Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 52,403. The county seat and the largest city is Indianola. Warren County is included in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

History

Warren County was formed in 1846. It was named after General Joseph Warren, a hero in the American Revolutionary War. The previous Warren County Court House was opened in 1939. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, the building later fell into disrepair and was deemed insufficient for current operations and condemned in late 2018 . The newly constructed Warren County Justice Center opened in summer 2022.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.6%) is water.

Major highways

  • x20px Interstate 35
  • x20px U.S. Highway 65
  • x20px U.S. Highway 69
  • x20px Iowa Highway 5
  • x20px Iowa Highway 28
  • x20px Iowa Highway 92
  • x20px Iowa Highway 316

Adjacent counties

  • Polk County (north)
  • Marion County (east)
  • Lucas County (southeast)
  • Clarke County (southwest)
  • Madison County (west)

Demographics

2020 census

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

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 52,403, a population density of , and 95.46% of the population reported being of one race; there were 20,857 housing units, of which 19,616 were occupied, leaving a 6.0% vacancy rate.

Among occupied housing units, 80.2% were owner-occupied and 19.8% were renter-occupied, with homeowner and rental vacancy rates of 1.5% and 10.6%, respectively.

{| class="wikitable"

|+Warren County Racial Composition

!Race

!Number

!Percent

|-

|White (NH)

|47,897

|91.4%

|-

|Black or African American (NH)

|452

|0.9%

|-

|Native American (NH)

|80

|0.2%

|-

|Asian (NH)

|380

|0.73%

|-

|Pacific Islander (NH)

|17

|0.03%

|-

|Other/Mixed (NH)

|1,919

|3.7%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|1,658

|3.2%

|}

52.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.1% lived in rural areas.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census recorded a population of 46,225 in the county, with a population density of . There were 18,371 housing units, of which 17,262 were occupied.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 40,671 people, 14,708 households, and 11,207 families in the county. The population density was . There were 15,289 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.08% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.08%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 14,708 households 37.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.50% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.80% were non-families. 19.90% of households were one person and 8.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 27.00% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median household income was $50,349 and the median family income was $56,344. Males had a median income of $36,983 versus $26,768 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,558. About 3.70% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.40% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

  • Ackworth
  • Bevington
  • Carlisle
  • Cumming
  • Des Moines (part)
  • Hartford
  • Indianola
  • Lacona
  • Martensdale
  • Milo
  • New Virginia
  • Norwalk
  • Sandyville
  • Spring Hill
  • St. Marys
  • West Des Moines

Unincorporated communities

  • Beech
  • Churchville
  • Clarkson
  • Conger
  • Cool
  • Ford
  • Liberty Center
  • Medora
  • Palmyra
  • Prole
  • Scotch Ridge
  • Wick

Townships

Warren County has sixteen townships:

  • Allen
  • Belmont
  • Greenfield
  • Jackson
  • Jefferson
  • Liberty
  • Lincoln
  • Linn
  • Otter
  • Palmyra
  • Richland
  • Squaw
  • Union
  • Virginia
  • White Breast
  • White Oak

Population ranking

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

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See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Warren County, Iowa

References

Further reading

  • Beatty, Jerry K. Patriotism, Courage, & Sacrifice: Warren County's Response to WW II (Indianola: Warren County Historical Society, 2017). 401 pp online review

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  • Warren County official website