News : 2010 Census: Vinton, Benton County see 3 percent population growth

Both the City of Vinton and Benton County increased in population by just over 3 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to the U.S. Census.

The official 2010 population of Benton County is 26,076, an increase of 768 from the 2000 count of 25,308.

Vinton’s population grew by 155, from 5,102 to 5,257, a 3 percent increase.

While Iowa’s population increased overall by 4.1 percent, most of that growth came in the state’s large population centers. Nearly 2/3 of Iowa’s counties saw a decrease in population.

Benton County Cities

Atkins has been the fastest-growing city in Benton County –and one of the fastest-growing in all of Iowa. Its population increased by 70.9 percent, from 977 to 1,670.

Below is a list of the county’s incorporated areas, and their official population changes from 2000 to 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Atkins: From 977 to 1,670, an increase of 70.9 percent.

Belle Plaine: From 2,878 to 2,534, a decrease of 12 percent.

Blairstown: From 682 to 692, an increase3 of 1.5 percent.

Garrison: From 413 to 371, a decrease of 10.2 percent.

Keystone : From 687 to 622, a decrease of 9.5 percent.

Luzerne: From 105 to 96, a decrease of 8.6 percent.

Mount Auburn: From 160 to 150, a 6.3 percent decrease.

Newhall: From 886 to 875, a decrease of 1.2 percent.

Norway: From 601 to 545, a decrease of 9.3 percent/

Shellsburg: From 938 to 983, an increase of 4.8 percent.

Urbana: From 1,019 to 1,458, an increase of 43.1 percent.

Van Horne: From 716 to 682, a decrease of 4.7 percent.

Walford (which is partly in Benton and partly in Linn County): From 1224 to , 1463, an increase of 19.5 percent.

Watkins (CDP; not formally incorporated as a city): Its population was listed as 118 for 2010; no data was available from 2000.

Neighboring cities just outside the BentonCountyline

Brandon: A decrease from 311 to 309, a 0.6 percent decrease.

Dysart : From 1,303 to 1,379, an increase of 5.8 percent.

Center Point: From 2,007 to 2,421, an increase of 20.6 percent.

La Porte City: From 2,275 to 2,285, an increase of 0.4 percent.

Neighboring Counties:

Iowa County: Increased 4.36 percent to 16,355.

Black Hawk County : Increased 2.4 percent to 131,090

Buchanan County Decreased 0.64 percent, to 20,958

Linn County: Increased 10.19 percent, to 211,226.

Johnson County: Increased 17.91 percent, to 130,882.

Poweshiek County: Increased 0.53 percent, to 18,914

Tama County: Decreased 1.86 percent, to 17,767

Statewide, Iowa’s population increased by 4.1 percent, from 2,926,324 to 3,036,355. However, more than 60 of Iowa’s 99 counties saw their population decrease from 2000 to 2010.

Race: County 98 percent white

While parts of Iowa are becoming more diverse, Benton County is still 98 percent white. According to the census, the 26,076 residents of Benton County include 102 who identified themselves as black or African/American; 45 who identified themselves as Alaskan or Native American; 66 who described themselves as Asian; 2 as Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander; 53 as “some other race;” 239 as “two or more races” and 275 identified themselves as Hispanic. Of the 26,076, 25,387 identified themselves as white alone.

The Census issued the data to state legislatures last week. The Iowa Data Center website, www.iowadatacenter.org, contains more information about each county and city in the state.