Iowa

Iowa is the 29th state of the United States, having joined the Union on December 28, 1846. The official name of the state is the "State of Iowa", and the U.S. Post Office abbreviation for the state is IA.

Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2004, Iowa's population was estimated to be 2,954,451 people. This includes about 97,000 foreign-born (3.3%).

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The racial makeup of the state is:

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• 92.6% White non-Hispanic
• 2.1% Black
• 2.8% Hispanic
• 1.3% Asian
• 0.3% Native American
• 1.1% Mixed race

The five largest ancestry groups in Iowa are: German (35.7%), Irish (13.5%), English (9.5%), American (6.6%), Norwegian (5.7%).

Related Topics:
German - Irish - English - American - Norwegian

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Iowans are mostly of Northern European origin. There are large numbers of German-Americans in the state (1 in 3 Iowans answered that they were of German ancestry on the 2000 Census), as well as people of British, Scandinavian, and Dutch ancestry, among others.

Related Topics:
Northern European - German-American

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6.4% of Iowa's population were reported as under 5, 25.1% under 18, and 14.9% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.9% of the population.

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"Rural flight"

Iowa, in common with other Great Plains states (especially Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota), is feeling the brunt of falling populations. 89% of the total number of cities in those states have fewer than 3000 people; hundreds have fewer than 1000. Between 1996 and 2004, almost half a million people, nearly half with college degrees, left the six states. "Rural flight" as it is called has led to offers of free land and tax breaks as enticements to newcomers.

Related Topics:
Kansas - Nebraska - Oklahoma - North - South Dakota

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Religion

Most Iowans are Protestant Christians, with Lutheranism being the largest single Protestant denomination, followed by Methodist. The state has the second largest population of Reformed Christians, both RCA and CRC.

Related Topics:
Protestant - Lutheranism

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The religious affiliations of the people of Iowa are:

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• Christian – 86%
• Protestant – 62%
• Lutheran – 17%
• Methodist – 14%
• Baptist – 5%
• Presbyterian – 3%
• Reformed – 2%
• Congregational/United Church of Christ – 2%
• Other Protestant or general Protestant – 19%
• Roman Catholic – 23%
• Other Christian – 1%
• Other Religions – <1%
• Non-Religious – 14%