Buena Vista County, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buena Vista County
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Buena Vista County Courthouse
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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 | 1851 |
| Named for | Battle of Buena Vista |
| Seat | Storm Lake |
| Largest city | Storm Lake |
| Area | |
| • Total | 580 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Land | 575 sq mi (1,490 km2) |
| • Water | 5.3 sq mi (14 km2) 0.9% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 20,823 |
| • Density | 35.90/sq mi (13.86/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Buena Vista County (/ˈbjuːnə ˈvɪstə/; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbwena ˈβista]) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,823. Its county seat is Storm Lake. The county is named for the final victory of Field General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican–American War.
Buena Vista County comprises the Storm Lake, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Buena Vista County was formed on January 15, 1851, from open land. It was named in memory of the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican-American War ending in 1848; the victorious United States annexed considerable territory as a result.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 575 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 5.3 square miles (14 km2) (0.9%) is water. The North Raccoon River originates in the county, north of Marathon.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 71
Iowa Highway 3
Iowa Highway 7
Iowa Highway 10
Iowa Highway 110
Adjacent counties
- Clay County (north)
- Pocahontas County (east)
- Sac County (south)
- Cherokee County (west)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 57 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,585 | 2,680.7% | |
| 1880 | 7,537 | 375.5% | |
| 1890 | 13,548 | 79.8% | |
| 1900 | 16,975 | 25.3% | |
| 1910 | 15,981 | −5.9% | |
| 1920 | 18,556 | 16.1% | |
| 1930 | 18,667 | 0.6% | |
| 1940 | 19,838 | 6.3% | |
| 1950 | 21,113 | 6.4% | |
| 1960 | 21,189 | 0.4% | |
| 1970 | 20,693 | −2.3% | |
| 1980 | 20,774 | 0.4% | |
| 1990 | 19,965 | −3.9% | |
| 2000 | 20,411 | 2.2% | |
| 2010 | 20,260 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 20,823 | 2.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 20,567 | 1.5% | |
| 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 20,823 in the county, with a population density of 35.9542/sq mi (13.8820/km2). 89.44% of the population reported being of one race. There were 8,141 housing units of which 7,447 were occupied.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 11,377 | 54.63% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 550 | 2.7% |
| Native American (NH) | 29 | 0.14% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,889 | 9.1% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 614 | 3% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 429 | 2.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5,925 | 28.5% |
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,260 in the county, with a population density of 35.48/sq mi (13.70/km2). There were 8,237 housing units, of which 7,522 were occupied.
Law enforcement
Law enforcement is the responsibility of the Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office (BVSO). The department provides law enforcement services for all areas of Buena Vista County, as well as providing for courthouse security, operating the county jail, and performing civil procedures. The current Sheriff is Kory Elston. The staff includes a mix of full-time deputies and reserve deputies.
The Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office is located at 411 Expansion Blvd in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Reserve officers from the Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office received the Donald H. Mackaman Outstanding Unit Award at the 2013 state reserve conference.
Communities
Cities
Townships
Buena Vista County is divided into sixteen townships:
- Barnes
- Brooke
- Coon
- Elk
- Fairfield
- Grant
- Hayes
- Lee
- Lincoln
- Maple Valley
- Newell
- Nokomis
- Poland
- Providence
- Scott
- Washington
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Buena Vista County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
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| 1 | † Storm Lake | City | 11,269 |
| 2 | Alta | City | 2,087 |
| 3 | Newell | City | 906 |
| 4 | Sioux Rapids | City | 748 |
| 5 | Lakeside | City | 700 |
| 6 | Albert City | City | 677 |
| 7 | Marathon | City | 230 |
| 8 | Rembrandt | City | 209 |
| 9 | Linn Grove | City | 163 |
| 10 | Truesdale | City | 69 |
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Buena Vista para niños
