Editing Poweshiek County, Iowa

{{short description|County in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Poweshiek County
 | state                = Iowa
 | named for            = Poweshiek, [[Meskwaki]] chief
 | ex image             = Poweshiek County IA Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 240px
 | ex image cap         = [[Poweshiek County Courthouse]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1843
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Montezuma
 | largest city wl      = Grinnell
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 586
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 585
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.1
 | area percentage      = 0.2
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 18662
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = https://poweshiekcounty.org/
 | district             = 2nd
}}
'''Poweshiek County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the southeastern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Iowa]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 18,662.<ref name="cen2020">{{Cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Montezuma, Iowa|Montezuma]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county is named for the chief of the [[Meskwaki]] who signed the treaty ending the [[Black Hawk War]]. It lies along [[Interstate 80 in Iowa|Interstate 80]] between [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] and [[Iowa City, Iowa|Iowa City]]. Poweshiek County's largest city is [[Grinnell, Iowa|Grinnell]].

==History==
Poweshiek County was formed in 1843. It was named for [https://grinnell.lib.ia.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ChiefPoweshiek_IowaHistory2014.pdf Meskwaki Chief Poweshiek] (1791–1854),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Colbert |first=Thomas Burnell |date=Nov–Dec 2014 |title=Poweshiek: His power, politics and people |url=https://grinnell.lib.ia.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ChiefPoweshiek_IowaHistory2014.pdf |journal=Iowa History Journal |pages=12–16}}</ref> a chief of the [[Meskwaki]] people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Details Page - The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa - The University of Iowa Libraries |url=http://uipress.lib.uiowa.edu/bdi/DetailsPage.aspx?id=309 |website=uipress.lib.uiowa.edu}}</ref> The [[Poweshiek County Courthouse]], completed in 1859, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>

==Government and infrastructure==
County business is overseen by three elected county supervisors. The county website provides names and contact information for the current supervisors.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Supervisors - Poweshiek County Iowa |url=http://poweshiekcounty.org/supervisors/ |access-date=April 27, 2018 |work=Poweshiek County Iowa}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Poweshiek County, Iowa|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 27, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,758|4,067|188|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,657|4,306|177|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,946|4,304|583|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|4,424|5,357|194|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|4,340|5,519|174|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|4,965|5,043|83|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,396|4,222|362|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,221|4,183|810|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,245|4,056|1,746|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,683|4,876|66|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,715|4,103|71|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,598|3,529|975|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,194|4,360|181|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,785|3,718|145|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,470|3,250|392|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,109|5,213|12|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,232|3,671|1|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,145|3,602|2|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,105|3,318|75|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,888|4,324|173|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|4,186|4,234|41|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|4,773|4,794|44|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,037|4,745|214|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,490|4,649|216|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,212|2,787|151|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,414|1,428|2,397|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,806|2,125|199|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,748|1,880|160|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|902|1,631|2,012|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,794|1,661|223|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,137|1,212|300|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,199|1,765|110|Iowa}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Republican|2,969|2,013|94|Iowa}}

==Poweshiek County Elected Officials==
*'''County Supervisors:''' Chairman Jeff Tindle (R), Vice-Chair Jason Roudabush (D), Jacki Bolen (R)
*'''County Attorney:''' Bart Klaver (R)
*'''County Auditor:''' Missy Eilander (R)
*'''County Recorder:''' Lora Wyckoff (R)
*'''County Sheriff:''' Matt Maschmann (R) 
*'''County Treasurer:''' Sandy Ross (R)

===Healthcare===
Poweshiek County is served by [[Grinnell Regional Medical Center]], an acute care hospital licensed for 81 beds. GRMC was established in 1967 after the merger of two hospitals.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|586|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|585|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=April 23, 2011 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is drained by the north fork of [[Skunk River (Iowa)|Skunk River]], which crosses the southwest corner, and by [[English River (Iowa)|English River]] and other streams.<ref>{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Poweshiek}}</ref>

===Major highways===
*[[File:I-80.svg|x20px]] [[Interstate 80 in Iowa|Interstate 80]]
*[[File:US 6.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 6 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 6]]
*[[File:US 63.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 63 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 63]]
*[[File:Elongated circle 21.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 21]]
*[[File:Elongated circle 85.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 85]]
*[[File:Elongated circle 146.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 146]]

===Transit===
* [[List of intercity bus stops in Iowa]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Tama County, Iowa|Tama County]]  (north)
*[[Iowa County, Iowa|Iowa County]]  (east)
*[[Keokuk County, Iowa|Keokuk County]]  (southeast)
*[[Mahaska County, Iowa|Mahaska County]]  (south)
*[[Jasper County, Iowa|Jasper County]]  (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 615
|1860= 5668
|1870= 15581
|1880= 18936
|1890= 18394
|1900= 19414
|1910= 19589
|1920= 19910
|1930= 18727
|1940= 18758
|1950= 19344
|1960= 19300
|1970= 18803
|1980= 19306
|1990= 19033
|2000= 18815
|2010= 18914
|2020= 18662
|estyear=2023
|estimate=18453
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=April 2, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref>{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19157.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607072254/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19157.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
}}
[[File:PoweshiekCountyIowaPop2020.png|thumb|right|Population of Poweshiek County from US census data]]

===2020 census===
[[File:PoweshiekCountyIA2022PopPyr.png|thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Poweshiek County from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 18,662 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|18662|586.874853|sqmi|km2}}. 96.55% of the population reported being of one race. There were 8,906 housing units, of which 7,536 were occupied.<ref name=cen2020/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Poweshiek County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web |title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Poweshiek County, Iowa |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Poweshiek%20County,%20Iowa&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|17,004
|91.11%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|320
|1.7%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|53
|0.3%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|221
|1.2%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|21
|0.11%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|514
|2.8%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|529
|2.83%
|}

===2010 census===
The 2010 census recorded a population of 18,914 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|18914|585.03|sqmi|km2}}. There were 8,949 housing units, of which 7,555 were occupied.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |access-date=August 15, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau – American FactFinder}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> of 2000, there were 18,815 people, 7,398 households, and 4,882 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|32|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 8,556 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 96.74% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.55% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.49% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

Of the 7,398 households 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 29.2% of households were one person and 13.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 22.7% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median household income was $37,836 and the median family income was $46,599. Males had a median income of $32,781 versus $22,465 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,629. About 6.2% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Poweshiek County is served by three community school districts:
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poweshiek County Schools &#124; FindOurSchool.com |url=http://www.findourschool.com/5547/county/ia/poweshiek |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045558/http://www.findourschool.com/5547/county/ia/poweshiek |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |access-date=May 4, 2013}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! District !! Location !! Num of<br/>campuses 
(inc. parochial) 
! Num of<br/>students !! Student–<br/>teacher<br/>ratio !! High school !! District<br/>web site
|-
| [[BGM Community School District]]<br/>(Brooklyn–Guernsey–Malcom) || [[Brooklyn, Iowa|Brooklyn]] || 1 || 532 || - || [[Brooklyn–Guernsey–Malcom Junior–Senior High School|BGM]] || [http://www.brooklyn.k12.ia.us/ BGM]
|-
| [[Grinnell–Newburg Community School District]] || [[Grinnell, Iowa|Grinnell]] || 6 || 1,475 || - || [[Grinnell Community Senior High School|Grinnell]] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20111016102210/http://www.grinnell.k12.ia.us/ Grinnell]
|-
| [[Montezuma Community School District]] || [[Montezuma, Iowa|Montezuma]] || 1 || 537 || - || [[Montezuma High School|Montezuma]] || [http://www.montezuma.k12.ia.us/ Montezuma]
|}

Poweshiek County is home to [[Grinnell College]], a small [[liberal arts]] college founded in 1846.

There is one private school in the county, Central Iowa Christian School, in Grinnell.

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{div col}}
*[[Barnes City, Iowa|Barnes City]]
*[[Brooklyn, Iowa|Brooklyn]]
*[[Deep River, Iowa|Deep River]]
*[[Grinnell, Iowa|Grinnell]]
*[[Guernsey, Iowa|Guernsey]]
*[[Hartwick, Iowa|Hartwick]]
*[[Malcom, Iowa|Malcom]]
*[[Montezuma, Iowa|Montezuma]]
*[[Searsboro, Iowa|Searsboro]]
*[[Victor, Iowa|Victor]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
*Ewart

==Population==

===Political Townships===
{{col div}}
* [[Bear Creek Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Bear Creek]]
* [[Chester Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Chester]]
* [[Deep River Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Deep River]]
* [[Grant Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Grant]]
* [[Jackson Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Jackson]]
* [[Jefferson Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Jefferson]]
* [[Lincoln Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Lincoln]]
* [[Madison Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Madison]]
* [[Malcom Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Malcom]]
* [[Pleasant Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Pleasant]]
* [[Scott Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Scott]]
* [[Sheridan Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Sheridan]]
* [[Sugar Creek Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Sugar Creek]]
* [[Union Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Union]]
* [[Warren Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Warren]]
* [[Washington Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa|Washington]]
{{Div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
*[[Holiday Lake, Iowa|Holiday Lake]]

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=cen2020/>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2020 Census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''[[Grinnell, Iowa|Grinnell]]''' 
| City
| 9,564
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[Brooklyn, Iowa|Brooklyn]]''' 
| City
| 1,502
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''†''' '''[[Montezuma, Iowa|Montezuma]]''' 
| City
| 1,442
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[Victor, Iowa|Victor]]'''  (''mostly in [[Iowa County, Iowa|Iowa County]]'')
| City
| 875
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 5
|'''[[Holiday Lake, Iowa|Holiday Lake]]''' 
| CDP
| 473
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[Malcom, Iowa|Malcom]]''' 
| City
| 270
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 7
|'''[[Deep River, Iowa|Deep River]]''' 
| City
| 249
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 8
|'''[[Barnes City, Iowa|Barnes City]]''' (''partially in [[Mahaska County, Iowa|Mahaska County]]'')
| City
| 156
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 9
|'''[[Searsboro, Iowa|Searsboro]]''' 
| City
| 129
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 10
|'''[[Hartwick, Iowa|Hartwick]]''' 
| City
| 92
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 11
|'''[[Guernsey, Iowa|Guernsey]]''' 
| City
| 63
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Iowa}}
*[[Poweshiek County Courthouse]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Poweshiek County, Iowa]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
*[http://www.poweshiekcounty.org Poweshiek County] Official County website

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Poweshiek County, Iowa
| North     = [[Tama County, Iowa|Tama County]]
| Northeast =
| East      = [[Iowa County, Iowa|Iowa County]]
| Southeast = [[Keokuk County, Iowa|Keokuk County]]
| South     = [[Mahaska County, Iowa|Mahaska County]]
| Southwest =
| West      = [[Jasper County, Iowa|Jasper County]]
| Northwest =
}}

{{Poweshiek County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|41|41|03|N|92|31|48|W|region:US-IA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Poweshiek County, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Iowa placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1843 establishments in Iowa Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1843]]