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1996

Iowa · year

Iowa in 1996

Deaths 465Fatal crashes 411Per 100,000 —US deaths 42,065

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 1996.

In 1996, 465 people died in 411 fatal crashes in Iowa.

The death toll fell 12% from 527 in 1995 to 465 in 1996.

Iowa accounted for 1.1% of the 42,065 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

30.7% 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; Friday was the most common day.

Compared with 1995 and the nation

MeasureIowa 1996Iowa 1995United States 1996
Deaths46552742,065
Fatal crashes41144637,494
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver31%30%32%

Counties in 1996

Every county with a fatal crash in 1996, 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 County29316.0337
Black Hawk County171813.6103
Pottawattamie County141617.1118
Linn County12156.5154
Scott County11126.8164
Johnson County10116.980
Wapello County101130.841
Jefferson County91063.414
Clinton County81021.750
Cerro Gordo County8921.259
Jasper County8923.645
Lee County8927.864
Dubuque County788.166
Cedar County6843.934
Wright County4862.814
Buena Vista County7733.620
Crawford County7742.725
Muscatine County7716.648
Marion County6720.637
Marshall County6717.355
Mills County6747.632
Dallas County576.160
Jones County6628.433
Monona County6671.229
Webster County6616.359
Clay County5636.417
Mahaska County5627.230
Sioux County5616.437
Davis County4665.317
Floyd County4640.029
Harrison County4641.031
Madison County4635.030
Jackson County5525.831
Louisa County5547.020
Monroe County5567.815
O'Brien County5535.120
Woodbury County554.792
Clayton County4529.532
Humboldt County4552.021
Poweshiek County4527.129
Clarke County3552.525
Benton County4415.558
Cherokee County4434.315
Hamilton County4426.930
Henry County4420.735
Keokuk County4440.614
Tama County4423.925
Calhoun County3441.213
Washington County3417.730
Wayne County3460.412
Allamakee County3321.224
Appanoose County3324.817
Boone County3311.232
Carroll County3314.723
Decatur County3339.223
Des Moines County337.829
Franklin County3329.914
Grundy County3324.216
Iowa County3318.349
Kossuth County3320.819
Page County3319.916
Story County332.946
Adair County1–2340.430
Adams County1–2383.26
Fremont County1–2346.231
Greene County1–2334.622
Union County1–2325.116
Audubon County1–21–2—13
Bremer County1–21–2—21
Dickinson County1–21–2—20
Emmet County1–21–2—11
Hancock County1–21–2—13
Hardin County1–21–2—31
Lucas County1–21–2—12
Plymouth County1–21–2—43
Sac County1–21–2—21
Shelby County1–21–2—19
Warren County1–21–2—56
Winneshiek County1–21–2—30
Worth County1–21–2—18
Ringgold County1–21–2—14
Buchanan County1–21–2—23
Butler County1–21–2—18
Cass County1–21–2—40
Delaware County1–21–2—22
Fayette County1–21–2—29
Lyon County1–21–2—15
Mitchell County1–21–2—14
Montgomery County1–21–2—14
Osceola County1–21–2—15
Van Buren County1–21–2—11
Winnebago County1–21–2—10

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

12am4.2%
1am7%
2am3.2%
3am3.7%
4am1.2%
5am2.5%
6am3.5%
7am3.7%
8am2.5%
9am3.5%
10am3.2%
11am3%
12pm2.2%
1pm5.2%
2pm4.5%
3pm4.7%
4pm5.7%
5pm9%
6pm6%
7pm4.5%
8pm3.2%
9pm3.7%
10pm7.2%
11pm2.5%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday11%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday17%
Saturday17%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Iowa in 1996?

465 people in 411 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1996 file.

Which county in Iowa had the most crash deaths in 1996?

Polk County with 31 deaths in 29 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1996 compare with 1995 in Iowa?

465 deaths against 527 in 1995 (+-12%). Nationally the 1996 total was 42,065.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1996 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.