Louisa County, Iowa

Louisa County
Louisa County
County
	Louisa County Courthouse in Wapello
	Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
	Iowa's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 41°13′05″N 91°15′36″W / 41.218055555556°N 91.26°W
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1836
Seat	Wapello
Largest city	Wapello
Area
• Total	418 sq mi (1,080 km2)
• Land	402 sq mi (1,040 km2)
• Water	16 sq mi (40 km2) 3.8%
Population (2020)
• Total	10,837
• Density	26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	louisacountyia.gov

Louisa County (/luˈaɪzə/ loo-EYE-zə) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,837.^[1] The county seat is Wapello.^[2]

Louisa County is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Louisa County was formed on December 7, 1836, as a part of Wisconsin Territory.^[3] Two theories have been offered for the origins of its name: one is that it was named after Louisa Massey,^[4] who was very well known in the area at the time because she avenged the murder of her brother when she shot the party responsible; the other is that it was named after Louisa County, Virginia.^[5] Louisa County became a part of Iowa Territory upon its formation on July 4, 1838.^[3]

The first courthouse was a simple wood-framed building. In 1840, a second courthouse, measuring 40' x 20' (about 12 x 6 m), was constructed of stone. In 1854, a third structure was built. The courthouse used today was erected in 1928.^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 418 square miles (1,080 km²), of which 402 square miles (1,040 km²) is land and 16 square miles (41 km²) (3.8%) is water.^[7] Its eastern border is adjacent to the Mississippi River.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Johnson County (northwest)
Muscatine County (north)
Rock Island County, Illinois (northeast)
Mercer County, Illinois (east)
Des Moines County (south)
Henry County (southwest)
Washington County (west)

National protected area

Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	4,939		—
1860	10,370		110.0%
1870	12,877		24.2%
1880	13,142		2.1%
1890	11,873		−9.7%
1900	13,516		13.8%
1910	12,855		−4.9%
1920	12,179		−5.3%
1930	11,575		−5.0%
1940	11,384		−1.7%
1950	11,101		−2.5%
1960	10,290		−7.3%
1970	10,682		3.8%
1980	12,055		12.9%
1990	11,592		−3.8%
2000	12,183		5.1%
2010	11,387		−6.5%
2020	10,837		−4.8%
2023 (est.)	10,513	^[8]	−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790-1960^[10] 1900-1990^[11] 1990-2000^[12] 2010-2018^[13]

Population of Louisa County from US census data

2020 census

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

The 2020 census recorded a population of 10,837 in the county, with a population density of 25.9886/sq mi (10.0343/km²). There were 4,712 housing units, of which 4,180 were occupied.^[1]

Louisa County Racial Composition^[14]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	8,485	78.3%
Black or African American (NH)	73	0.7%
Native American (NH)	11	0.1%
Asian (NH)	265	2.5%
Pacific Islander (NH)	0	0%
Other/Mixed (NH)	275	2.54%
Hispanic or Latino	1,728	16%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 11,387 in the county, with a population density of 28.3315/sq mi (10.9389/km²). There were 5,002 housing units, of which 4,346 were occupied.^[15]

2000 census

As of the census^[16] of 2000, there were 12,183 people, 4,519 households, and 3,316 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 inhabitants per square mile (12/km²). There were 5,133 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5.0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.91% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.56% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 12.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,519 households, out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.30% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,086, and the median income for a family was $43,972. Males had a median income of $31,293 versus $22,085 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,644. About 7.00% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated community

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Louisa County.^[1]

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Wapello	City	2,084
2	Columbus Junction	City	1,830
3	Morning Sun	City	752
4	Grandview	City	437
5	Columbus City	City	392
6	Letts	City	363
7	Fredonia	City	222
8	Oakville	City	200
9	Cotter	City	39

Government

Townships

Politics

Louisa County, like nearby Cedar County, is a reliable bellwether for the state of Iowa, having voted for the statewide winner in every presidential election since 1952.

United States presidential election results for Louisa County, Iowa^[17]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,500	65.64%	1,726	32.37%	106	1.99%
2016	3,069	61.28%	1,648	32.91%	291	5.81%
2012	2,420	48.71%	2,452	49.36%	96	1.93%
2008	2,314	47.02%	2,523	51.27%	84	1.71%
2004	2,572	52.32%	2,297	46.72%	47	0.96%
2000	2,207	47.60%	2,294	49.47%	136	2.93%
1996	1,565	36.61%	2,081	48.68%	629	14.71%
1992	1,691	34.91%	2,091	43.17%	1,062	21.92%
1988	2,060	47.03%	2,268	51.78%	52	1.19%
1984	2,623	57.36%	1,927	42.14%	23	0.50%
1980	2,530	55.19%	1,700	37.09%	354	7.72%
1976	2,284	51.43%	2,089	47.04%	68	1.53%
1972	2,806	61.31%	1,707	37.30%	64	1.40%
1968	2,529	56.40%	1,632	36.40%	323	7.20%
1964	1,845	41.17%	2,624	58.56%	12	0.27%
1960	3,036	60.67%	1,966	39.29%	2	0.04%
1956	3,184	63.07%	1,858	36.81%	6	0.12%
1952	3,675	68.45%	1,673	31.16%	21	0.39%
1948	2,420	54.64%	1,945	43.92%	64	1.45%
1944	2,745	58.67%	1,894	40.48%	40	0.85%
1940	3,330	59.18%	2,247	39.93%	50	0.89%
1936	2,655	47.28%	2,859	50.92%	101	1.80%
1932	2,045	40.99%	2,856	57.25%	88	1.76%
1928	3,275	68.80%	1,457	30.61%	28	0.59%
1924	2,952	64.89%	643	14.13%	954	20.97%
1920	3,560	77.49%	932	20.29%	102	2.22%
1916	1,876	62.26%	1,081	35.88%	56	1.86%
1912	1,070	36.36%	881	29.94%	992	33.71%
1908	2,025	65.92%	978	31.84%	69	2.25%
1904	2,147	72.61%	663	22.42%	147	4.97%
1900	2,185	63.30%	1,172	33.95%	95	2.75%
1896	2,035	59.12%	1,334	38.76%	73	2.12%