The State Data Center of Iowa and the Iowa
Commission on the Status of African-Americans
A F R I C A N - A M E R I C A N S I N I O WA : 2 0 1 0
To recall and celebrate the positive contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian
Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week beginning on Feb. 12, 1926. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bi-
centennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month.
80,516
The estimated African American population in Iowa as of July
1, 2008. African Americans constitute 2.7 percent of the state’s
total population. In 1980 African Americans made up 1.4 per-
cent of the state’s total population.
38,816
The numeric change in the African American population from
1980 to 2008. This is a 93.1 percent increase for the period.
172,770
The projected African American population of Iowa as 2040.
According to Woods & Pool Economics Inc., African Ameri-
cans will constitute 5.0 percent of the state’s total population.
FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN
15,672
The number of African American families in
2008 who reside in Iowa. Of these families,
70.1 percent include their own children under
18 years of age.
68.0%
Percent increase in the number of African
American families in the state of Iowa from
1980 to 2008.
34.2%
Percentage of African American families with
children who live with both parents in 2008
compared to 71.5 percent for the state of
Iowa. In 1980 this percentage was 41.7 com-
pared to the state of Iowa’s 83.6%.
10.1%
Percentage of the African American popula-
tion under age 5, as of July 1, 2008. African
Americans have a higher concentration of
preschoolers among the population than the
state as a whole (6.7%). In 1980 the percent-
age of the African American population un-
der age 5 was 10.9.
3.18
The average family size for the Iowa African
American population in 2008. The average
family size in the state of Iowa is 2.92.
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COUNTIES AND CITIES AT A GLANCE

(8.2%), Des Moines
23,178 63.1% (8.1%) and Top 5 counties:
The number of African Over half of the growth in Anamosa (6.1%). African American Population
Americans in Polk County Iowa’s African American 2008 1980
in 2008, making it the population from 2000-
largest population of 2008 occurred in four 56.0% Polk 23,178 13,884
African Americans in any counties: Polk, Linn, The percentage of Iowa’s Scott 11,469 6,453
Iowa county. Johnson, and Scott. total African American Black Hawk 10,585 8,733
population living in three Linn 7,724 2,962

8.2% 16,025 cities: Des Moines, Johnson 5,223

Waterloo and Davenport. Woodbury 1,019
The percent of total The number of African
population in Black Hawk Americans in Des
County who are African Moines in 2000, Top 5 cities:
American in 2008. Other making it the largest African American Population
Iowa counties with a high population of
2000 1980
percentage of African African Americans in
Americans are Scott any city in Iowa.
Des Moines 16,025 13,164
(7.0%), Polk (5.5%), Des Waterloo 9,529 8,398
Moines (4.4%) and John-
son (4.1%).
13.9% Davenport
Cedar Rapids
9,093
4,481
6,229
2,743
The percent of the Iowa City 2,333
Sioux City 1,015
total population in
72.3% Waterloo in 2000
Nearly three-fourths of who are African
the total African American American. Other
population live in Polk, Iowa cities with a HOUSING
Scott, Black Hawk, Linn high percentage of
and Johnson counties in African Americans $101,100
2008. are Davenport The median home value in
(9.2%), Balltown 2008 for those who reported
their race as African
American. The
INCOME AND POVERTY corresponding value for the
state is $120,700.

$24,461 $13,793 35.4% 70.9%

The median income in The per capita money The percentage of fami-
The percentage of African
the past 12 months of income of Iowa African lies with related children
Americans who rent their
African American Americans in 2008. The under 18 below the pov-
home in 2008. The
households in 2008. The per capita money income erty level in 2008 for the
corresponding percentage
median household for the state was African American popula-
for the state is 27.1%.
income for the state $25,466. tion. The corresponding
during the same time rate for Iowa is 12.5 per-
period was $48,980. cent
35.6% 63.7.1%
The poverty rate in 2008 The percentage of African
$27,000 AGE Americans whose gross rent
for the African American
The median income of population. The as a percentage of
26.2 household income was over
African American families corresponding rate for
The median age of Iowa’s 30% in 2008. The
in Iowa in 2008. The Iowa is 11.5 percent.
African American popula- corresponding percentage
median income of
tion in 2008. The median for the state is 43.5%.
families in Iowa was
age for the state of Iowa is
$61,663.
38.2.
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BUSINESSES had median earnings of services.

61.4% $16,838. In comparison
AND JOBS the median earning for
The percent of Iowa Afri-
men and women in the Occupation
can Americans males
1,619 state of Iowa were
age 16 and over in the
$32,501 and $21,620
28.3%
The number of African labor force in 2008. The The percent of Iowa Afri-
respectively.
American-owned firms in percent of Iowa African can Americans in 2008 in
Iowa in 2002. Americans females in the sales and office occupa-
labor force was 68.9%. In Industry tions.
comparison 78.8% of all
130.3% men and 65.3% of all 22.4%
The percent increase in women age 16 and over The percent of Iowa Afri- 24.0%
African American-owned were in the labor force in can Americans in 2008 The percent of African
firms between 1987 and Iowa. employed in the educa- Americans in Iowa age
2002. tional, health, and social 16 years and over in
services industry. management, profes-
8.9% Earnings sional, and related occu-
The unemployment rate $19,174 18.5% pations in 2008. In Iowa
for Iowa African Ameri- The percent of African this occupation accounts
The median earnings for for 32.8% of all people
cans in 2008. The Iowa Iowa African Americans Americans in 2008 who
unemployment rate at work in the manufactur- age 16 years and over.
in 2008. The median
that time was 3.9%. earnings for the state of ing industry. Approxi-
Iowa was $26,959. mately 14.4 percent work
in the arts, entertain- 25.4%
64.9% ment, recreation, accom- The percent of African
The percent of Iowa Afri-
can Americans age 16
$20,968 modation and food ser-
vices industry; 6.7 per-
American women in Iowa
age 16 years and over in
and over in the labor The median earnings for cent in retail trade; and management, profes-
force in 2008. The per- Iowa African American 10.6 percent work in pro- sional, and related occu-
cent of Iowans age 16 males in 2008. African fessional, scientific, man- pations in 2008. 22.4% of
and over in the labor American women in Iowa agement, administrative, African American men in
force was 70.2%. and waste management Iowa are in this occupa-
tion.
Employment  by Occupation (Percent  of Population): 2008
35.0% 30.4%
Total The percent of African
30.0% American men in Iowa
Black/African American age 16 years and over in
production, transporta-
25.0%
tion, and material moving
occupations in 2008.
20.0% 13.2% of African Ameri-
can women in Iowa are
15.0% in this occupation.

10.0%
3,749
5.0%
The number of Iowa African
0.0% American veterans of the
Management,  Service occupations Sales and office  Construction,  Production,  U.S. Armed Forces in 2008
professional, and  occupations extraction,  transportation, and 
related occupations maintenance, and  material moving 
repair occupations occupations
Page 4 S t a t u s o f A f r i c a n - A m e r i ca n s i n I o w a : 2 0 1 0

V I TA L E V E N T S
State Data Center of
I o wa — A p ro g r a m o f births per 1,000 live 2008. The rate for the
the State Library of 22.6 births in 2008. The rate state was 90.2.
I o wa The African American of out-of-wedlock births
birth rate per 1,000 per 1,000 live births for
Miller Building
population in 2008. The the state was 351.4.
5.7
1112 E Grand Ave birth rate per 1,000 for The African American
Des Moines, Iowa 50319 the state was 13.4. death rate per 1,000
Phone: 800-248-4483 208.0 population in 2008. The
Fax: 515-242-6543 death rate per 1,000 for
The African American
Email: census@lib.state.ia.us 769.4 rate of births for moth-
the state was 9.4.
The African American ers under age 20 per Data provided by the Iowa Department
rate of out-of-wedlock 1,000 live births in of Public Health publication, “Vital
Statistics of Iowa 2008”

We’re on the web! E D U C AT I O N

www.iowadatacenter.org
29,046
The number
African
Americans
ICSAA enrolled in
the state’s
Iowa Commission on the elementary
Status of African-Americans and high
schools dur-
ing the 2008-
2009 school
Iowa Commission on year. African
t h e S t a t u s o f A fr i c a n - Americans
Americans represent
5.6% of
Abraham L. Funchess Iowa’s school
321 E 12th Street enrollment
Lucas State Office Building (521,456).
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Phone: 515-281-3855
Fax: 515-242-6119
57.7%
Email: dhr.icsaa@iowa.gov Percent increase in Afri- education in 2008. The
can American enroll-
www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/saa/
ment between the
percentage for Iowa
was 90.3%.
5.4%
1999-2000 school year Percentage of Iowa
and 2008-2009. African Americans 25
Data Source (unless otherwise Source: Iowa Department of Education
16.0% years and older with an
noted) :
The percentage of Iowa advanced degree in
U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey 2008 African Americans age 2008. (e.g., master’s,
& Census 2000, 25 and over, with a professional, doctor-
2008 Population Estimates
79.3% bachelor’s degree or ate.) The percentage of
Photos by U.S. Census Bureau’s Iowans with an ad-
Public Information Office
The percentage of Iowa higher in 2008. The
African Americans age percentage for Iowa vanced degree was
25 and over, who had was 24.3%. 7.3%.
at least a high school