Black Hawk County is a county located in the northeastern part of U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 128,012, making it the fourth largest county in population in the state. The majority of the county's population resides in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls urbanized area. Waterloo, the county seat, is located approximately 65 miles east of I-35 at the intersection of U.S. Highways 20, 63 and 218. The city of Cedar Falls is located approximately eight miles west of Waterloo.

Black Hawk County is one of the three counties that make up the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 572 square miles (1,481 km²), of which, 567 square miles (1,469 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (12 km²) of it (0.84%) 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

Interstate 380 U.S. Route 20 U.S. Route 63 U.S. Route 218 Iowa Highway 21

Iowa Highway 27 Iowa Highway 57 Iowa Highway 58 Iowa Highway 175 Iowa Highway 281

Adjacent counties

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

History

Black Hawk County was formed on February 17, 1843 from sections of Buchanan County. It was named after Black Hawk, a chief of the Sac Indians.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 128,012 people, 49,683 households, and 31,946 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile (87/km²). There were 51,759 housing units at an average density of 91 per square mile (35/km²). 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% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 49,683 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $37,266, and the median income for a family 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.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

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

Unincorporated places

Dewar Eagle Center	Finchford Glasgow	Voorhies Washburn

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

References

External links

• Black Hawk County government's website