Iowa

Native Americans in Iowa

The first peoples in Iowa were the Dakota Sioux, the Illinois, Iowa, and Otoe tribes. Later, after the arrival of the Europeans, they were joined by the Sac and Fox, or Mesquakie. The earliest immigrants to Iowa tended to be British or northern European; however, as time went on, immigrants from southern and eastern Europe began to move to the Midwest. Today, although the ethnic and racial face of Iowa is changing, the population is largely Caucasian. Of Iowa's total 2007 population, 73,000 were African American; 11,000 American Indian; 47,000 of Asian descent; 1,000 Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; and 115,000 Hispanic. Nonetheless, Iowa's history as a home for immigrants continues as the state incorporates newcomers from all over the globe.

The overall marriage rate in 2000 was slightly below the national average at 6.9 per 1,000, and the divorce rate was also lower than average at 2.7 per 1,000. Births to teen mothers in 2005 made up 8.5 percent of the total number of births. Infant mortality rates decreased slightly from 2000 to 2004. Seventy-five percent of Iowa babies experienced at least some breastfeeding, with 40 percent still breastfed at 6 months and 22 percent still being breastfed at 12 months.

In 2000, 8.8 percent of the overall Iowa population was medically uninsured, and this number was on the rise. The state of Iowa does offer health coverage for the uninsured children of working families, and coverage by plan is geographically determined. There is no charge for Native American children. There is an upper income limit based on family size. Children must be under the age of 19, have no other health insurance including Medicaid, and must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien. Medicaid is also available for children under 21, parents with children under 19, pregnant women, those 65 or older, individuals with breast or cervical cancer, or people in need of other forms of specialized assistance. Food assistance is available via an online application form. There is also Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) assistance and a Farmer's Market Nutrition Program.

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