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Benton County, Iowa (IA)



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Benton County, IA mapCounty population in July 2007: 26,546 (30% urban, 70% rural)
County owner-occupied houses and condos: 7,735
Renter-occupied apartments: 2,011
% of renters here:  21%
State:  28%
Land area: 716 sq. mi.
Water area: 2.1 sq. mi.
Population density: 35 people per square mile 
 
 (low).

Residents with income below the poverty level in 1999:
This county:  6.1%
Whole state:  9.1%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 1999:
This county:  2.8%
Whole state:  3.8%

2008 cost of living index in Benton County: 79.9 (low, U.S. average is 100)

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Industries providing employment: Manufacturing (19.6%), Educational,health and social services (17.7%), Retail trade (11.7%).

Type of workers:

  • Private wage or salary: 79%
  • Government: 11%
  • Self-employed, not incorporated: 10%
  • Unpaid family work: 1%

Benton County, Iowa business data: stores, dealers, real estate agents, wholesalers, restaurants...

Races in Benton County, Iowa:

  • White Non-Hispanic (98.4%)
  • Hispanic (0.6%)
  • Two or more races (0.5%)

Median resident age:  37.2 years
Iowa median age:  36.6 years

Males: 12,652  (50.0%)
Females: 12,656  (50.0%)
Average wage per job in 2003: $25,196
County population in 2003: 26,285
Jobs in 2003: 6,061

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Benton County,IA real estate house value trend


Total labor force in 2004: 14,050
Unemployment rate in 2004: 4.9%

Average household size:
Benton County:  2.6 people
Iowa:  2.5 people

Estimated median household income in 2005: $46,877 ($42,427 in 2000)
This county  $46,877
Iowa:  $43,609

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $107,379
Benton County  $107,379
Iowa:  $106,600

Median monthly rent in 2000: $385
Institutionalized population: 280
Median monthly costs for houses with a mortgage in Benton County in 2000: $831


Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 0
  • Rapes: 0
  • Robberies: 0
  • Assaults: 8
  • Burglaries: 10
  • Thefts: 40
  • Auto thefts: 1

Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 0
  • Rapes: 0
  • Robberies: 0
  • Assaults: 7
  • Burglaries: 30
  • Thefts: 33
  • Auto thefts: 5

Benton County races chart


Benton County, IA map from a distance


2004 Presidential Election results in Benton County Iowa:


Kerry/Edwards (Democratic): 50.0%
Bush/Cheney (Republican): 49.4%




Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: $927 (1.1%)

Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Benton County is $381 a month.
Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $498 a month.
Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $620 a month.

Cities in this county include: Vinton, Belle Plaine, Walford, Urbana, Atkins, Shellsburg, Newhall, Van Horne, Keystone, Blairstown.

Neighboring counties: Black Hawk County , Buchanan County , Iowa County , Johnson County , Linn County , Poweshiek County , Tama County .


Benton County close-up map

Click to draw/clear county borders

Notable locations in this county outside city limits:

Notable locations in Benton County: Watkins Elevator (A), Watkins (B), Robin (C), Gomersal (D), Benton (E), Benton Centre (F), Taylors Grove (G), Tara Hills Country Club (H), Buckeye (I), Harrison Townhall (J), Homer Townhall (K), Benton County Home (L), Big Grove Townhall (M), Eden Townhall (N), Bruce Townhall (O). Display/hide their locations on the map

Churches in Benton County include: Faith Baptist Church (A), Saint Paul's Lutheran Church (B), Oak Grove Church (C), Saint Martin Church (D), Kingdom Hall (E), Pratt Creek Church (F), Prairie Creek Church (G), Parkers Grove Church (H). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemeteries: LaRue Cemetery (1), Old International Cemetery (2), Indian Cemetery (3), Engledow Cemetery (4), Oakwood Cemetery (5), Wright Cemetery (6), Norway Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map

Lakes and reservoirs: Ice House Lake (A), Hannen Lake (B). Display/hide their locations on the map

Streams, rivers, and creeks: Opossum Creek (A), Salt Creek (B), Buffalo Creek (C), Pratt Creek (D), Prairie Creek (E), Lime Creek (F), Walnut Creek (G), Goose Run (H), Weasel Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Parks in Benton County include: Red Fox Wildlife Area (1), Hannen Park (2), Polk Township Wildlife Area (3), Dudgeon Lake State Wildlife Mgt Area (4), Milroy Access Area (5), Minne Estema Park (6), Atkins Roundhouse Area (7), Warren H Pangborn Wildlife Area (8), Eden Township Wildlife Area (9). Display/hide their locations on the map

Post office: Watkins Post Office (A). Display/hide its location on the map

 
Unemployment in September 2007:
Here:  3.4%
Iowa:  3.6%


Unemployment by year (%)


County total employment by year


County average yearly wages by year ($)


Current college students: 868
People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 87.8%
People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.9%

Number of foreign born residents: 159 (64% naturalized citizens)

Benton County:  0.6%
Whole state:  3.1%

Year of entry for the foreign-born population
  • 1995 to March 2000: 36
  • 1990 to 1994: 36
  • 1985 to 1989: 4
  • 1980 to 1984: 8
  • 1975 to 1979: 0
  • 1970 to 1974: 4
  • 1970 to 1974: 18
  • 1965 to 1969: 53


Mean travel time to work: 25.0 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 42.2%

Benton County marital status for males
Benton County marital status for females

Housing units in structures:

  • One, detached: 8,728
  • One, attached: 80
  • Two: 182
  • 3 or 4: 489
  • 5 to 9: 227
  • 10 to 19: 61
  • 20 or more: 105
  • Mobile homes: 491
  • Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 14

Housing units in Benton County with a mortgage: 3,634 (429 second mortgage, 445 home equity loan, 9 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 2,376


Agriculture in Benton County
Average size of farms: 338 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $124750
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $287.22
The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 0.72%
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 35.59%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $95647
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 82.82%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 0.01%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $102187
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 88.45%
Average age of principal farm operators: 54 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 9.10
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 14.55%
Corn for grain: 161461 harvested acres
Soybeans for beans: 152406 harvested acres
Vegetables: 84 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 47 acres

Benton County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is slightly above Iowa state average. It is 3.0 times above overall U.S. average.
Tornadoes in this county have caused one fatality and 35 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004.
On 8/26/1965, a category 4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado killed one person and injured 17 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.



Class of Workers



Most common industries for males:



  • Construction (13%)
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (11%)
  • Electrical equipment, appliances, and components (5%)
  • Educational services (4%)
  • Food (4%)
  • Metal and metal products (4%)
  • Motor vehicle and parts dealers (3%)


Most common industries for females:



  • Health care (14%)
  • Educational services (12%)
  • Finance and insurance (7%)
  • Social assistance (5%)
  • Electrical equipment, appliances, and components (4%)
  • Accommodation and food services (4%)
  • Administrative and support and waste management services (4%)


Most common occupations for males



  • Farmers and farm managers (8%)
  • Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (7%)
  • Other production occupations including supervisors (6%)
  • Metal workers and plastic workers (6%)
  • Other sales and related workers including supervisors (5%)
  • Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (5%)
  • Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (4%)


Most common occupations for females



  • Secretaries and administrative assistants (6%)
  • Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (5%)
  • Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (5%)
  • Child care workers (5%)
  • Other sales and related workers including supervisors (4%)
  • Assemblers and fabricators (4%)
  • Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (3%)


Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents:



  • Korea (23%)
  • Germany (22%)
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina (14%)
  • Canada (13%)
  • Asia, n.e.c. (9%)
  • United Kingdom (7%)
  • Greece (3%)


Most common first ancestries reported in Benton County:



  • German (47%)
  • United States or American (10%)
  • Irish (9%)
  • English (8%)
  • Norwegian (5%)
  • Czech (5%)
  • French (except Basque) (2%)

Benton County mode of transportation to work chart

Means of transportation to work

  • Drove a car alone: 9,721 (77%)
  • Carpooled: 1,726 (14%)
  • Bus or trolley bus: 44 (0%)
  • Bicycle: 17 (0%)
  • Walked: 307 (2%)
  • Other means: 28 (0%)
  • Worked at home: 798 (6%)

People in group quarters in Benton County, Iowa
  • 255 people in nursing homes
  • 27 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
  • 25 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
  • 4 people in religious group quarters

Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $50,413.

6.60% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($41,867 average adjusted gross income)

Here:  6.60%
Iowa average:  6.30%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
5.25% relocated from other counties in Iowa ($32,743 average AGI)
1.35% relocated from other states ($9,122 average AGI)
Benton County:  1.35%
Iowa average:  2.55%



Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries


Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
from Linn County, IA  2.98% ($44,746 average AGI)
from Johnson County, IA  0.35% ($26,853)
from Iowa County, IA  0.30% ($34,448)
from Black Hawk County, IA  0.25% ($59,083)
from Tama County, IA  0.25% ($30,333)
from Polk County, IA  0.11% ($41,818)
from Poweshiek County, IA  0.11% ($25,000)


7.34% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($38,373 average adjusted gross income)

Here:  7.34%
Iowa average:  6.47%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
5.89% relocated to other counties in Iowa ($29,943 average AGI)
1.45% relocated to other states ($8,430 average AGI)
Benton County:  1.45%
Iowa average:  2.80%



Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries


Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
to Linn County, IA  3.32% ($38,018 average AGI)
to Black Hawk County, IA  0.35% ($29,824)
to Johnson County, IA  0.33% ($33,121)
to Tama County, IA  0.29% ($34,931)
to Iowa County, IA  0.26% ($35,500)
to Polk County, IA  0.17% ($34,176)
to Poweshiek County, IA  0.14% ($33,071)

Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.7
Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 12.3



Births per 1000 population in Benton County

Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 8.9
Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 9.2



Deaths per 1000 population in Benton County

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 7.3
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2003: 3.1



Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Benton County

Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 4,026 (3,608 aged, 418 disabled)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 5%
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 4%

Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 3.75
Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 1283.880
Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 311.580
Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 8765.670

General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1233.330
Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 907.410

Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 19.67
Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 51.85


Household type by relationship


Households: 24,995
  • In family households: 22,060 (6,183 male householders, 1,015 female householders)
    6,107 spouses, 8,003 children (7,192 natural, 266 adopted, 545 stepchildren), 149 grandchildren, 78 brothers or sisters, 63 parents, 120 other relatives, 342 non-relatives
  • In nonfamily households: 2,935 (1,228 male householders (985 living alone)), 1,356 female householders (1,295 living alone)), 351 nonrelatives
  • In group quarters: 313 (286 institutionalized population)

Size of family households: 3,274 2-persons, 1,471 3-persons, 1,515 4-persons, 663 5-persons, 217 6-persons, 58 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 2,280 1-person, 263 2-persons, 31 3-persons, 9 4-persons, 1 5-persons.

97.2% of residents of Benton County speak English at home.
1.4% of residents speak Spanish at home (77% speak English very well, 12% speak English well, 11% speak English not well).
1.1% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (79% speak English very well, 9% speak English well, 10% speak English not well, 2% don't speak English at all).
0.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (93% speak English very well, 7% speak English well).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (32% speak English very well, 68% speak English well).

In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $118,302,000 ($4441 per capita)
Department of Defense expenditure: $1,342,000
Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $56,361,000
Federal other direct payments to individuals: $24,260,000
Federal direct payments not to individuals: $18,652,000
Federal grants: $13,848,000
Federal procurement contracts: $1,012,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense)
Federal salaries and wages: $4,169,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense)
Federal Government direct loans: $606,000
Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $12,707,000
Federal Government insurance: $81,746,000

Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,650
Here:  61 per 1000 residents
State:  66 per 1000 residents

Deaths: 1,206
Here:  45 per 1000 residents
State:  48 per 1000 residents

Net international migration: +17
Here:  +1 per 1000 residents
State:  +10 per 1000 residents

Net internal migration: +1,195
Here:  +44 per 1000 residents
State:  -14 per 1000 residents



Population growth in Benton County

Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 1.34 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:  6.3
State:  6.3

Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:  4.5
State:  4.2



Year house built:

  • 1999 to March 2000: 345
  • 1995 to 1998: 827
  • 1990 to 1994: 500
  • 1980 to 1989: 669
  • 1970 to 1979: 1,427
  • 1960 to 1969: 959
  • 1950 to 1959: 738
  • 1940 to 1949: 671
  • 1939 or earlier: 4,241

Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Benton County, Iowa:
  • 1 room: 14
  • 2 rooms: 31
  • 3 rooms: 143
  • 4 rooms: 656
  • 5 rooms: 1,522
  • 6 rooms: 1,814
  • 7 rooms: 1,498
  • 8 rooms: 1,027
  • 9+ rooms: 1,030


Rooms in renter-occupied apartments in Benton County, Iowa:
  • 1 room: 37
  • 2 rooms: 127
  • 3 rooms: 344
  • 4 rooms: 495
  • 5 rooms: 279
  • 6 rooms: 260
  • 7 rooms: 251
  • 8 rooms: 106
  • 9+ rooms: 112


Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses and condos in Benton County:
  • no bedroom: 21
  • 1 bedroom: 211
  • 2 bedrooms: 1,708
  • 3 bedrooms: 3,911
  • 4 bedrooms: 1,559
  • 5+ bedrooms: 325


Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments in Benton County:
  • no bedroom: 62
  • 1 bedroom: 536
  • 2 bedrooms: 680
  • 3 bedrooms: 487
  • 4 bedrooms: 200
  • 5+ bedrooms: 46


Cars and other vehicles available in Benton County in owner-occupied houses/condos:
  • no vehicle: 221
  • 1 vehicle: 1,499
  • 2 vehicles: 3,333
  • 3 vehicles: 1,698
  • 4 vehicles: 652
  • 5+ vehicles: 332


Cars and other vehicles available in Benton County in renter-occupied apartments
  • no vehicle: 266
  • 1 vehicle: 778
  • 2 vehicles: 588
  • 3 vehicles: 241
  • 4 vehicles: 83
  • 5+ vehicles: 55


61% of Benton County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago.
   Out of people who lived in different houses, 43% lived in this county.
   Out of people who lived in different counties, 77% lived in Iowa.

Benton County:  61.0%
State average:  57.7%


Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:

  • This state: 21577
  • Northeast: 211
  • Midwest: 2098
  • South: 654
  • West: 538

Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $48,900


Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%

Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1%


Year Householders Moved Into Unit:

 

Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos:
  • Utility gas (59%)
  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (22%)
  • Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (9%)
  • Electricity (8%)
  • Wood (2%)

Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments:
  • Utility gas (36%)
  • Electricity (34%)
  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (17%)
  • Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (10%)
  • Other fuel (1%)



Private vs. public school enrollment:
Students in private schools in grades 1 to 8 (elementary and middle school): 162
Here:  4.9%
Iowa:  10.8%

Students in private schools in grades 9 to 12 (high school): 25
Here:  1.5%
Iowa:  7.1%

Students in private undergraduate colleges: 150
Here:  20.4%
Iowa:  25.4%


Educational Attainment


School Enrollment by Level of School



Age and Sex of Sensory-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)


Age and Sex of Physically-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)



Age and Sex of Mentally-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)


Age and Sex of Self-Care Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)



Age and Sex of Go-Outside-Home Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)


Age and Sex of Residents with Employment Disability (Noninst.)


Benton County government finances in 2004:
  • Charges - All Other: $514,000
    Solid Waste Management: $93,000
    Parks & Recreation: $86,000
  • Construction - Regular Highways: $287,000
  • Current Operations - Regular Highways: $4,760,000
    Health Services - Other: $1,425,000
    Police Protection: $1,367,000
    Financial Administration: $632,000
    Parks & Recreation: $532,000
    Corrections - Other: $511,000
    General - Other: $461,000
    Solid Waste Management: $455,000
    Central Staff Services: $381,000
    Welfare - Other: $373,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $302,000
    General Public Buildings: $203,000
    Fire Protection: $140,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $100,000
    Libraries: $93,000
    Transit Utilities: $79,000
  • General - Interest on Debt: $38,000
  • Intergovernmental to State - Welfare: $219,000
  • Long Term Debt Beginning Outstanding, NEC: $629,000
  • Long Term Debt Outstanding - Full Faith & Credit - Other, NEC: $413,000
  • Long Term Debt Retired Unspecified - Other, NEC: $216,000
  • Miscellaneous - General Revenue, NEC: $428,000
    Interest Earnings: $286,000
  • Other Capital Outlay - General - Other: $67,000
  • Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $9,746,000
  • Revenue - Transit Utilities: $58,000
  • State Intergovernmental - Highways: $3,450,000
    General Support: $879,000
    Health & Hospitals: $803,000
    All Other: $405,000
  • Tax - Property: $5,410,000
    NEC: $25,000
  • Total Salaries & Wages: $4,071,000


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Total Number Of Recipients


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of aged recipients


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of blind and disabled recipients


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients under 18


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients between 18 and 64


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients older than 64


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients also receiving OASDI


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Amount of payments (thousands of dollars)



Benton County Fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 2006:

Fatal accident count (per 100,000 population)


Fatal accident count (per 100,000 population)




Vehicles involved in fatal accidents (per 100,000 population)