County population in 2016: 25,952 (19% urban, 81% rural); it was 25,308 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 5,544 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,779 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 7,735 Renter-occupied apartments: 1,979 (it was 2,011 in 2000)
% of renters here:
21%
State:
28%
Land area: 716 sq. mi.
Water area: 2.1 sq. mi.
Population density: 36 people per square mile (low).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Benton County: 84.2 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (18.6%), Construction (14.7%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (14.4%), Agriculture,forestry,fishing and hunting, and mining (11.7%).
Estimated median household income in 2016: $63,103 ($42,427 in 1999)
This county:
$63,103
Iowa:
$56,247
Median contract rent in 2016 for apartments: $469 (lower quartile is $359, upper quartile is $545)
This county:
$469
State:
$611
Estimated median house or condo value in 2016: $153,230 (it was $85,800 in 2000)
Benton:
$153,230
Iowa:
$142,300
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $95,872 - $236,432 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,302 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $443
Institutionalized population: 224
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
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2016: $2,237 (1.3%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2016: $1,822 (1.4%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2016: 8.8%
Benton County:
8.8%
Iowa:
11.8%
(7.9% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 14.9% for Black residents, 49.9% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 10.0% for American Indian residents, 28.0% for other race residents, 20.3% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2016: 41.8 years old
(Males: 40.3 years old, Females: 42.6 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 42.5 years old, Black residents: 12.0 years old, American Indian residents: 42.8 years old, Asian residents: 21.7 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 11.1 years old, Other race residents: 22.0 years old)
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.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Benton County: Rogers (A), Airport National Public Golf Complex (B), Central City (C), Rolling Acres Golf Course (D), Palo (E), Camp Wakomda (F), Camp Waubeek (G), Valley Farm (H), West Prairie (I), Wapsa (J), Necot (K), Dry Creek (L), Rural (M), Crab Apple (N), Saint Mary (O), Nugent (P), Ivanhoe (Q), Duane Arnold Energy Center (R), Squaw Creek Municipal Golf Course (S), Wires Corners (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Benton County include: Holy Trinity Catholic Church (A), Greens Grove Church (B), John XXIII Church (C), Living Water United Methodist Church (D), Valley View Baptist Church (E), Jehovahs Witnesses Pioneer Avenue Congregation Kingdom Hall (F), Blair Ridge Baptist Church (G), Buffalo United Methodist Church (H), River of Life Ministries (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Nugents Grove Cemetery (1), Oakhill Cemetery (2), Old Palo Cemetery (3), Oliphant Cemetery (4), Palo Cemetery (5), Blodgett Cemetery (6), Pleasant Ridge Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes: Goose Pond (A), Robbins Lake (B), Williams Lake (C), Mud Lake (D), Little Lewis Lake (E), Big Lewis Lake (F). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Apple Creek (A), Bear Creek (B), Big Creek (C), Blue Creek (D), Boulder Creek (E), Crabapple Creek (F), Squaw Creek (G), South Hoosier Creek (H), Simmons Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Benton County include: Hitters Park (1), Indian Creek Park (2), Buffalo Creek County Parkway (3), Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Management Area (4), Hanging Bog State Preserve (5), Rock Island Botanical State Preserve (6), Chain Lakes County Park (7), Squaw Creek Regional Park (8), Eakpicada County Park (9). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 868 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 92.4% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 22.7%
Number of foreign born residents: 175 (65.9% naturalized citizens)
Benton County:
0.7%
Whole state:
5.1%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
2010 or later: 45
2000 to 2009: 27
1990 to 1999: 13
1980 to 1989: 12
1970 to 1979: 4
Before 1970: 71
Note: State values scaled to Benton County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 25.0 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 42.2%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 9,761
One, attached: 112
Two: 144
3 or 4: 326
5 to 9: 358
10 to 19: 119
20 to 49: 103
50 or more: 16
Mobile homes: 305
Housing units in Benton County with a mortgage: 4,896 (181 second mortgage, 562 home equity loan, 64 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 3,267
Here:
57.1% with mortgage
State:
60.6% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Benton County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
5,070
19
Mainline Protestant
4,433
21
Catholic
4,201
8
Other
120
3
None
12,252
-
Benton County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 5
Benton County:
1.89 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.14 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 5
This county:
1.89 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:
0.43 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 8
Benton County:
3.02 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:
5.55 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 12
This county:
4.53 / 10,000 pop.
State:
8.01 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Benton County:
7.0%
Iowa:
7.8%
Adult obesity rate:
Benton County:
27.9%
State:
27.3%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
16.1%
State:
14.5%
Agriculture in Benton County:
Average size of farms: 338 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $124,750 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: $95,647 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: $102,187 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
Tornado activity:
Benton County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Iowa state average. It is 1185886.3 times below overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused 26 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 5/26/1965, a category 2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado injured 14 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Benton County-area historical earthquake activity is slightly below Iowa state average. It is 84% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW, Depth: 8.9 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 333.4 miles away from Benton County center On 6/10/1987 at 23:48:54, a magnitude 5.1 (4.9 MB, 4.4 MS, 4.6 MS, 5.1 LG) earthquake occurred 314.3 miles away from the county center On 6/28/2004 at 06:10:52, a magnitude 4.2 (4.0 MB, 4.2 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 168.3 miles away from the county center On 6/18/2002 at 17:37:15, a magnitude 5.0 (4.3 MB, 4.6 MW, 5.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 362.1 miles away from the county center On 9/26/1990 at 13:18:51, a magnitude 5.0 (4.7 MB, 4.8 LG, 5.0 LG, Depth: 7.7 mi) earthquake occurred 364.9 miles away from Benton County center On 4/18/2008 at 15:14:16, a magnitude 4.8 (4.5 MB, 4.8 MW, 4.6 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 333.5 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Iowa Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: September 21, 2016 to October 03, 2016, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4289: October 31, 2016, FEMA Id: 4289, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: June 21, 2013 to June 28, 2013, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4135: July 31, 2013, FEMA Id: 4135, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: May 19, 2013 to June 15, 2013, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4126: July 02, 2013, FEMA Id: 4126, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Iowa Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding, Incident Period: July 09, 2011 to July 14, 2011, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4016: August 24, 2011, FEMA Id: 4016, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood, Wind
Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: May 25, 2008 to August 13, 2008, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1763: May 27, 2008, FEMA Id: 1763, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Iowa Severe Winter Storms, Incident Period: February 23, 2007 to March 02, 2007, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1688: March 14, 2007, FEMA Id: 1688, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
Iowa Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3239: September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: 3239, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: May 19, 2004 to June 24, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1518: May 25, 2004, FEMA Id: 1518, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Iowa Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: June 03, 2002 to June 25, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1420: June 19, 2002, FEMA Id: 1420, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Iowa Severe Weather, Tornadoes and Flooding, Incident Period: June 13, 1998 to July 15, 1998, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1230: July 02, 1998, FEMA Id: 1230, Natural disaster type: Tornado, Flood
5 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Benton County (15) is near the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 14 Emergencies Declared: 1
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 13, Storms: 10, Tornadoes: 5, Heavy Rain: 1, Hurricane: 1, Wind: 1, Winter Storm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (9%)
Transportation occupations (8%)
Sales and related occupations (8%)
Material moving occupations (7%)
Office and administrative support occupations (23%)
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (9%)
Sales and related occupations (9%)
Education, training, and library occupations (7%)
Management occupations (7%)
Personal care and service occupations (7%)
Business and financial operations occupations (5%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Germany (23%)
Burma (19%)
Mexico (17%)
Other Eastern Africa (7%)
Korea (6%)
Vietnam (5%)
Colombia (3%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Benton County (%):
German (45%)
American (15%)
Irish (6%)
Czech (3%)
English (3%)
European (3%)
Swedish (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 5,101 (75.8%)
Carpooled: 457 (6.8%)
Bus or trolley bus: 14 (0.2%)
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 82 (1.2%)
Bicycle: 2 (0.0%)
Walked: 420 (6.2%)
Worked at home: 670 (10.0%)
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in Benton County, Iowa in 2000:
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
People in group quarters in Benton County, Iowa in 2010:
205 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
48 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
41 people in residential treatment centers for adults
10 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
9 people in residential schools for people with disabilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $59,399.
5.86% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($37,135 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.86%
Iowa average:
5.75%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.81% relocated from other counties in Iowa ($31,143 average AGI)
1.05% relocated from other states ($5,991 average AGI)
Benton County:
1.05%
Iowa average:
2.41%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
6.11% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($34,230 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.11%
Iowa average:
5.94%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.98% relocated to other counties in Iowa ($28,188 average AGI)
1.13% relocated to other states ($6,042 average AGI)
Benton County:
1.13%
Iowa average:
2.60%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Benton County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 4,286 (3,749 aged, 537 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 233 (3%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Benton County, Iowa in 1999 - 2014:
Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (777)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (230)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (85)
Unspecified dementia (83)
Colon, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (70)
Pancreas, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (62)
Pneumonia, unspecified (62)
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: 1,284 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 312 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 8,766
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,233 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 907
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 20 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 52
Household type by relationship:
Households: 25,952
In family households: 21,841 (3,869 male householders, 3,161 female householders)
6,051 spouses, 7,382 children (6,850 natural, 202 adopted, 329 stepchildren), 243 grandchildren, 36 brothers or sisters, 243 parents, 169 other relatives, 702 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 3,753 (1,615 male householders (1,270 living alone)), 1,523 female householders (1,352 living alone)), 609 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 341
Size of family households: 3,622 2-persons, 1,275 3-persons, 1,087 4-persons, 724 5-persons, 165 6-persons, 171 7-or-more-persons.
4,532 married couples with children.
1,249 single-parent households (322 men, 927 women).
98.0% of residents of Benton speak English at home.
1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home (79% speak English very well, 6% speak English well, 15% speak English not well).
0.7% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (46% speak English very well, 41% speak English well, 13% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $118,302,000 ($4,441 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)
Note: State values scaled to Benton County population
no vehicle: 110
1 vehicle: 1,322
2 vehicles: 3,148
3 vehicles: 2,307
4 vehicles: 907
5+ vehicles: 417
no vehicle: 375
1 vehicle: 819
2 vehicles: 459
3 vehicles: 173
4 vehicles: 147
5+ vehicles: 66
89% of Benton County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 35% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 85% lived in Iowa.
Benton County:
89.0%
State average:
84.7%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 21,459
Other state: 4,150
Northeast: 259
Midwest: 2,214
South: 722
West: 957
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Benton County
Click here to upload your Benton County photos (outside city limits)
41.8 years
38.0 years
(50.0%)
(50.0%)
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