Fayette County, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fayette County
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Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
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 Iowa's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Founded | 1837 |
| Named for | Marquis de Lafayette |
| Seat | West Union |
| Largest city | Oelwein |
| Area | |
| • Total | 731 sq mi (1,890 km2) |
| • Land | 731 sq mi (1,890 km2) |
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1 km2) 0.07% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,509 |
| • Density | 26.688/sq mi (10.304/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,509. The county seat is West Union.
Contents
History
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, a French general and politician, who came to America in 1777 in order 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. 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.
Geography
According to the U.S. 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.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 18
Iowa Highway 3
Iowa Highway 56
Iowa Highway 93
Iowa Highway 150
Iowa Highway 187
Iowa Highway 281
Adjacent counties
- 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
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 825 | — | |
| 1860 | 12,073 | 1,363.4% | |
| 1870 | 16,973 | 40.6% | |
| 1880 | 22,258 | 31.1% | |
| 1890 | 23,141 | 4.0% | |
| 1900 | 29,845 | 29.0% | |
| 1910 | 27,919 | −6.5% | |
| 1920 | 29,251 | 4.8% | |
| 1930 | 29,145 | −0.4% | |
| 1940 | 29,151 | 0.0% | |
| 1950 | 28,294 | −2.9% | |
| 1960 | 28,581 | 1.0% | |
| 1970 | 26,898 | −5.9% | |
| 1980 | 25,488 | −5.2% | |
| 1990 | 21,843 | −14.3% | |
| 2000 | 22,008 | 0.8% | |
| 2010 | 20,880 | −5.1% | |
| 2020 | 19,509 | −6.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2018 |
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2020 census
The 2020 census recorded a population of 19,509 in the county, with a population density of 26.7345/sq mi (10.3222/km2). 96.09% of the population reported being of one race. 90.99% were non-Hispanic White, 1.04% were Black, 2.67% were Hispanic, 0.21% were Native American, 0.40% were Asian, 0.01% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.70% were some other race or more than one race. There were 9,298 housing units of which 8,174 were occupied.
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,880 in the county, with a population density of 28.568/sq mi (11.030/km2). There were 9,558 housing units, of which 8,634 were occupied.
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated communities
Townships
Fayette County is divided into twenty townships:
- Auburn
- Banks
- Bethel
- Center
- Clermont
- Dover
- Eden
- Fairfield
- Fremont
- Harlan
- Illyria
- Jefferson
- Oran
- Pleasant Valley
- Putnam
- Scott
- Smithfield
- Union
- Westfield
- Windsor
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Fayette County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
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| 1 | Oelwein | City | 6,415 |
| 2 | † West Union | City | 2,486 |
| 3 | Sumner (mostly in Bremer County) | City | 2,028 |
| 4 | Fayette | City | 1,338 |
| 5 | Fairbank (partially in Buchanan County) | City | 1,113 |
| 6 | Elgin | City | 683 |
| 7 | Clermont | City | 632 |
| 8 | Maynard | City | 518 |
| 9 | Hawkeye | City | 449 |
| 10 | Arlington | City | 429 |
| 11 | Wadena | City | 262 |
| 12 | Waucoma | City | 257 |
| 13 | Westgate | City | 211 |
| 14 | St. Lucas | City | 143 |
| 15 | Stanley (mostly in Buchanan County) | City | 125 |
| 16 | Randalia | City | 68 |
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Fayette (Iowa) para niños
