Wapello County, Iowa

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Wapello County

| state = Iowa

| ex image = Wapello County, Iowa Courthouse.jpg

| ex image size = 240px

| ex image cap = The courthouse in Ottumwa

| seal =

| founded year = 1843

| founded date =

| seat wl = Ottumwa

| largest city wl = Ottumwa

| area_total_sq_mi = 436

| area_land_sq_mi = 432

| area_water_sq_mi = 4.2

| area percentage = 1.0%

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 35437

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| footnotes =

| web = www.wapellocounty.org

| district = 3rd

| named for = Wapello

}}

File:Wapella.jpg; "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.{{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}} The county seat is Ottumwa.{{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}} The county was formed on February 17, 1843, and named for Wapello, a Meskwaki chief.{{Cite web |url=http://www.iowacounties.org/About%20Us/AboutCoGov/County%20Pages/Wapello.htm |title=Wapello County |access-date=January 20, 2008 |archive-date=April 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426085433/http://www.iowacounties.org/About%20Us/AboutCoGov/County%20Pages/Wapello.htm |url-status=dead }}

Wapello County is included in the Ottumwa, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|436|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|432|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.2|sqmi}} (1.0%) 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}}

=Major highways=

=Transit=

=Adjacent counties=

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

Demographics

{{US Census population

| 1850 = 8471

| 1860 = 14518

| 1870 = 22346

| 1880 = 25285

| 1890 = 30426

| 1900 = 35426

| 1910 = 37743

| 1920 = 37937

| 1930 = 40480

| 1940 = 44280

| 1950 = 47397

| 1960 = 46126

| 1970 = 42149

| 1980 = 40241

| 1990 = 35696

| 2000 = 36051

| 2010 = 35625

| 2020 = 35437

|estyear=2023

|estimate=35166

|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 20, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 20, 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 20, 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 20, 2014}} 2010-2018{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19179.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 20, 2014|archive-date=August 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806011809/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19179.html|url-status=dead}}

}}

File:WapelloCountyIowaPop2020.png

=2020 census=

File:WapelloCountyIA2022PopPyr.png for Wapello County from ACS 5-year estimates]]

The 2020 census recorded a population of 35,437 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|35437|436.295121|sqmi|km2}}. There were 15,734 housing units, of which 14,167 were occupied.

class="wikitable"

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

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

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%

=2010 census=

The 2010 census recorded a population of 35,625 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|35625|431.81|sqmi|km2}}. There were 16,098 housing units, of which 14,552 were occupied.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016010401/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |url-status=live|title=Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010|publisher=United States Census Bureau American FactFinder|access-date=August 15, 2022}}

=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 36,051 people, 14,784 households, and 9,801 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|84|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 15,873 housing units at an average density of {{convert|37|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. 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=

=Unincorporated communities=

Ashland
Bladensburg
Dahlonega
Dudley
Farson
Munterville
Phillips
Pickwick
Ottumwa Junction
Rutledge

=Townships=

=Population ranking=

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

† county seat

class="wikitable sortable"
Rank !City/Town/etc. !Municipal type !Population (2020 Census)
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 1 \|† Ottumwa \| City \| 25,529
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 2 \|Eddyville (partially in Mahaska and Monroe Counties) \| City \| 970
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 3 \|Eldon \| City \| 783
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 4 \|Agency \| City \| 620
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 5 \|Blakesburg \| City \| 274
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 6 \|Kirkville \| City \| 157
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 7 \|Chillicothe \| City \| 76

class="wikitable sortable"

Rank

!City/Town/etc.

!Municipal type

!Population (2020 Census)