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1991

Iowa · year

Iowa in 1991

Deaths 488Fatal crashes 423Per 100,000 —US deaths 41,508

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 1991.

In 1991, 488 people died in 423 fatal crashes in Iowa.

The death toll rose 5% from 465 in 1990 to 488 in 1991.

Iowa accounted for 1.2% of the 41,508 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

35.9% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

31% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1990 and the nation

MeasureIowa 1991Iowa 1990United States 1991
Deaths48846541,508
Fatal crashes42340436,937
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver36%42%39%

Counties in 1991

Every county with a fatal crash in 1991, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 92 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Polk County33407.7337
Johnson County141710.680
Pottawattamie County141516.0118
Linn County13156.5154
Marshall County131434.755
Black Hawk County12139.8103
Story County111312.746
Lee County101237.164
Clinton County91226.150
Chickasaw County51193.918
Henry County91051.735
Webster County71027.159
Woodbury County998.492
Wapello County8925.241
Muscatine County6921.448
Scott County884.6164
Dallas County786.960
Harrison County7854.731
Jackson County7841.331
Benton County6831.058
Cerro Gordo County7716.559
Sioux County7719.137
Jefferson County6744.414
Clayton County6635.432
Des Moines County5615.629
Warren County5610.656
Washington County5626.530
Adams County46166.46
Butler County4642.418
Fayette County4631.329
Jasper County4615.745
Wright County4647.114
Decatur County5565.323
Delaware County5528.422
Plymouth County5519.443
Carroll County4524.523
Kossuth County3534.719
Allamakee County4428.224
Bremer County4415.821
Calhoun County4441.213
Cherokee County4434.315
Crawford County4424.425
Iowa County4424.449
Lucas County4445.712
Monona County4447.529
Shelby County4433.819
Tama County4423.925
Buena Vista County3419.220
Dickinson County3422.020
Grundy County3432.216
Clarke County3331.525
Davis County3332.617
Dubuque County333.066
Franklin County3329.914
Keokuk County3330.414
Madison County3317.530
Mahaska County3313.630
O'Brien County3321.020
Poweshiek County3316.329
Winnebago County1–2328.910
Adair County1–21–2—30
Audubon County1–21–2—13
Cass County1–21–2—40
Clay County1–21–2—17
Floyd County1–21–2—29
Fremont County1–21–2—31
Guthrie County1–21–2—11
Hamilton County1–21–2—30
Hancock County1–21–2—13
Hardin County1–21–2—31
Humboldt County1–21–2—21
Ida County1–21–2—15
Jones County1–21–2—33
Louisa County1–21–2—20
Lyon County1–21–2—15
Marion County1–21–2—37
Mills County1–21–2—32
Montgomery County1–21–2—14
Ringgold County1–21–2—14
Sac County1–21–2—21
Wayne County1–21–2—12
Winneshiek County1–21–2—30
Cedar County1–21–2—34
Howard County1–21–2—8
Palo Alto County1–21–2—11
Buchanan County1–21–2—23
Greene County1–21–2—22
Page County1–21–2—16
Taylor County1–21–2—8
Union County1–21–2—16
Van Buren County1–21–2—11
Worth County1–21–2—18

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am3.6%
1am6.3%
2am3.9%
3am3.1%
4am1.5%
5am1.7%
6am4.6%
7am4.8%
8am3.1%
9am2.7%
10am2.7%
11am5.3%
12pm4.6%
1pm4.8%
2pm5.1%
3pm4.6%
4pm5.8%
5pm6.1%
6pm4.8%
7pm5.1%
8pm3.1%
9pm4.6%
10pm3.6%
11pm4.4%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday8%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday10%
Thursday15%
Friday20%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Iowa in 1991?

488 people in 423 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1991 file.

Which county in Iowa had the most crash deaths in 1991?

Polk County with 40 deaths in 33 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1991 compare with 1990 in Iowa?

488 deaths against 465 in 1990 (+5%). Nationally the 1991 total was 41,508.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1991 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.