Fayette County, Iowa
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
[edit]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
[edit]According to the United States 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
[edit]- File:US 18.svg U.S. Highway 18
- File:Circle sign 3.svg Iowa Highway 3
- File:Elongated circle 56.svg Iowa Highway 56
- File:Elongated circle 93.svg Iowa Highway 93
- File:Elongated circle 150.svg Iowa Highway 150
- File:Elongated circle 187.svg Iowa Highway 187
- File:Elongated circle 281.svg Iowa Highway 281
Adjacent counties
[edit]- 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
[edit]
2020 census
[edit]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 19,509, with a population density of Template:Pop density. The median age was 44.0 years; 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.8 males. 96.09% of the population reported being of one race.[7]
The racial makeup of the county was 93.7% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.[8]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
30.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 69.9% lived in rural areas.[10]
There were 8,174 households in the county, of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.0% were married-couple households, 20.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[7]
Of the 9,298 housing units, 8,174 were occupied and 12.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.1% were owner-occupied and 23.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.5%.[7]
2010 census
[edit]The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,880 in the county, with a population density of Template:Pop density. There were 9,558 housing units, of which 8,634 were occupied.[11]
2000 census
[edit]As of the census[12] 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
[edit]Cities
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]Townships
[edit]Fayette County is divided into twenty townships:
Population ranking
[edit]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) |
Population (2024 Estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oelwein | City | 5,920 | 5,892 |
| 2 | † West Union | City | 2,490 | 2,505 |
| 3 | Sumner (mostly in Bremer County) | City | 2,030 | 2,037 |
| 4 | Fayette | City | 1,256 | 1,232 |
| 5 | Fairbank (partially in Buchanan County) | City | 1,111 | 1,133 |
| 6 | Elgin | City | 685 | 690 |
| 7 | Clermont | City | 586 | 580 |
| 8 | Maynard | City | 476 | 483 |
| 9 | Hawkeye | City | 438 | 433 |
| 10 | Arlington | City | 419 | 412 |
| 11 | Waucoma | City | 229 | 219 |
| 12 | Wadena | City | 209 | 216 |
| 13 | Westgate | City | 192 | 195 |
| 14 | St. Lucas | City | 167 | 178 |
| 15 | Stanley (mostly in Buchanan County) | City | 81 | 77 |
| 16 | Randalia | City | 50 | 39 |
Politics
[edit]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 3,522 | 54.69% | 2,822 | 43.82% | 96 | 1.49% |
| 1900 | 3,984 | 58.39% | 2,708 | 39.69% | 131 | 1.92% |
| 1904 | 3,978 | 62.39% | 2,070 | 32.47% | 328 | 5.14% |
| 1908 | 3,369 | 56.83% | 2,281 | 38.48% | 278 | 4.69% |
| 1912 | 1,192 | 19.14% | 2,379 | 38.20% | 2,656 | 42.65% |
| 1916 | 3,872 | 60.81% | 2,311 | 36.30% | 184 | 2.89% |
| 1920 | 8,265 | 79.14% | 1,941 | 18.58% | 238 | 2.28% |
| 1924 | 5,974 | 50.21% | 1,272 | 10.69% | 4,652 | 39.10% |
| 1928 | 8,338 | 66.66% | 4,061 | 32.46% | 110 | 0.88% |
| 1932 | 5,166 | 39.67% | 7,690 | 59.05% | 166 | 1.27% |
| 1936 | 5,891 | 43.97% | 7,210 | 53.82% | 296 | 2.21% |
| 1940 | 8,237 | 57.43% | 6,066 | 42.30% | 39 | 0.27% |
| 1944 | 6,693 | 56.50% | 5,105 | 43.09% | 48 | 0.41% |
| 1948 | 6,296 | 53.54% | 5,303 | 45.09% | 161 | 1.37% |
| 1952 | 9,152 | 67.35% | 4,403 | 32.40% | 34 | 0.25% |
| 1956 | 7,914 | 61.51% | 4,935 | 38.36% | 17 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | 8,330 | 61.20% | 5,256 | 38.62% | 25 | 0.18% |
| 1964 | 5,567 | 44.60% | 6,900 | 55.28% | 15 | 0.12% |
| 1968 | 6,935 | 59.34% | 4,098 | 35.06% | 654 | 5.60% |
| 1972 | 7,263 | 60.83% | 4,413 | 36.96% | 264 | 2.21% |
| 1976 | 6,618 | 54.69% | 5,220 | 43.13% | 264 | 2.18% |
| 1980 | 6,374 | 55.32% | 4,377 | 37.98% | 772 | 6.70% |
| 1984 | 6,505 | 57.56% | 4,677 | 41.38% | 120 | 1.06% |
| 1988 | 4,921 | 47.84% | 5,304 | 51.56% | 62 | 0.60% |
| 1992 | 3,879 | 35.71% | 4,412 | 40.62% | 2,570 | 23.66% |
| 1996 | 3,848 | 39.98% | 4,832 | 50.21% | 944 | 9.81% |
| 2000 | 4,747 | 49.34% | 4,640 | 48.23% | 234 | 2.43% |
| 2004 | 5,128 | 49.35% | 5,185 | 49.89% | 79 | 0.76% |
| 2008 | 4,205 | 40.98% | 5,908 | 57.57% | 149 | 1.45% |
| 2012 | 4,492 | 43.33% | 5,732 | 55.30% | 142 | 1.37% |
| 2016 | 5,620 | 56.34% | 3,689 | 36.98% | 666 | 6.68% |
| 2020 | 6,145 | 60.33% | 3,835 | 37.65% | 206 | 2.02% |
| 2024 | 6,325 | 64.23% | 3,334 | 33.85% | 189 | 1.92% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Education
[edit]School districts include:[15]
- North Fayette Valley Community School District - Formed on July 1, 2018.[16]
- Oelwein Community School District
- Postville Community School District
- Starmont Community School District
- Sumner-Fredericksburg Community School District
- Turkey Valley Community School District
- Wapsie Valley Community School District
- West Central Community School District
Former school districts include:
- North Fayette Community School District[17] - Merged into North Fayette Valley on July 1, 2018.[16]
- Valley Community School District[17] - Merged into North Fayette Valley on July 1, 2018.[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 124.
- ↑ "WI: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
- ↑ "State and County Maps of Iowa". March 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2016.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fayette County, Iowa".
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 Census - School Distrit Reference Map: Fayette County, IA (PDF) (Map). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 10, 2025. - Text list
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Reorganization and Dissolution Action Since 1965-66". Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Geography Division (November 30, 2010). SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Fayette County, IA (PDF) (Map). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 10, 2025. - Text list
External links
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Template:Geographic Location Template:Fayette County, Iowa Template:Iowa Coordinates: 42°51′54″N 91°50′58″W / 42.86500°N 91.84944°W