Black Hawk County is a county in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 131,144, making it Iowa's fifth-most populous county. The county seat is Waterloo.

Black Hawk County is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls metropolitan area.

History

Black Hawk County was formed on February 17, 1853, from sections of Buchanan County. It was named after Black Hawk, a Sauk leader during the 1832 Black Hawk War.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (1.2%) is water.

The Cedar River roughly divides the county in half from the northwest to the southeast corner. The land is mostly level since much of it is on the river's flood plain.

Major highways

  • x20px Interstate 380
  • x20px U.S. Highway 20
  • x20px U.S. Highway 63
  • x20px U.S. Highway 218
  • x20px Iowa Highway 21
  • x20px Iowa Highway 27
  • x20px Iowa Highway 57
  • x20px Iowa Highway 58
  • x20px Iowa Highway 175
  • x20px Iowa Highway 281

Transit

  • Metropolitan Transit Authority of Black Hawk County

Adjacent counties

  • Bremer County (north)
  • Buchanan County (east)
  • Benton County (southeast)
  • Tama County (southwest)
  • Grundy County (west)
  • Butler County (northwest)
  • Fayette County (northeast)

Demographics

thumb|right|Population of Black Hawk County from US census data

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 131,144. The median age was 36.8 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.6 males age 18 and over.

94.55% of the population reported being of one race. The racial makeup of the county was 78.4% White, 10.4% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% Asian, 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.9% of the population.

87.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 13.0% lived in rural areas.

thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid for Black Hawk County from ACS 5-year estimates]]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 128,012 people, 49,683 households, and 31,946 families in the county. The population density was . There were 51,759 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.42% White, 7.95% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. 1.84%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 49,683 households 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.70% were non-families. 27.10% of households were one person and 10.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

Age spread: 23.10% under the age of 18, 15.70% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.

The median household income was $37,266 and the median family income was $47,398. Males had a median income of $33,138 versus $23,394 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,885. About 7.90% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

  • Cedar Falls
  • Dunkerton
  • Elk Run Heights
  • Evansdale
  • Gilbertville
  • Hudson
  • Janesville
  • Jesup
  • La Porte City
  • Raymond
  • Waterloo

Census-designated place

  • Washburn

Other unincorporated communities

  • Armour
  • Benson
  • Blessing
  • Dewar
  • Eagle Center
  • Finchford
  • Glasgow
  • Jubilee
  • Raymar
  • Voorhies

Townships

Black Hawk County is divided into seventeen townships:

  • Barclay
  • Bennington
  • Big Creek
  • Black Hawk
  • Cedar
  • Cedar Falls
  • Eagle
  • East Waterloo
  • Fox
  • Lester
  • Lincoln
  • Mount Vernon
  • Orange
  • Poyner
  • Spring Creek
  • Union
  • Washington

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Black Hawk County.

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See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Black Hawk County, Iowa
  • Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on the meat industry in the United States

References

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  • Black Hawk County government's website