Poweshiek County is a county in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,662. The county seat is Montezuma. The county is named for the chief of the Fox tribe who signed the treaty ending the Black Hawk War. It lies along Interstate 80 between Des Moines and Iowa City. Poweshiek County's largest city is Grinnell.
History
Poweshiek County was formed in 1843. It was named for Meskwaki Chief Poweshiek (1791–1854), a chief of the Fox Indian people. The Poweshiek County Courthouse, completed in 1859, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Government and infrastructure
County business is overseen by three elected county supervisors. The county website provides names and contact information for the current supervisors.
Poweshiek County Elected Officials
County Supervisors: Diana Dawley (D), Jason Roudabush (D), Jeff Tindle (R) County Attorney: Bart Klaver (R) County Auditor: Melissa Eilander (R) County Recorder: Dianna Longhenry (R) County Sheriff: Tom Kriegel (D) County Treasurer: Sandy Ross (R)
Healthcare
Poweshiek County is served by Grinnell Regional Medical Center, an acute care hospital licensed for 81 beds. GRMC was established in 1967 after the merger of two hospitals.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.2%) is water. It is drained by the north fork of Skunk River, which crosses the southwest corner, and by English River and other streams.
Major highways
Interstate 80
U.S. Highway 6
U.S. Highway 63
Iowa Highway 21
Iowa Highway 85
Iowa Highway 146
Transit
List of intercity bus stops in Iowa
Adjacent counties
Tama County (north) Iowa County (east) Keokuk County (southeast) Mahaska County (south) Jasper County (west)
Demographics
2020 census
The 2020 census recorded a population of 18,662 in the county, with a population density of . 96.55% of the population reported being of one race. There were 8,906 housing units, of which 7,536 were occupied.
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 18,914 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,949 housing units, of which 7,555 were occupied.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,815 people, 7,398 households, and 4,882 families in the county. The population density was . There were 8,556 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.74% White, 0.55% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 7,398 households 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 29.2% of households were one person and 13.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88.
The age distribution was 22.7% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median household income was $37,836 and the median family income was $46,599. Males had a median income of $32,781 versus $22,465 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,629. About 6.2% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Poweshiek County is served by three community school districts:
Poweshiek County is home to Grinnell College, a small liberal arts college founded in 1846.
There is one private school in the county, Central Iowa Christian School, in Grinnell.