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My first thought was Des Moines, but then I thought to myself "I bet it's 85% white, non-Hispanic". After seeing it is actually fairly diverse I am going to stick with Des Moines.
My first thought was Des Moines, but then I thought to myself "I bet it's 85% white, non-Hispanic". After seeing it is actually fairly diverse I am going to stick with Des Moines.
I personally would not stick with Des Moines despite what I’ve previously said. Not only is it a state capital, it’s also too urban and city-like and fast-growing.
I personally would not stick with Des Moines despite what I’ve previously said. Not only is it a state capital, it’s also too urban and city-like and fast-growing.
Des Moines proper is only 5.3% growth 2010-20 in the city limits, close to the national average, but apparently Polk County is 14.3%, wow. West Des Moines is up 21.4%.
It's a very solid answer as far as demographic breakdown goes (race, education, income) but I agree, it seems odd for the most "average" US county to be centered on a fairly major regional city with a downtown full of skyscrapers.
Taking a slight detour, ignoring demographics entirely, I wonder what kind of county would have the most average or representative natural environment in the US? Instinctively I would name somewhere like Kittitas County, WA, where you have rolling hills, mountains, farmland, and scrubland. It's fairly dry but less so than places farther inland, and gets some snow but not as much as more-inland/higher-elevation places. Of course the demographics of Kittitas County are anything but average- its hub is the college town of Ellensburg.
Des Moines proper is only 5.3% growth 2010-20 in the city limits, close to the national average, but apparently Polk County is 14.3%, wow. West Des Moines is up 21.4%.
It's a very solid answer as far as demographic breakdown goes (race, education, income) but I agree, it seems odd for the most "average" US county to be centered on a fairly major regional city with a downtown full of skyscrapers.
Taking a slight detour, ignoring demographics entirely, I wonder what kind of county would have the most average or representative natural environment in the US? Instinctively I would name somewhere like Kittitas County, WA, where you have rolling hills, mountains, farmland, and scrubland. It's fairly dry but less so than places farther inland, and gets some snow but not as much as more-inland/higher-elevation places. Of course the demographics of Kittitas County are anything but average- its hub is the college town of Ellensburg.
I wouldn’t know the answer to that question, as I haven’t had time to research the other regions of the United States as much since my focus is overwhelmingly on the Midwest. I’d probably agree with your assertion though.
If we were to identify average America by demographics and culture though, instead of mid-sized towns or outlying suburbs, to me these would be the most American counties;
I wouldn’t know the answer to that question, as I haven’t had time to research the other regions of the United States as much since my focus is overwhelmingly on the Midwest. I’d probably agree with your assertion though.
If we were to identify average America by demographics and culture though, instead of mid-sized towns or outlying suburbs, to me these would be the most American counties;
*Will County, IL
*Elkhart County, IN
*St. Clair County, IL
*Butler County, OH
*Stark County, OH
*Black Hawk County, IA
*Delaware County, IN
Butler Cty is 91% white and 61% red in the 2020 presidential election...no way re: 'most average'. I suspect that a bunch of the other places in your list here will fall victim to similar demographic skewing. You did, however, manage to find the home county of the aforementioned JD Vance! Kudos...hah
I wouldn’t know the answer to that question, as I haven’t had time to research the other regions of the United States as much since my focus is overwhelmingly on the Midwest. I’d probably agree with your assertion though.
If we were to identify average America by demographics and culture though, instead of mid-sized towns or outlying suburbs, to me these would be the most American counties;
*Will County, IL
*Elkhart County, IN
*St. Clair County, IL
*Butler County, OH
*Stark County, OH
*Black Hawk County, IA
*Delaware County, IN
There could be a case for some of these counties, but I'd definitely take Elkhart, IN off the table. That county has low educational levels and one of the highest proportions of blue collar employment in the nation. Their major industry is recreational vehicle manufacturing, which goes through sharp economic cycles as demand fluctuates. Elkhart also has a large Amish population who have noticeably old fashioned lifestyles very different from most of contemporary America.
Butler, OH seems like a better candidate to me - it has suburbia including both working class and upscale communities, old industrial cities and a significant public university. While predominantly White it does have moderate sized Black, Asian and Hispanic populations. Metro Cincinnati is a pretty balanced place in general.
Butler Cty is 91% white and 61% red in the 2020 presidential election...no way re: 'most average'. I suspect that a bunch of the other places in your list here will fall victim to similar demographic skewing. You did, however, manage to find the home county of the aforementioned JD Vance! Kudos...hah
Butler Cty is 91% white and 61% red in the 2020 presidential election...no way re: 'most average'. I suspect that a bunch of the other places in your list here will fall victim to similar demographic skewing. You did, however, manage to find the home county of the aforementioned JD Vance! Kudos...hah
Butler County, OH is well under 80% White as of the 2020 census. No argument that it is still mostly conservative.
Stark County (home to Canton, OH) is 90% white and went 58% red in 2020. Very similar to Butler Cty. I don't have it in me to look up the non-Ohio counties but consider me skeptical, lol. Des Moines is probably a better answer than any of these, if I can extrapolate from the two OH counties
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