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Buena Vista County
County
Buena Vista County Courthouse
Buena Vista County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Buena Vista County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°44′06″N 95°09′01″W / 42.735°N 95.150277777778°W / 42.735; -95.150277777778
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1851
Named forBattle of Buena Vista
SeatStorm Lake
Largest cityStorm Lake
Area
 • Total580 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Land575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water5.3 sq mi (14 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total20,823
 • Density36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitebuenavistacounty.iowa.gov

Buena Vista County (/ˈbjuːnə ˈvɪstə/; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbwena ˈβista]) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,823.[1] Its county seat is Storm Lake.[2] The county is named for the final victory of Field General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican–American War.

Buena Vista County comprises the Storm Lake, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History[edit]

Buena Vista County was formed on January 15, 1851, from open land. It was named in memory of the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican-American War ending in 1848; the victorious United States annexed considerable territory as a result.[3]

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 575 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 5.3 square miles (14 km2) (0.9%) is water.[4] The North Raccoon River originates in the county, north of Marathon.

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186057—
18701,5852,680.7%
18807,537375.5%
189013,54879.8%
190016,97525.3%
191015,981−5.9%
192018,55616.1%
193018,6670.6%
194019,8386.3%
195021,1136.4%
196021,1890.4%
197020,693−2.3%
198020,7740.4%
199019,965−3.9%
200020,4112.2%
201020,260−0.7%
202020,8232.8%
2023 (est.)20,567[5]−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010-2018[10]
Population of Buena Vista County from US census data

2020 census[edit]

The 2020 census recorded a population of 20,823 in the county, with a population density of 35.9542/sq mi (13.8820/km2). 89.44% of the population reported being of one race. There were 8,141 housing units of which 7,447 were occupied.[1]

Buena Vista County Racial Composition[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 11,377 54.63%
Black or African American (NH) 550 2.7%
Native American (NH) 29 0.14%
Asian (NH) 1,889 9.1%
Pacific Islander (NH) 614 3%
Other/Mixed (NH) 429 2.1%
Hispanic or Latino 5,925 28.5%

2010 census[edit]

The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,260 in the county, with a population density of 35.48/sq mi (13.700/km2). There were 8,237 housing units, of which 7,522 were occupied.[12]

2000 census[edit]

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Buena Vista County

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 20,411 people, 7,499 households, and 5,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 8,145 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.00% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 4.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 5.75% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 12.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2005 Census estimates of the racial origins of Buena Vista County's population indicated it had the lowest percentage of non-Hispanic Whites of any county in Iowa. The non-Hispanic whites constituted 76.1% of the county's population, with African-Americans being 1.3%, Asians 3.9% and Latinos 18.6% of the population.[14]

There were 7,499 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,300, and the median income for a family was $41,549. Males had a median income of $29,172 versus $20,252 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,042. About 7.60% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.60% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Law enforcement[edit]

Law enforcement is the responsibility of the Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office (BVSO). The department provides law enforcement services for all areas of Buena Vista County, as well as providing for courthouse security, operating the county jail, and performing civil procedures. The current Sheriff is Kory Elston.[15] The staff includes a mix of full-time deputies and reserve deputies.

The Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office is located at 411 Expansion Blvd in Storm Lake, Iowa.[16]

Reserve officers from the Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office received the Donald H. Mackaman Outstanding Unit Award at the 2013 state reserve conference.[17]

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Townships[edit]

Buena Vista County is divided into sixteen townships:

Population ranking[edit]

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

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Storm Lake City 11,269
2 Alta City 2,087
3 Newell City 906
4 Sioux Rapids City 748
5 Lakeside City 700
6 Albert City City 677
7 Marathon City 230
8 Rembrandt City 209
9 Linn Grove City 163
10 Truesdale City 69

Politics[edit]

Buena Vista County has mostly voted Republican throughout its history, only failing to back the party's candidates in a presidential election eight times throughout its history. The first of these instances was in 1912 when the Republican vote was split between incumbent William Howard Taft & former President Theodore Roosevelt, who won a majority of the county's votes as a third-party candidate. Five of the instances were national landslides for the Democratic Party in all four of Franklin D. Roosevelt's victories as well as Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 landslide. The other two Democratic victories were in 1948 as Harry S. Truman narrowly won the county & statewide by a similar margin, & 40 years later in 1988 as Michael Dukakis was boosted statewide by the 1980s farm crisis despite his national landslide loss.

United States presidential election results for Buena Vista County, Iowa[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,056 61.91% 2,961 36.26% 150 1.84%
2016 4,903 59.23% 2,856 34.50% 519 6.27%
2012 4,554 54.32% 3,700 44.14% 129 1.54%
2008 4,223 50.15% 4,075 48.40% 122 1.45%
2004 4,887 57.56% 3,520 41.46% 83 0.98%
2000 4,354 54.58% 3,297 41.33% 326 4.09%
1996 3,636 45.65% 3,420 42.94% 909 11.41%
1992 3,863 41.73% 3,374 36.45% 2,020 21.82%
1988 4,170 47.25% 4,580 51.90% 75 0.85%
1984 5,193 55.22% 4,109 43.69% 103 1.10%
1980 5,272 54.49% 3,468 35.84% 936 9.67%
1976 5,126 53.58% 4,227 44.18% 214 2.24%
1972 5,685 61.25% 3,460 37.28% 136 1.47%
1968 5,599 61.87% 3,051 33.71% 400 4.42%
1964 3,747 41.65% 5,245 58.30% 5 0.06%
1960 6,351 63.54% 3,637 36.38% 8 0.08%
1956 6,470 61.25% 4,083 38.65% 10 0.09%
1952 7,539 69.72% 3,254 30.09% 20 0.18%
1948 3,959 46.61% 4,340 51.10% 194 2.28%
1944 3,993 48.06% 4,277 51.47% 39 0.47%
1940 4,576 48.69% 4,784 50.90% 39 0.41%
1936 3,334 37.95% 5,287 60.18% 164 1.87%
1932 3,162 38.51% 4,835 58.89% 213 2.59%
1928 5,087 65.47% 2,609 33.58% 74 0.95%
1924 3,812 52.38% 683 9.39% 2,782 38.23%
1920 4,927 78.58% 1,204 19.20% 139 2.22%
1916 2,045 57.38% 1,454 40.80% 65 1.82%
1912 755 20.77% 921 25.34% 1,959 53.89%
1908 2,337 65.94% 1,054 29.74% 153 4.32%
1904 2,483 76.17% 605 18.56% 172 5.28%
1900 2,632 71.25% 936 25.34% 126 3.41%
1896 2,568 67.63% 1,178 31.02% 51 1.34%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States. 1908. p. 12.
  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 13, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 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 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  11. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Buena Vista County, Iowa".
  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 8, 2011.[dead link]
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ "Buena Vista County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  15. ^ "Buena Vista County". www.bvcountyiowa.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  16. ^ "Buena Vista County Sheriff". Buena Vista County, Iowa. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
  17. ^ "BV County Sheriff Reserve Officers Bring Home Honors". Storm Lake Pilot Tribune. April 29, 2013. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.

External links[edit]

42°44′06″N 95°09′01″W / 42.73500°N 95.15028°W / 42.73500; -95.15028

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_Lake,_IA_Micropolitan_Statistical_Area