Woodbury County, Iowa

Woodbury County
County
Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City
Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City
Official seal of Woodbury County
Seal
Map of Iowa highlighting Woodbury 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°23′29″N 96°03′03″W / 42.3914°N 96.0508°W / 42.3914; -96.0508
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1851
Named forLevi Woodbury[1]
SeatSioux City
Largest citySioux City
Area
 • Total
878 sq mi (2,270 km2)
 • Land872.59 sq mi (2,260.0 km2)
 • Water4.79 sq mi (12.4 km2)  0.55%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
105,941
 • Density120/sq mi (47/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.woodburycountyiowa.gov

Woodbury County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 105,941,[2] making it the sixth-most populous county in Iowa. The county seat is Sioux City.[3]

Woodbury County is included in the Sioux City metropolitan area.[4]

History

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Originally established in 1851 as Wahkaw County, the Iowa Legislature in 1853 changed the name to Woodbury County in honor of Levi Woodbury (1789–1851), a senator and governor of New Hampshire who served as a Supreme Court justice from 1844 until his death.

The first county seat of Wahkaw County was the now-extinct village of Thompsonville; when the Legislature changed the county name to Woodbury, the new county seat became Sergeant's Bluff (now Sergeant Bluff). The county seat was moved to Sioux City in 1856.

The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (Ho-Chunk) owns reservation land in Woodbury County.

Geography

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The county is on the western edge of Iowa, with its western border being the Missouri River.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 878 square miles (2,270 km2), of which 873 square miles (2,260 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5] It is the third-largest county by area in Iowa.

Major highways

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Transit

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,119—
18706,172451.6%
188014,996143.0%
189055,632271.0%
190054,610−1.8%
191067,61623.8%
192092,17136.3%
1930101,66910.3%
1940103,6271.9%
1950103,9170.3%
1960107,8493.8%
1970103,052−4.4%
1980100,884−2.1%
199098,276−2.6%
2000103,8775.7%
2010102,172−1.6%
2020105,9413.7%
2023 (est.)105,951[6]0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[11][12] 2022[11]
Population of Woodbury County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 105,941 in the county, with a population density of 120.8749/sq mi (46.67008/km2). 90.93% of the population reported being of one race. There were 42,701 housing units, of which 39,904 were occupied.[2]

Woodbury County Racial Composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 72,237 68.2%
Black or African American (NH) 5,076 4.8%
Native American (NH) 1,893 1.8%
Asian (NH) 2,957 2.8%
Pacific Islander (NH) 651 0.61%
Other/Mixed (NH) 4,381 4.14%
Hispanic or Latino 18,746 17.7%

2010 census

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The 2010 census recorded a population of 102,172 in the county, with a population density of 117.062/sq mi (45.1980/km2). There were 41,454 housing units, of which 39,052 were occupied.[14]

2000 census

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As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 103,877 people, 39,151 households, and 26,426 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 inhabitants per square mile (46/km2). There were 41,394 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.48% White, 2.02% Black or African American, 1.69% Native American, 2.41% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.37% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. 9.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 39,151 households, 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.90% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.50% were non-families. 26.60% of households were one person and 11.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.13.

The age distribution was 27.30% under the age of 18, 10.20% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median household income was $38,509 and the median family income was $46,499. Males had a median income of $31,664 versus $22,599 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,771. About 7.20% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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For much of the second half of the 20th century, Woodbury County tilted Republican, albeit not as overwhelmingly as most of western Iowa. Between 1988 and 2012 Woodbury County was the quintessential swing county in Iowa. No candidate won it by more than 3.5% over that quarter-century. This was the only county in Iowa that Barack Obama won in 2012 that he failed to carry in 2008. However, in 2016, Woodbury County swung over dramatically to Donald Trump, who carried it by a 19 percent margin, the largest margin of victory since Lyndon Johnson's landslide election in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Woodbury County, Iowa[16][17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 25,969 60.93% 16,145 37.88% 510 1.20%
2020 25,736 56.73% 18,704 41.23% 922 2.03%
2016 24,727 56.56% 16,210 37.08% 2,781 6.36%
2012 21,841 48.52% 22,302 49.54% 876 1.95%
2008 22,219 49.58% 21,983 49.05% 613 1.37%
2004 22,451 50.80% 21,455 48.55% 289 0.65%
2000 18,864 49.78% 17,691 46.68% 1,341 3.54%
1996 16,368 43.69% 17,224 45.97% 3,872 10.34%
1992 18,148 42.34% 17,398 40.59% 7,318 17.07%
1988 18,790 47.90% 20,153 51.38% 282 0.72%
1984 23,002 54.31% 18,951 44.75% 397 0.94%
1980 23,553 54.43% 15,930 36.81% 3,792 8.76%
1976 22,853 52.79% 19,664 45.43% 770 1.78%
1972 23,757 57.34% 16,974 40.97% 699 1.69%
1968 21,159 50.62% 18,281 43.73% 2,363 5.65%
1964 17,347 39.23% 26,841 60.70% 30 0.07%
1960 26,832 55.05% 21,906 44.94% 6 0.01%
1956 25,399 55.89% 19,997 44.00% 49 0.11%
1952 27,518 58.36% 19,474 41.30% 159 0.34%
1948 16,655 42.61% 22,056 56.43% 373 0.95%
1944 18,544 47.43% 20,448 52.30% 104 0.27%
1940 22,832 48.19% 24,457 51.62% 89 0.19%
1936 14,157 32.92% 26,847 62.43% 1,998 4.65%
1932 12,764 31.97% 26,397 66.12% 761 1.91%
1928 20,587 54.78% 16,831 44.78% 166 0.44%
1924 16,639 47.38% 5,676 16.16% 12,804 36.46%
1920 17,603 62.07% 9,815 34.61% 944 3.33%
1916 5,735 38.61% 8,819 59.38% 299 2.01%
1912 2,441 18.66% 4,564 34.89% 6,077 46.45%
1908 6,587 53.52% 5,222 42.43% 498 4.05%
1904 7,597 66.85% 2,809 24.72% 958 8.43%
1900 7,045 57.54% 4,796 39.17% 402 3.28%
1896 6,204 54.86% 4,876 43.12% 229 2.02%
1892 4,620 47.07% 4,156 42.34% 1,040 10.59%
1888 4,169 52.87% 3,588 45.50% 129 1.64%
1884 2,789 53.78% 2,380 45.89% 17 0.33%
1880 1,453 56.25% 995 38.52% 135 5.23%

Communities

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Terraces, conservation tillage and buffers save soil and improve water quality on this Woodbury County farm in 1999.

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Woodbury County.[2]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Sioux City (partially in Plymouth County) City 85,791 (85,797 total)
2 Sergeant Bluff City 5,015
3 Moville City 1,687
4 Sloan City 1,042
5 Lawton City 943
6 Correctionville City 766
7 Anthon City 545
8 Pierson City 337
9 Danbury City 320
10 Salix City 295
11 Bronson City 294
12 Hornick City 255
13 Cushing City 230
14 Smithland City 181
15 Climbing Hill CDP 97
16 Oto City 72

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 165.
  2. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  12. ^ "QuickFacts: Woodbury County, Iowa". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  13. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Woodbury 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 28, 2018.
  17. ^ "Our Campaigns - U.S. President". Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  18. ^ Owego - google maps

Further reading

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  • Lensch, R.A. (2006). Soil survey of Woodbury County, Iowa. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Woodbury County, Iowa.

42°23′29″N 96°03′03″W / 42.39139°N 96.05083°W / 42.39139; -96.05083

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