Butler County, Iowa

Butler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,867.[1] Its county seat is Allison.[2] The county was organized in 1854 and named for General William O. Butler.[3]

Butler County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°43′54″N 92°47′29″W
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1851
Named forWilliam Orlando Butler
SeatAllison
Largest cityParkersburg
Area
 • Total582 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land580 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total14,867
 • Estimate 
(2018)
14,539
 • Density26/sq mi (9.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.butlercoiowa.org

History

Butler County was formed on January 15, 1851, from open land. It was named after Kentucky native William Orlando Butler, a general and hero of the Mexican–American War, who ran as Vice President of the United States in 1848. Until 1854, the county was governed by other counties. Only at this time did it have enough inhabitants to establish its own local government. The first court proceedings were conducted in a small log cabin of a settler. In 1858, the first courthouse was completed in Clarksville. After it was sold shortly thereafter to the local school district, it was used as a schoolhouse from 1863 until 1903.

Clarksville was the first county seat, from 1854 to 1860, after which Butler Center became the seat. Because locals became disenchanted with Butler Center (partially because of its inaccessibility during the winter), Allison was made the county seat on January 10, 1881.

When the tracks of the Dubuque and Dakota Railroad were laid through Allison, the seat was moved there on January 10, 1881. Allison was named after the Dubuque native Republican politician, lawyer and senator William B. Allison.[3]

Butler County is the only county in Iowa that does not have any stop lights, four-lane roads (US Highway or interstate), a hospital, or a movie theatre. There are also no national fast-food chains in Butler county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 582 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18603,724—
18709,951167.2%
188014,29343.6%
189015,4638.2%
190017,95516.1%
191017,119−4.7%
192017,8454.2%
193017,617−1.3%
194017,9862.1%
195017,394−3.3%
196017,4670.4%
197016,953−2.9%
198017,6684.2%
199015,731−11.0%
200015,305−2.7%
201014,867−2.9%
2018 (est.)14,539[5]−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2018[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,867 in the county, with a population density of 25.63/sq mi (9.90/km2). There were 6,682 housing units, of which 6,120 were occupied.[10]

2000 census
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Butler County

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 15,305 people, 6,175 households, and 4,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10/km2). There were 6,578 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.95% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,175 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.80% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,883, and the median income for a family was $42,209. Males had a median income of $30,356 versus $20,864 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,036. About 6.50% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Butler County is divided into sixteen townships:

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Butler County.[12]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Parkersburg City 1,870
2 Clarksville City 1,439
3 Shell Rock City 1,296
4 Greene (partially in Floyd County) City 1,130
5 Aplington City 1,128
6 † Allison City 1,029
7 Dumont City 637
8 New Hartford City 516
9 Bristow City 160
10 Aredale City 74

Politics
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 68.4% 5,542 29.9% 2,424 1.6% 132
2016 65.5% 4,921 28.7% 2,157 5.8% 435
2012 54.4% 4,106 44.1% 3,329 1.5% 110
2008 51.6% 3,700 46.9% 3,364 1.4% 102
2004 59.1% 4,417 40.2% 3,001 0.8% 57
2000 57.1% 3,837 40.7% 2,735 2.3% 152
1996 45.8% 3,036 46.2% 3,061 8.1% 534
1992 45.0% 3,209 35.7% 2,548 19.3% 1,380
1988 57.3% 3,523 42.2% 2,593 0.5% 30
1984 66.0% 4,570 33.6% 2,323 0.5% 31
1980 65.9% 4,730 27.7% 1,990 6.4% 457
1976 61.8% 4,207 36.8% 2,503 1.4% 98
1972 71.8% 4,615 26.2% 1,682 2.0% 129
1968 70.6% 4,651 25.4% 1,673 4.0% 265
1964 50.7% 3,462 49.3% 3,370 0.0% 0
1960 70.2% 5,345 29.8% 2,268 0.0% 3
1956 71.2% 5,669 28.8% 2,289 0.0% 3
1952 77.5% 6,360 22.4% 1,836 0.2% 14
1948 51.9% 3,380 46.2% 3,008 1.9% 125
1944 65.0% 4,182 34.6% 2,225 0.4% 24
1940 63.6% 4,848 36.2% 2,760 0.3% 20
1936 47.7% 3,604 50.1% 3,786 2.1% 161
1932 42.3% 3,012 56.6% 4,028 1.1% 76
1928 71.5% 4,789 28.0% 1,876 0.5% 33
1924 59.6% 3,823 10.4% 667 30.0% 1,928
1920 86.7% 5,900 12.2% 830 1.1% 76
1916 72.5% 2,722 26.0% 977 1.5% 58
1912 25.8% 903 26.5% 926 47.7% 1,668
1908 69.3% 2,467 27.9% 994 2.8% 98
1904 75.0% 2,743 22.3% 815 2.7% 100
1900 70.0% 2,902 28.2% 1,167 1.8% 76
1896 66.1% 2,670 32.2% 1,302 1.7% 69

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Butler County's History". Butler County, Iowa. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  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. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  10. "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State -- County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. "Archived copy". Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.

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