Cedar Rapids is a city located in Linn County Iowa. Cedar Rapids has a 2024 population of 135,358. It is also the county seat of Linn County. Cedar Rapids is currently declining at a rate of -0.44% annually and its population has decreased by -1.74% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 137,758 in 2020.
The average household income in Cedar Rapids is $88,981 with a poverty rate of 11.37%. The median age in Cedar Rapids is 37 years: 36.3 years for males, and 37.7 years for females.
Cedar Rapids has become known as being a center for art and culture within the state. It has also been home to many famous people throughout history, including journalists, celebrities and pro athletes.
The city has a strong Muslim culture. It is the location of the National Muslim Cemetery, which is thought to be the first exclusively Muslim cemetery in the country. It is also the site of the Mother Mosque of America, which is the longest standing mosque in North America.
Rockwell Collins is the largest employer in the city, giving jobs to about 8,700 people. Transamerica, St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids Community School District and Hy-Vee are other top employers in Cedar Rapids and provide thousands of jobs to residents.
Cedar Rapids has seen steady growth in its population since the census taken in 1860. The population surpassed 10,000 by the year 1880, up from 1860’s population of 1,830 people. The population had more than doubled by 1900. In 1930, the population was over 56,000. The city reached over 100,000 residents by the time of the 1970 census. The next censuses taken in 1980 and 1990 show that there was a slight drop in population, but by 2000, it had rebounded. The most recent estimates show that the population is up almost 4% since numbers recorded during the 2010 census, indicating that this city still has more growing to do in its future.
The area that is now Cedar Rapids was originally inhabited by the Sac and Fox tribes. The first settler arrived in 1838 and was named Columbus. The city was renamed in 1841, with the name derived from the rapids of the nearby Cedar River. The island that is centered in the river is called May's Island, and it has a fascinating history all of its own. By the end of the 1840s, Cedar Rapids was incorporated, and it grew through the annexation of Kingston.
The city’s population began to grow in the late 1800s with the construction of the Sinclair meatpacking company, which brought jobs to the residents of Cedar Rapids. In more recent years, the city’s economy has been based around corn and grain processing, providing thousands of jobs to residents. Other companies that also have set up shop in the city, including Quaker Oats, General Mills, Cargill, Nordstrom, and Toyota Financial Services.
In addition to a thriving economy, the city has also had a rich cultural heritage. It is home to multiple theaters and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Other museums include the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library and the African American Historical Museum.
Throughout the years, many famous people have called Cedar Rapids home, including painter Grant Wood, actor Ashton Kutcher, and Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter. The city has earned the nickname “City of Five Seasons” thanks to a creative marketing campaign that has woven itself into the whole city.Cedar Rapids was majorly impacted by the Iowa flood that occurred in 2008. About 14% of the city’s total area was damaged in the flood, with thousands of homes and businesses being evacuated. This flood led to billions of dollars in damage.
The area was once again flooded in 2016. Over 5,000 homes were affected by the flood, and thousands of people were evacuated. This led to the city approving a flood protection plan over the next 20 years, although it is currently at a stop because of funding issues.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Cedar Rapids was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 110,725 | 80.86% |
Black or African American | 11,847 | 8.65% |
Two or more races | 8,241 | 6.02% |
Asian | 3,686 | 2.69% |
Other race | 1,797 | 1.31% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 383 | 0.28% |
Native American | 250 | 0.18% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Native American
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 58,283 | 2.29 | 69.6 | 30.4 |
Non Family | 25,106 | 1.27 | 55.5 | 44.5 |
Married | 23,794 | 3 | 88.7 | 11.3 |
Female | 6,226 | 3.37 | 54.7 | 45.3 |
Male | 3,157 | 2.96 | 67.1 | 32.9 |
2.96
Average Family Size
2.29
Average Household Size
69.6%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 4,117 | 4.44% |
Associates Degree | 11,656 | 12.57% |
Bachelors Degree | 20,878 | 22.52% |
Graduate Degree | 9,582 | 10.34% |
High School Graduate | 24,271 | 26.18% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 1,475 | 1.59% |
Some College | 20,727 | 22.36% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 77,617 | 74,046 | 26,336 |
Black | 6,212 | 5,282 | 1,054 |
2+ Races | 3,183 | 2,896 | 985 |
Hispanic | 3,008 | 2,698 | 730 |
Asian | 2,680 | 2,230 | 1,240 |
Other Race | 1,069 | 921 | 427 |
Islander | 156 | 156 | 0 |
Native American | 153 | 133 | 14 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 46.27%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $60,249 | $74,029 | $51,090 |
Graduate Degree | $80,970 | $96,857 | $69,066 |
High School Graduate | $34,955 | $45,414 | $27,929 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $28,768 | $32,936 | $26,496 |
Overall | $46,840 | $55,994 | $39,859 |
Some College | $44,182 | $52,367 | $38,274 |
$46,840
Average Earnings
$55,994
Average Male
$39,859
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
91.33% of Cedar Rapids residents speak only English, while 8.67% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 2.67% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 105,022 | 8,836 | 8.41% |
Black | 11,186 | 2,977 | 26.61% |
Multiple | 8,059 | 1,958 | 24.3% |
Hispanic | 5,687 | 989 | 17.39% |
Other | 1,747 | 494 | 28.28% |
Islander | 383 | 277 | 72.32% |
Asian | 3,614 | 131 | 3.62% |
Native | 245 | 27 | 11.02% |
11.37%
Overall Poverty Rate
10.22%
Male Poverty Rate
12.5%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Cedar Rapids is Islander, with 72.32% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Cedar Rapids is Asian, with 3.62% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.27%. Among those working part-time, it was 16.03%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 20.54%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 24.84% |
High School | 11.11% |
Some College | 8.41% |
Bachelors or Greater | 4.1% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 44.04% |
Male Unemployed | 27.65% |
Female Employed | 7.08% |
Male Employed | 4.78% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $86,756 | $110,016 |
Households | $66,895 | $88,981 |
Married Families | $105,542 | $130,157 |
Non Families | $44,285 | $57,684 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
44.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
45.5%
Male Marriage Rate
43.7%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
8,197
Number of Veterans
7,500
Male Veterans
697
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 2,948 |
Second Gulf War | 1,644 |
First Gulf War | 1,604 |
Korea | 606 |
World War II | 247 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
65 to 74 | 2,094 |
75+ | 2,003 |
35 to 54 | 1,965 |
55 to 64 | 1,411 |
18 to 34 | 724 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 7,517 | 8.25% |
2+ Races | 312 | 7.14% |
Black | 310 | 4.07% |
Hispanic | 195 | 5.11% |
Native American | 38 | 24.2% |
Other Race | 20 | 1.75% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
3.96%
Veteran Poverty Rate
24.53%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
68.6%
Labor Force Participation
66%
Employment Rate
3.9%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
69.13%
Born in Cedar Rapids
93.23%
Native Born
6.77%
Foreign Born
3.54%
Non Citizen
3.23%
Naturalized
93.23% of Cedar Rapids residents were born in the United States, with 69.13% having been born in Iowa. 3.54% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 132,358 | -600 | -0.45% |
2028 | 132,958 | -600 | -0.45% |
2027 | 133,558 | -600 | -0.45% |
2026 | 134,158 | -600 | -0.45% |
2025 | 134,758 | -600 | -0.44% |
2024 | 135,358 | -600 | -0.44% |
2023 | 135,958 | -434 | -0.32% |
2022 | 136,392 | -482 | -0.35% |
2021 | 136,874 | -884 | -0.64% |
2020 | 137,758 | 3,846 | 2.87% |
2019 | 133,912 | 465 | 0.35% |
2018 | 133,447 | 717 | 0.54% |
2017 | 132,730 | 1,212 | 0.92% |
2016 | 131,518 | 566 | 0.43% |
2015 | 130,952 | 1,189 | 0.92% |
2014 | 129,763 | 847 | 0.66% |
2013 | 128,916 | 363 | 0.28% |
2012 | 128,553 | 267 | 0.21% |
2011 | 128,286 | 1,397 | 1.1% |
2010 | 126,889 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 120,758 | 12,007 | 11.04% |
1990 | 108,751 | -1,492 | -1.35% |
1980 | 110,243 | -399 | -0.36% |
1970 | 110,642 | 18,607 | 20.22% |
1960 | 92,035 | 19,739 | 27.3% |
1950 | 72,296 | 10,176 | 16.38% |
1940 | 62,120 | 6,023 | 10.74% |
1930 | 56,097 | 10,531 | 23.11% |
1920 | 45,566 | 12,755 | 38.87% |
1910 | 32,811 | 7,155 | 27.89% |
1900 | 25,656 | 7,636 | 42.38% |
1890 | 18,020 | 7,916 | 78.35% |
1880 | 10,104 | 4,164 | 70.1% |
1870 | 5,940 | 4,140 | 230% |
1860 | 1,800 | -130,558 | -98.64% |