The earliest inhabitants of Linn County, prior to Anglo settlement, were the Sac and Fox tribes. Relations were described by 20th century historians as amicable. Native Americans provided food and furs to whites in exchange for merchandise.[5]
Linn County was created as a named but unorganized area on December 21, 1837, as a part of Wisconsin Territory. It became part of Iowa Territory on July 4, 1838, when the territory was organized.[6] Linn County was organized by the first legislative assembly of the Iowa Territory on January 15, 1839. A site was selected for its first county seat along Indian Creek, and was named Marion, after the Revolutionary War general Francis Marion. As early as 1855, there were debates over moving the county seat to the fast-growing Cedar Rapids, southwest of Marion, but it was not until November 6, 1919, that there were enough votes in favor of the move (9,960 to 4,823).[7] The first rail line was built through Cedar Rapids in 1859, and made the town (and the county) a major commercial hub in eastern Iowa.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 725 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 717 square miles (1,860 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (1.1%) is water.[8]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 230,299 in the county, with a population density of 317.2724/sq mi (122.49956/km2). 94.04% of the population reported being of one race. 78.91% were non-Hispanic White, 7.14% were Black, 3.87% were Hispanic, 0.24% were Native American, 2.33% were Asian, 0.23% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 7.28% were some other race or more than one race. There were 101,230 housing units, of which 94,751 were occupied.[1]
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of 294.4163/sq mi (113.6748/km2). There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.[15]
2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 191,701 people, 76,753 households, and 50,349 families in the county. The population density was 267 inhabitants per square mile (103/km2). There were 80,551 housing units at an average density of 112 per square mile (43/km2). The racial makup of the county was 93.90% White, 2.57% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.37% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 1.42%.[16] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 76,753 households 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 27.50% of households were one person and 8.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.
Age spread: 25.30% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.
The median household income was $46,206 and the median family income was $56,494. Males had a median income of $38,525 versus $26,403 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,977. About 4.30% of families and 6.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.60% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The Linn County Board of Supervisors consists of three members elected by district to overlapping four-year terms.[17]
The Board of Supervisors operates as both the executive and legislative branches of Linn County government and oversees the following departments directly: Communications, Community Services, Engineering/Secondary Road, Facilities, Finance & Budget, Human Resources, Information Technology, LIFTS (para-transit transportation), Planning & Development, Policy & Administration, Purchasing, Risk Management, Soil & Water Conservation, Sustainability, and Veteran Affairs. Conservation and Public Health report to independent boards appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The County Attorney, Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff, and Treasurer are elected separately.[18]
Presidentially, as Iowa shifted dramatically from competitive to firmly Republican during the Donald Trump era in the mid-to-late 2010s, this is one of the state's few remaining Democratic strongholds. It last voted Republican during the landslide reelection of Ronald Reagan in 1984, and has been won by the Democrats by a margin of at least 9% in every subsequent election.
United States presidential election results for Linn County, Iowa[19]
History of Linn County Iowa by Luther A. Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick The Pioneer Publishing Company(1911 copyright expired) This searchable and pdf downloadable book was scanned into the public domain by Google books.
