Buena Vista County, Iowa#Micropolitan Statistical Area

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Buena Vista County

| state = Iowa

| ex image = Buena Vista County Courthouse 20120930 IMG 8837.JPG

| ex image size = 240px

| ex image cap = Buena Vista County Courthouse

| seal =

| founded year = 1851

| founded date =

| seat wl = Storm Lake

| largest city wl = Storm Lake

| area_total_sq_mi = 580

| area_land_sq_mi = 575

| area_water_sq_mi = 5.3

| area percentage = 0.9

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 20823

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| footnotes =

| web = https://buenavistacounty.iowa.gov/

| district = 4th

| named for = Battle of Buena Vista

}}

Buena Vista County ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|juː|n|ə|_|ˈ|v|ɪ|s|t|ə}}; {{IPA|es|ˈbwena ˈβista|lang)}}) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,823.{{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/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=August 12, 2021}} Its county seat is Storm Lake.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }} 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.

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.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q_lKAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA12 |title=History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States |year=1908 |pages=12}}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|580|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|575|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.3|sqmi}} (0.9%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} The North Raccoon River originates in the county, north of Marathon.

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

Clay County (north)
Pocahontas County (east)
Sac County (south)
Cherokee County (west)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1860= 57

|1870= 1585

|1880= 7537

|1890= 13548

|1900= 16975

|1910= 15981

|1920= 18556

|1930= 18667

|1940= 19838

|1950= 21113

|1960= 21189

|1970= 20693

|1980= 20774

|1990= 19965

|2000= 20411

|2010= 20260

|2020= 20823

|estyear=2023

|estimate=20567

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 13, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 13, 2014}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 13, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 13, 2014}} 2010-2018{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19021.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014752/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19021.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=dead}}

}}

File:BuenaVistaCountyIowaPop2020.png

=2020 census=

The 2020 census recorded a population of 20,823 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|20823|579.152815|sqmi|km2}}. 89.44% of the population reported being of one race. There were 8,141 housing units of which 7,447 were occupied.

class="wikitable"

|+Buena Vista County Racial Composition{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Buena Vista County, Iowa|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Buena%20Vista%20County,%20Iowa&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}

!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%

File:BuenaVistaCountyIA2022PopPyr.png for Buena Vista County from ACS 5-year estimates]]

=2010 census=

The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,260 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|20260|571|sqmi|km2}}. There were 8,237 housing units, of which 7,522 were occupied.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table|title=Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State – County|publisher=United States Census Bureau American FactFinder|access-date=March 8, 2011|archive-date=September 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929225050/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table|url-status=dead}}

=2000 census=

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 20,411 people, 7,499 households, and 5,121 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|36|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 8,145 housing units at an average density of {{convert|14|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 88.00% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 4.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 5.75% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 12.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2005 Census estimates of the racial origins of Buena Vista County's population indicated it had the lowest percentage of non-Hispanic Whites of any county in Iowa. The non-Hispanic whites constituted 76.1% of the county's population, with African-Americans being 1.3%, Asians 3.9% and Latinos 18.6% of the population.{{Cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19021.html |title=Buena Vista County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |access-date=October 31, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014752/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19021.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

There were 7,499 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,300, and the median income for a family was $41,549. Males had a median income of $29,172 versus $20,252 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,042. About 7.60% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.60% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Law enforcement

File:IA - Buena Vista County Sheriff.png

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bvcountyiowa.com/index.php/auditor/bv_county_elected_officials|title=Buena Vista County|website=www.bvcountyiowa.com|access-date=February 3, 2018|archive-date=February 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204000248/http://www.bvcountyiowa.com/index.php/auditor/bv_county_elected_officials|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.bvsheriff.com/ |title=Buena Vista County Sheriff |access-date=June 15, 2009 |publisher=Buena Vista County, 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.{{cite web |title=BV County Sheriff Reserve Officers Bring Home Honors |work=Storm Lake Pilot Tribune |date=April 29, 2013 |url=http://www.stormlakepilottribune.com/story/print/1964207.html |access-date=May 6, 2013 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110720/http://www.stormlakepilottribune.com/story/print/1964207.html |url-status=dead }}

Communities

=Cities=

=Townships=

Buena Vista County is divided into sixteen townships:

=Population ranking=

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

† county seat

class="wikitable sortable"
Rank !City/Town/etc. !Municipal type !Population (2020 Census)
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 1 \|† Storm Lake \| City \| 11,269
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 2 \|Alta \| City \| 2,087
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 3 \|Newell \| City \| 906
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 4 \|Sioux Rapids \| City \| 748
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 5 \|Lakeside \| City \| 700
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 6 \|Albert City \| City \| 677
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 7 \|Marathon \| City \| 230
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 8 \|Rembrandt \| City \| 209
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 9 \|Linn Grove \| City \| 163
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 10 \|Truesdale \| City \| 69

class="wikitable sortable"

Rank

!City/Town/etc.

!Municipal type

!Population (2020 Census)