Onawa, IA Demographics

A map of Onawa's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	2,670	2,593	94.0%	89.2%
Multiracial	106	122	3.7%	4.2%
Hispanic	43	55	1.5%	1.9%
Black	14	11	0.5%	0.4%
Native American/Other	6	111	0.2%	3.8%
Asian	0	14	0.0%	0.5%

Onawa, Iowa has an estimated population of 2,839, a slight decrease from the 2,906 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 94.0% White, 3.7% Multiracial, 1.5% Hispanic, 0.5% Black, 0.2% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Onawa, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Onawa has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Iowa overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Onawa, that probability was 20.0% in 2020 and 11.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Onawa is ranked the 126th most populous place in Iowa, out of 1,026 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Onawa was ranked the 124th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Onawa's White Population

2,670 residents of Onawa, or 94.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Onawa is considerably higher than in Iowa overall, where 82.3% of the population is White. Onawa ranks 783rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Onawa's White population has grown by an estimated 3.0%. White residents' share of Onawa's population has increased from 89.2% to 94.0%.

Onawa is more White than neighboring Whiting (80.3% White), and Decatur (84% White). Onawa is less White than neighboring Blencoe (95.4% White), Turin (98.5% White), and Castana (95.7% White).

Onawa's Black Population

14 residents of Onawa, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Onawa is slightly lower than in Iowa overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. Onawa ranks 452nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Onawa's Black population has grown by an estimated 27.3%. Black residents' share of Onawa's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Onawa is more Black than neighboring Blencoe (0% Black), Whiting (0% Black), Turin (0% Black), Decatur (0% Black), and Castana (0% Black).

Onawa's Asian Population

0 residents of Onawa, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Onawa is slightly lower than in Iowa overall, where 2.5% of the population is Asian. Onawa ranks 296th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Onawa's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Onawa's population has decreased from 0.5% to 0.0%.

Onawa's Hispanic Population

43 residents of Onawa, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Onawa is lower than in Iowa overall, where 7.3% of the population is Hispanic. Onawa ranks 639th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Onawa's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 21.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Onawa's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Onawa is more Hispanic than neighboring Turin (0% Hispanic), and Castana (0% Hispanic). Onawa is less Hispanic than neighboring Blencoe (3.6% Hispanic), Whiting (7.6% Hispanic), and Decatur (4.8% Hispanic).

Onawa's Native American/Other Population

6 residents of Onawa, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Onawa is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Onawa ranks 18th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Onawa's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 94.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Onawa's population has decreased from 3.8% to 0.2%.

Onawa is more Native American/Other than neighboring Blencoe (0% Native American/Other), Turin (0% Native American/Other), and Castana (0% Native American/Other). Onawa is less Native American/Other than neighboring Whiting (3.1% Native American/Other), and Decatur (4.8% Native American/Other).

Onawa's Multiracial Population

106 residents of Onawa, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Onawa is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 3.5% of the population is Multiracial. Onawa ranks 186th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Onawa's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 13.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Onawa's population has decreased from 4.2% to 3.7%.

Onawa is more Multiracial than neighboring Blencoe (1.1% Multiracial), and Turin (1.5% Multiracial). Onawa is less Multiracial than neighboring Whiting (9% Multiracial), Decatur (6.4% Multiracial), and Castana (4.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.