Poweshiek County Demographics

A map of Poweshiek County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	16,653	17,004	89.8%	91.1%
Hispanic	657	529	3.5%	2.8%
Multiracial	610	485	3.3%	2.6%
Asian	380	221	2.0%	1.2%
Black	175	320	0.9%	1.7%
Native American/Other	70	103	0.4%	0.6%

Poweshiek County, Iowa has an estimated population of 18,545, a less than 1% change from the 18,662 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 89.8% White, 3.5% Hispanic, 3.3% Multiracial, 2.0% Asian, 0.9% Black, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Poweshiek County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Poweshiek has become more 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 Poweshiek County, that probability was 16.8% in 2020 and 19.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Poweshiek County is ranked the 37th most populous county in Iowa, out of 99 counties. Poweshiek County was ranked the 37th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Poweshiek County's White Population

16,653 residents of Poweshiek County, or 89.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Poweshiek County is higher than in Iowa overall, where 82.3% of the population is White. Poweshiek County ranks 56th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Poweshiek County's White population has declined by an estimated 2.1%. White residents' share of Poweshiek County's population has decreased from 91.1% to 89.8%.

Poweshiek County is more White than neighboring Tama County (78.4% White). Poweshiek County is less White than neighboring Mahaska County (91.6% White), Iowa County (92.5% White), Keokuk County (94.6% White), and Jasper County (90.8% White).

Poweshiek County's Black Population

175 residents of Poweshiek County, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Poweshiek County is slightly lower than in Iowa overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. Poweshiek County ranks 29th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Poweshiek County's Black population has declined by an estimated 45.3%. Black residents' share of Poweshiek County's population has decreased from 1.7% to 0.9%.

Poweshiek County is more Black than neighboring Iowa County (0.3% Black), and Keokuk County (0.3% Black). Poweshiek County is less Black than neighboring Mahaska County (1.1% Black), and Jasper County (1.5% Black).

Poweshiek County's Asian Population

380 residents of Poweshiek County, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Poweshiek County is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 2.5% of the population is Asian. Poweshiek County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Poweshiek County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 71.9%. Asian residents' share of Poweshiek County's population has increased from 1.2% to 2.0%.

Poweshiek County is more Asian than neighboring Mahaska County (1% Asian), Tama County (0.7% Asian), Iowa County (0.2% Asian), Keokuk County (0.2% Asian), and Jasper County (0.7% Asian).

Poweshiek County's Hispanic Population

657 residents of Poweshiek County, or 3.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Poweshiek County is slightly lower than in Iowa overall, where 7.3% of the population is Hispanic. Poweshiek County ranks 64th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Poweshiek County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 24.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Poweshiek County's population has increased from 2.8% to 3.5%.

Poweshiek County is more Hispanic than neighboring Mahaska County (2.5% Hispanic), Iowa County (3.4% Hispanic), Keokuk County (2.3% Hispanic), and Jasper County (3.1% Hispanic). Poweshiek County is less Hispanic than neighboring Tama County (11.7% Hispanic).

Poweshiek County's Native American/Other Population

70 residents of Poweshiek County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Poweshiek County is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Poweshiek County ranks 35th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Poweshiek County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 32.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Poweshiek County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Poweshiek County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Keokuk County (0.3% Native American/Other), and Jasper County (0.3% Native American/Other). Poweshiek County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Tama County (5.4% Native American/Other), and Iowa County (0.8% Native American/Other).

Poweshiek County's Multiracial Population

610 residents of Poweshiek County, or 3.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Poweshiek County is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 3.5% of the population is Multiracial. Poweshiek County ranks 45th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Poweshiek County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 25.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Poweshiek County's population has increased from 2.6% to 3.3%.

Poweshiek County is more Multiracial than neighboring Tama County (2.9% Multiracial), Iowa County (2.7% Multiracial), and Keokuk County (2.3% Multiracial). Poweshiek County is less Multiracial than neighboring Mahaska County (3.4% Multiracial), and Jasper County (3.6% 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.