thumb|upright|Chief [[Wapello (chief)|Wapello; "Wa-pel-la the Prince, Musquakee Chief", from History of the Indian Tribes of North America.]]

Wapello County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,437. The county seat and the largest city is Ottumwa. The county was formed on February 17, 1843, and named for Wapello, a Meskwaki chief.

Wapello County is included in the Ottumwa, IA Micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water.

Major highways

  • x20px U.S. Highway 34
  • x20px U.S. Highway 63
  • x20px Iowa Highway 16
  • x20px Iowa Highway 137
  • x20px Iowa Highway 149

Transit

  • Ottumwa station
  • Ottumwa Transit Authority

Adjacent counties

  • Mahaska County (northwest)
  • Keokuk County (northeast)
  • Jefferson County (east)
  • Davis County (south)
  • Monroe County (west)

Demographics

2020 census

thumb|right|Population of Wapello County from the U.S. census data

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 35,437 and a population density of .

The median age was 39.1 years, with 24.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 18.7% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.6 males.

{| class="wikitable"

|+Wapello County Racial Composition

!Race

!Number

!Percent

|-

|White (NH)

|27,295

|77.02%

|-

|Black or African American (NH)

|1,443

|4.1%

|-

|Native American (NH)

|66

|0.2%

|-

|Asian (NH)

|622

|1.8%

|-

|Pacific Islander (NH)

|518

|1.5%

|-

|Other/Mixed (NH)

|1,161

|3.3%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|4,332

|12.22%

|}

70.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 29.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 14,167 households in the county, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.8% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 36,051 people, 14,784 households, and 9,801 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 15,873 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.28% White, 0.93% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,784 households, out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,188, and the median income for a family was $39,224. Males had a median income of $31,346 versus $21,286 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,500. About 9.40% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

  • Agency
  • Blakesburg
  • Chillicothe
  • Eddyville
  • Eldon
  • Kirkville
  • Ottumwa

Unincorporated communities

  • Ashland
  • Bidwell
  • Bladensburg
  • Cliffland
  • Dahlonega
  • Dudley
  • Farson
  • Munterville
  • Phillips
  • Pickwick
  • Ottumwa Junction
  • Rutledge
  • Willard
  • Yampa

Townships

  • Adams
  • Agency
  • Cass
  • Center
  • Columbia
  • Competine
  • Dahlonega
  • Green
  • Highland
  • Keokuk
  • Pleasant
  • Polk
  • Richland
  • Washington

Population ranking

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

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Education

School districts include:

  • Cardinal Community School District
  • Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District - Formed on July 1, 2012.
  • Fairfield Community School District
  • Ottumwa Community School District
  • Pekin Community School District

Former school districts:

  • Eddyville-Blakesburg Community School District - Merged into Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on July 1, 2012.