Iowa County, Wisconsin

Iowa County, Wisconsin
Iowa County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,709. Its county seat and largest city is Dodgeville. When created, it was part of the Michigan Territory. Iowa County is part of the Madison, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The county organized under the Michigan Territory government in 1830. It was named for the Iowa tribe.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (0.7%) is water. It is drained by tributaries of the Pecatonica River, which has its headwaters in the county. The highest point in the county is West Blue Mound at 1,716 ft. above sea level. The lowest point is the Wisconsin river at the Grant County line at 667 ft. above sea level.
Rivers and streams
Harker Creek
Major highways
U.S. Highway 14
U.S. Highway 18
U.S. Highway 151
Highway 23 (Wisconsin)
Highway 39 (Wisconsin)
Highway 78 (Wisconsin)
Highway 80 (Wisconsin)
Highway 130 (Wisconsin)
Highway 133 (Wisconsin)
Highway 191 (Wisconsin)
Railroads
Wisconsin and Southern Railroad
Buses
Iowa County is served by Lamers Connect which offers two buses a day, one traveling east to Madison and Milwaukee and one west to Dubuque via its Dodgeville stop.
List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin
Airport
Iowa County Airport (KMRJ) serves the county and surrounding communities.
Adjacent counties
Richland County - northwest
Sauk County - northeast
Dane County - east
Green County - southeast
Lafayette County - south
Grant County - west
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, the population was 23,709. The population density was . There were 10,905 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% White, 0.8% Asian, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,780 people, 8,764 households, and 6,213 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,579 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.70% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.6% were of German, 17.2% Norwegian, 11.6% English, 11.3% Irish and 7.9% American ancestry.
There were 8,764 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.
Politics
Iowa County historically tilted Republican for much of the 20th century. However, it has swung heavily to the Democrats since the 1970s. It has supported the Democratic presidential candidate in all but one election since 1976, and is one of the most Democratic counties in Wisconsin.
Parks and recreation
The county has several parks, including Arena Pines-Sand Barrens State Natural Area, Pine Cliff State Natural Area, Blue Mound State Park, Tower Hill State Park, Black Hawk Lake Recreation Area and Governor Dodge State Park.
Communities
Cities
Dodgeville
Mineral Point
Villages
Arena
Avoca
Barneveld
Blanchardville (mostly in Lafayette County)
Cobb
Highland
Hollandale
Linden
Livingston (mostly in Grant County)
Montfort (mostly in Grant County)
Muscoda (mostly in Grant County)
Rewey
Ridgeway
Towns
Arena
Brigham
Clyde
Dodgeville
Eden
Highland
Linden
Mifflin
Mineral Point
Moscow
Pulaski
Ridgeway
Waldwick
Wyoming
Census-designated place
Edmund
Unincorporated communities
Clyde
Coon Rock
Helena
Hyde
Jonesdale
Middlebury
Mifflin
Moscow
Pleasant Ridge
Waldwick
Wyoming
Ghost towns
Adamsville
Dirty Hollow
Minersville
Pendarvis
Notable people
Gilbert L. Laws, Nebraska Secretary of State and US Congressman
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Iowa County, Wisconsin
Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
References
Further reading
Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette, Wisconsin, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Chicago: J.H. Beers and Co., 1901.
Crawford, George and Robert M. Crawford (eds.). Memoirs of Iowa County, Wisconsin From the Earliest Historical Times Down to the Present. Northwestern Historical Association, 1913.
History of Iowa County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1881.
External links
Iowa County government website
Iowa County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Iowa County Historical Society
Iowa County Humane Society
1830 establishments in Michigan Territory
Populated places established in 1830
Madison, Wisconsin, metropolitan statistical area