Cedar Rapids is a city located in Linn County Iowa. Cedar Rapids has a 2023 population of 134,266. It is also the county seat of Linn County.Cedar Rapids is currently declining at a rate of -0.81% annually and its population has decreased by -2.41% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 137,581 in 2020.
The average household income in Cedar Rapids is $82,815 with a poverty rate of 11.24%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Cedar Rapids is 36.4 years, 35.5 years for males, and 37.3 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:
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 | 57,637 | 2.31 | 70.3 | 29.7 |
Non Family | 24,585 | 1.27 | 55.9 | 44.1 |
Married | 24,005 | 3.02 | 89.1 | 10.9 |
Female | 6,009 | 3.37 | 54.9 | 45.1 |
Male | 3,038 | 3.09 | 69.4 | 30.6 |
2.99
Average Family Size
2.31
Average Household Size
70.3%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
91.57% of Cedar Rapids residents speak only English, while 8.43% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 2.48% of the population.
rate
11.24%
Overall Poverty Rate
10.1%
Male Poverty Rate
12.38%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Cedar Rapids is Islander, with 40.41% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Cedar Rapids is Asian, with 1.8% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.09%. Among those working part-time, it was 15.4%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 20.03%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
45.7%
Overall Marriage Rate
46.0%
Male Marriage Rate
45.4%
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
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
3.83%
Veteran Poverty Rate
24.87%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
69.1%
Labor Force Participation
66.4%
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
70.52%
Born in Cedar Rapids
95.59%
Native Born
6.93%
Foreign Born
4.01%
Non Citizen
2.92%
Naturalized
95.59% of Cedar Rapids residents were born in the United States, with 70.52% having been born in Iowa. 4.01% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 1,800 | -126,074 | 2.55% |
1870 | 5,940 | 4,140 | 12.68% |
1880 | 10,104 | 4,164 | 5.46% |
1890 | 18,020 | 7,916 | 5.96% |
1900 | 25,656 | 7,636 | 3.6% |
1910 | 32,811 | 7,155 | 2.49% |
1920 | 45,566 | 12,755 | 3.34% |
1930 | 56,097 | 10,531 | 2.1% |
1940 | 62,120 | 6,023 | 1.03% |
1950 | 72,296 | 10,176 | 1.53% |
1960 | 92,035 | 19,739 | 2.44% |
1970 | 110,642 | 18,607 | 1.86% |
1980 | 110,243 | -399 | -0.04% |
1990 | 108,751 | -1,492 | -0.14% |
2000 | 120,758 | 12,007 | 1.05% |
2010 | 126,326 | ||
2011 | 127,464 | 1,138 | 0.9% |
2012 | 128,602 | 1,138 | 0.89% |
2013 | 129,740 | 1,138 | 0.88% |
2014 | 130,878 | 1,138 | 0.88% |
2015 | 132,016 | 1,138 | 0.87% |
2016 | 133,154 | 1,138 | 0.86% |
2017 | 134,292 | 1,138 | 0.85% |
2018 | 135,430 | 1,138 | 0.85% |
2019 | 136,568 | 1,138 | 0.84% |
2020 | 137,581 | 1,013 | 0.74% |
2021 | 136,467 | -1,114 | -0.81% |
2022 | 135,362 | -1,105 | -0.81% |
2023 | 134,266 | -1,096 | -0.81% |
2024 | 133,179 | -1,087 | -0.81% |
2025 | 132,101 | -1,078 | -0.81% |
2026 | 131,031 | -1,070 | -0.81% |
2027 | 129,970 | -1,061 | -0.81% |
2028 | 128,918 | -1,052 | -0.81% |
2029 | 127,874 | -1,044 | -0.81% |