Bremer County

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 439 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.9%) is water. It is intersected by the Cedar and Wapsipinicon rivers.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 63

U.S. Highway 218

Iowa Highway 3

Iowa Highway 27

Iowa Highway 93

Iowa Highway 188

Adjacent counties

Chickasaw County (north)

Fayette County (east)

Floyd County (northwest)

Black Hawk County (south)

Buchanan County (southeast)

Butler County (west)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 24,988 and a population density of 56.8/sq mi (21.9/km2); 97.01% of residents reported being of one race.

The median age was 39.6 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.0% of the population.

36.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 9,646 households in the county, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.0% were married-couple households, 15.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 10,484 housing units, of which 9,646 were occupied and 8.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.6% were owner-occupied and 19.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.9%.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 24,276 in the county, with a population density of 55.4/sq mi (21.4/km2). There were 9,915 housing units, of which 9,385 were occupied.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,325 people, 8,860 households, and 6,326 families residing in the county. The population density was 53 inhabitants per square mile (20/km2). There were 9,337 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile (8.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.22% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,860 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 12.00% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,826, and the median income for a family was $50,299. Males had a median income of $34,212 versus $22,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,199. About 2.90% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.20% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Wartburg College is located in Waverly.

Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District

Waverly-Shell Rock Senior High School

Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School

Margaretta Carey Elementary School

Shell Rock Elementary

WSR Southeast Elementary

WSR West Cedar Elementary

WSR Lied Campus

St. Paul's Lutheran School

Denver Community School District

High school

Middle school

Elementary School

Discoveries Preschool

Janesville Consolidated Community School District

Nashua-Plainfield Community School District

Sumner-Fredericksburg Community School District

Sumner-Fredericksburg High School

S-F Middle School

Fredericksburg Elementary

Durant Elementary

Fredericksburg Preschool

Attractions

The Bremer County Fair is held at the county fairgrounds in Waverly every year in early August. It celebrated its 135th year in August 2010. Attractions include livestock and craft exhibitions, truck and tractor pulls, commercial and local exhibits, and various contests, performances, and concerts.

The Bremer County Court House, which opened in 1937, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Bremer County Historical Society and Museum was originally built in 1862 as a stagecoach stop and hotel. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Communities

Unincorporated communities

Artesian

Bremer

Buck Creek

Horton

Klinger

Siegel

Wapsie

Waverly Junction

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Bremer County.

† county seat

Government

Townships

Bremer County is divided into fourteen townships:

Politics

Between 1964 and 2016, Bremer County voted for the nationwide winner in each election except for 1976. Elections were particularly close in the county from 1988 to 2012. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first candidate of any party to win the county by more than 10% since the 1984 landslide reelection of Ronald Reagan, a feat he repeated in 2020 and 2024 with an increased vote share and margin of victory in each as well.