • Water4.2 sq mi (11 km)  1.0%
Population
 • Total35,437
 • Density81/sq mi (31/km)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.wapellocounty.org
Chief Wapello; "Wa-pel-la the Prince, Musquakee Chief", from History of the Indian Tribes of North America.

Wapello County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,437. The county seat is Ottumwa. The county was formed on February 17, 1843, and named for Wapello, a Meskwaki chief.

Wapello County is included in the Ottumwa, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 436 square miles (1,130 km), of which 432 square miles (1,120 km) is land and 4.2 square miles (11 km) (1.0%) is water.

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18508,471—
186014,51871.4%
187022,34653.9%
188025,28513.2%
189030,42620.3%
190035,42616.4%
191037,7436.5%
192037,9370.5%
193040,4806.7%
194044,2809.4%
195047,3977.0%
196046,126−2.7%
197042,149−8.6%
198040,241−4.5%
199035,696−11.3%
200036,0511.0%
201035,625−1.2%
202035,437−0.5%
2023 (est.)35,166−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2018
Population of Wapello County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 35,437 in the county, with a population density of 81.2225/sq mi (31.3602/km). There were 15,734 housing units, of which 14,167 were occupied.

Wapello County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 27,295 77.02%
Black or African American (NH) 1,443 4.1%
Native American (NH) 66 0.2%
Asian (NH) 622 1.8%
Pacific Islander (NH) 518 1.5%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,161 3.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4,332 12.22%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 35,625 in the county, with a population density of 82.5016/sq mi (31.8540/km). There were 16,098 housing units, of which 14,552 were occupied.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 36,051 people, 14,784 households, and 9,801 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile (32 people/km). There were 15,873 housing units at an average density of 37 units per square mile (14 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 96.28% White, 0.93% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,784 households, out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,188, and the median income for a family was $39,224. Males had a median income of $31,346 versus $21,286 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,500. About 9.40% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Wapello County.

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Ottumwa City 25,529
2 Eddyville (partially in Mahaska and Monroe Counties) City 970
3 Eldon City 783
4 Agency City 620
5 Blakesburg City 274
6 Kirkville City 157
7 Chillicothe City 76

Politics

Between 1864 and 1928, Wapello County backed the Republican candidate in every election except 1912, when former Republican Theodore Roosevelt ran as the Progressive candidate, fracturing the Republican party and allowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson to take the county with a plurality of the vote of less than 37%. From 1932 to 2012, the county voted Democratic in every election except two, the nationwide Republican landslides of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and Richard Nixon in 1972. Beginning in 2016, Wapello County has shifted back to the Republican column, as Donald Trump carried the county in each of his three runs, winning by a margin of over 20% in 2016 and over 23% in 2020, and over 31% in 2024. Also in 2024, Trump became the first candidate from any party to obtain at least 65% of the county's vote since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, and the first Republican to do so since Herbert Hoover in 1928.

United States presidential election results for Wapello County, Iowa
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 9,479 65.00% 4,896 33.57% 208 1.43%
2020 9,516 60.87% 5,821 37.24% 296 1.89%
2016 8,715 57.53% 5,594 36.93% 840 5.54%
2012 6,789 43.05% 8,663 54.93% 318 2.02%
2008 6,663 41.80% 8,820 55.33% 457 2.87%
2004 7,403 44.31% 9,125 54.62% 179 1.07%
2000 6,313 41.70% 8,355 55.19% 471 3.11%
1996 4,828 32.69% 8,437 57.12% 1,505 10.19%
1992 4,852 30.17% 8,670 53.91% 2,561 15.92%
1988 5,350 34.14% 10,177 64.93% 146 0.93%
1984 7,098 39.88% 10,545 59.24% 157 0.88%
1980 7,475 42.31% 8,923 50.50% 1,270 7.19%
1976 6,786 39.30% 10,249 59.35% 233 1.35%
1972 9,301 51.19% 8,348 45.94% 522 2.87%
1968 7,825 41.96% 9,375 50.28% 1,447 7.76%
1964 5,524 28.26% 13,971 71.48% 51 0.26%
1960 11,036 49.79% 11,116 50.15% 15 0.07%
1956 10,401 48.65% 10,960 51.26% 20 0.09%
1952 11,571 52.24% 10,449 47.17% 130 0.59%
1948 7,875 41.50% 10,841 57.13% 260 1.37%
1944 8,244 43.19% 10,732 56.22% 113 0.59%
1940 9,039 43.03% 11,880 56.56% 87 0.41%
1936 7,647 41.31% 10,578 57.14% 287 1.55%
1932 7,256 42.49% 9,504 55.66% 316 1.85%
1928 11,586 66.10% 5,793 33.05% 149 0.85%
1924 9,870 56.96% 3,039 17.54% 4,420 25.51%
1920 9,884 67.99% 4,131 28.42% 522 3.59%
1916 4,398 47.65% 3,994 43.28% 837 9.07%
1912 2,755 32.53% 3,102 36.62% 2,613 30.85%
1908 4,541 50.69% 3,724 41.57% 694 7.75%
1904 4,912 60.60% 2,473 30.51% 720 8.88%
1900 4,742 53.21% 3,902 43.78% 268 3.01%
1896 4,319 50.75% 4,041 47.49% 150 1.76%

See also

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. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Wapello County". Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. "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 20, 2014.
  10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wapello County, Iowa".
  12. "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.
  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 28, 2018.

External links

Places adjacent to Wapello County, Iowa
Mahaska County Keokuk County
Monroe County Wapello County, Iowa Jefferson County
Davis County
Municipalities and communities of Wapello County, Iowa, United States
County seat: Ottumwa
Cities
Map of Iowa highlighting Wapello County
Townships
Unincorporated
communities
Footnotes‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
State of Iowa
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