According to Countryaah, Benton County, Iowa is located in the eastern part of the state and has a population of around 26,000 people as of 2019. The county covers an area of 459 square miles and is bordered by Tama County to the north, Black Hawk County to the east, Iowa County to the south, and Poweshiek and Linn Counties to the west.
The county seat is Vinton, which has a population of around 5,000 people. Other towns in Benton County include Belle Plaine (population 1,800), Blairstown (population 897), Urbana (population 1,035) and Van Horne (population 463). The county also contains several small unincorporated communities.
Benton County is home to several major employers including Vinton Shellsburg Community School District, Keystone Area Education Agency and Keystone Steel & Wire Company. The county also boasts one of the state’s top public golf courses at Packwood Golf Course & Clubhouse.
Benton County is known for its abundance of outdoor recreational activities including camping, fishing and hunting at several area parks such as Big Creek State Park and Otter Creek Lake Recreation Area. There are also many trails for biking and hiking throughout Benton County that offer stunning views of the local landscape.
In terms of education, Benton County has two public school districts: Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District and Belle Plaine Community School District. Additionally, there are seven private schools in Benton County offering various educational programs for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
History of Benton County, Iowa
Benton County, Iowa is located in the eastern part of the state and has a population of around 26,000 people as of 2019. The county was established in 1837 and is named for Thomas Hart Benton, a United States Senator from Missouri.
The earliest settlers to the area were primarily of English or German descent. In 1839, the county seat was established in Vinton and by 1850 the population had grown to 4,741 people. As more settlers moved into the area, small towns such as Blairstown, Belle Plaine and Urbana began to develop.
During the Civil War, Benton County sent more than 600 soldiers to fight for the Union cause. In 1865, after President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, flags were lowered to half-mast throughout Benton County as a sign of mourning for this great leader.
Following the war, Benton County continued to grow with an influx of new settlers from other parts of Iowa and beyond looking for new opportunities in this area. Agriculture remained an important part of life in Benton County with corn being a major crop along with soybeans and hogs becoming increasingly popular.
In 1895 Vinton became home to one of Iowa’s first electric interurban railways connecting it with Cedar Rapids and Waterloo which allowed residents easier access to larger cities nearby. By 1900 electricity had been introduced throughout much of Benton County making life easier for many rural residents who had previously relied on kerosene lanterns for light at night.
Today, Benton County is home to several major employers including Vinton Shellsburg Community School District, Keystone Area Education Agency and Keystone Steel & Wire Company. The county also boasts one of the state’s top public golf courses at Packwood Golf Course & Clubhouse while offering ample recreational opportunities such as camping fishing and hunting at Big Creek State Park and Otter Creek Lake Recreation Area as well as numerous trails for biking and hiking throughout Benton County that offer stunning views of its local landscape.
Major cities and towns in Benton County, Iowa
The largest city in Benton County, Iowa is Vinton with a population of 5,203. This city is the county seat and is located on the Cedar River. It is home to the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District, which serves the educational needs of students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The city also offers a wide range of recreational activities including golf courses, parks, and museums as well as a variety of restaurants and shopping centers.
The second largest town in Benton County is Van Horne with a population of 1,094. This small town was founded in 1875 and is located on Highway 218 just north of Vinton. It offers a quiet rural atmosphere with a rich history and plenty of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy such as fishing, hunting, camping, hiking trails, and more. Van Horne also has several churches for those looking to practice their faith as well as an award-winning public school system that serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The third largest town in Benton County is Belle Plaine with a population of 835. This quaint town was founded in 1869 and is located on Highway 21 just south of Vinton. It offers visitors plenty to do including visiting its historic downtown area which features several buildings from the 19th century as well as several museums and art galleries dedicated to its unique history. Belle Plaine also hosts many events throughout the year such as parades and festivals that celebrate local culture and traditions.
Population in Benton County, Iowa
According to existingcountries.com, Benton County, Iowa has a population of 26,076 according to the 2019 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The county is made up of mostly white residents with 92.1% of the population being non-Hispanic white, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 2% being of other races. The median age of Benton County residents is 43 years old, slightly higher than the national average of 38.3 years old. This is due to a large number of young people moving away from the area for jobs and educational opportunities elsewhere in the state and country as well as a smaller number of people over 65 years old staying in Benton County to retire and enjoy their golden years in such a peaceful environment.
In terms of gender breakdown, there are slightly more females than males in Benton County with 51.6% females compared to 48.4% males according to 2019 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau as well as an average household size that is slightly above the national average at 2.67 persons per household versus 2.6 persons per household nationally on average according to 2018 estimates from the U.S Census Bureau.
In terms of income level, the median household income for Benton County was estimated at $52,931 in 2018 according to data from the U.S Census Bureau which is slightly lower than both Iowa’s median household income figure ($56,247) and that of the United States overall ($61,937). The poverty rate for Benton County was estimated at 11%, which is lower than that for Iowa (11%) but higher than that for America overall (10%).
