Buchanan County is a county in Iowa, United States, in the northeastern part of the state, between the Cedar Rapids and Waterloo metropolitan areas. It had a population of 20,565 at the 2020 census and covers 573 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) is water, centred near 42°28′19″N 91°50′21″W.
Independence is the county seat, and its postal code is 50644. The county has 11 incorporated cities, 16 civil townships, and a scatter of unincorporated communities, plus a long-established Old Order Amish settlement near Hazleton. Buchanan County sits in the Central Time Zone.
Towns & Villages in Buchanan County
Buchanan County’s 11 incorporated places range from Independence, the seat and largest city, down to Stanley, a village of under 100 residents. The unincorporated communities below have no city government of their own; some are little more than a crossroads or a former rail stop. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | City · seat | Homer | 6,064 | 50644 |
| Jesup | City | Fremont | 2,508 | 50648 |
| Fairbank | City | Fairbank | 1,111 | 50629 |
| Winthrop | City | Westburg | 823 | 50682 |
| Hazleton | City | Hazleton | 713 | 50641 |
| Quasqueton | City | Perry | 570 | 52326 |
| Lamont | City | Cono | 429 | 50650 |
| Brandon | City | Byron | 341 | 52210 |
| Rowley | City | Middlefield | 270 | 52329 |
| Aurora | City | Sumner | 169 | 50607 |
| Stanley | City | Fairbank | 81 | 50671 |
| Bryantsburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Castleville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Chatham | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Doris | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gatesville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hamerville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kiene | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kier | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Littleton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Middlefield | Unincorp. | Middlefield | — | — |
| Monti | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Newtonville | Unincorp. | Newton | — | — |
| Otterville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Shady Grove | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Vista | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wise | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Jesup, Fairbank, and Stanley are all county-line towns: Jesup extends into neighboring Black Hawk County, while Fairbank and Stanley both extend into Fayette County. Their totals above are for the whole city, not just the Buchanan County portion.
Townships
Buchanan County is divided into 16 civil townships. Population figures for 2020 are not separately published for most townships and are omitted rather than estimated.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Homer | — | Independence |
| Fremont | — | Jesup |
| Fairbank | — | Fairbank, Stanley |
| Westburg | — | Winthrop |
| Hazleton | — | Hazleton |
| Perry | — | Quasqueton |
| Cono | — | Lamont |
| Byron | — | Brandon |
| Middlefield | — | Rowley, Middlefield |
| Sumner | — | Aurora |
| Buffalo | — | — |
| Jefferson | — | — |
| Liberty | — | — |
| Madison | — | — |
| Newton | — | Newtonville |
| Washington | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 50644 — Independence (also serves the surrounding rural county seat area)
- 50648 — Jesup
- 50629 — Fairbank (also serves Stanley)
- 50682 — Winthrop
- 50641 — Hazleton
- 52326 — Quasqueton
- 50650 — Lamont
- 52210 — Brandon
- 52329 — Rowley
- 50607 — Aurora
- 50671 — Stanley
Unincorporated communities generally use the ZIP of the nearest incorporated town.
Geography
Buchanan County lies in the rolling farmland of northeastern Iowa, drained by the Wapsipinicon River, which runs southeast through the county past Independence and Quasqueton. The terrain is gently rolling glacial till prairie, almost entirely given over to row-crop agriculture, with wooded river corridors along the Wapsipinicon.
The county borders Bremer County to the northwest, Fayette County to the north, Clayton County to the northeast, Delaware County to the east, Linn County to the southeast, Benton County to the southwest, and Black Hawk County to the west.
Demographics
Buchanan County had 20,565 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 36 people per square mile. Independence, the county seat, is the largest community at 6,064 residents, followed by Jesup at 2,508. Median household income in the county runs close to the Iowa median of $71,433, reflecting a mostly agricultural and small-manufacturing economic base rather than a metro-adjacent wage premium.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — corn, soybeans, and livestock — anchors the county’s economy, supplemented by manufacturing and food processing centered in Independence and Jesup. Independence is also known for the Independence Mental Health Institute, one of Iowa’s state-run psychiatric hospitals, and for hosting harness racing at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. Hazleton is home to a longstanding Old Order Amish settlement founded in 1914, whose farms and roadside stands are a fixture of the local economy.
History
Buchanan County was organized on December 21, 1837, carved from territory that had belonged to Dubuque County. It was named for James Buchanan, then a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania who later became the 15th president of the United States. Independence was platted in 1847 along the Wapsipinicon River and grew as a regional rail and milling center through the second half of the 19th century. The Hazleton Amish settlement, established in 1914, is one of the older continuously settled Amish communities in Iowa.
Getting There
U.S. Route 20 crosses the southern part of the county, and Iowa Highway 150 runs north-south through Independence, linking the county to the Cedar Rapids and Waterloo areas.
- Waterloo — 20 miles west
- Cedar Rapids — 35 miles south
- Dubuque — 45 miles east
- Cedar Falls — 22 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Waterloo Regional Airport, about 20 miles west of Independence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Buchanan County, Iowa?
It is in northeastern Iowa, between the Cedar Rapids and Waterloo metropolitan areas, centered near Independence.
What is the population of Buchanan County?
20,565 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Buchanan County?
573 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 571 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Buchanan County?
Independence is the county seat.
How many towns are in Buchanan County?
The county has 11 incorporated cities and around 16 additional unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Buchanan County?
The county’s 11 ZIP codes include 50644 (Independence), 50648 (Jesup), 50629 (Fairbank), 50682 (Winthrop), 50641 (Hazleton), 52326 (Quasqueton), 50650 (Lamont), 52210 (Brandon), 52329 (Rowley), 50607 (Aurora), and 50671 (Stanley).
Is there an Amish community in Buchanan County?
Yes. An Old Order Amish settlement near Hazleton, founded in 1914, is one of Iowa’s older Amish communities.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Iowa.