text:
Stanwood, Iowa

Stanwood is a city in Cedar County, Iowa, United States. The population was 637 at the time of the 2020 census.

History
Stanwood was platted in 1868. The first house was built in Stanwood in 1869. The city was named for H. P. Stanwood, a railroad official.

Geography
Stanwood is located at 41.89194°N, -91.15056°W (41.891907, -91.150694).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.72 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 684 people, 275 households, and 192 families living in the city. The population density was 950.0 PD/sqmi. There were 295 housing units at an average density of 409.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 275 households, of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 680 people, 279 households, and 193 families living in the city. The population density was 1,059.9 PD/sqmi. There were 297 housing units at an average density of 462.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.79% White, 0.29% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.29% Asian, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.15% of the population.

There were 279 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,102, and the median income for a family was $42,143. Males had a median income of $30,781 versus $21,691 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,561. About 7.2% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The North Cedar Community School District serves the community. It was established on July 1, 1995, by the merger of the Clarence-Lowden Community School District and the Lincoln Community School District,.

title: Stanwood, Iowa


text:
Tipton, Iowa

Tipton (/ˈtɪptən/) is a city in Cedar County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,149 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Cedar County.

History
Tipton was platted within Center Township in 1840 and was named for General John Tipton, a personal friend of the founder, Henry W. Higgins. The city was incorporated on January 27, 1857.

Geography
Tipton is located at 41.77056°N, -91.12917°W (41.770530, -91.129061).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.09 sqmi, all land.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 3,155 people, 1,334 households, and 868 families living in the city. The population density was 1,732.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,404 housing units at an average density of 770.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.61% White, 0.35% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08%.

Of the 1,334 households 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.1% of households were one person and 16.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87.

23.6% are under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median household income was $36,778 and the median family income was $45,698. Males had a median income of $34,464 versus $21,596 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,494. About 2.9% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 3,221 people, 1,394 households, and 842 families living in the city. The population density was 1541.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,510 housing units at an average density of 722.5 /sqmi. The racial makup of the city was 97.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4%.

Of the 1,394 households 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 35.4% of households were one person and 17.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age was 42.3 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 20.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2020 census
At the 2020 census there were 3,149 people, 1,246 households, and 837 families living in the city. the population density was 1,556.6 PD/sqmi. there were 1,409 housing units.

Transportation
Tipton is served by two highways: Iowa 38 (which runs north and south through town) and Iowa 130 (which enters Tipton from the east, meets Iowa 38 in the business district, and then runs north in conjunction).

While Tipton is no longer served by any railroads, it was served by two railroads in the past. The Chicago & Northwestern served Tipton via a spur line from Stanwood to the north. The tracks were removed in the 1970s. Tipton was also served by a branch of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) from Iowa City to Bennett and beyond. This line ran east and west through the southern part of Tipton and was abandoned in the 1950s. Evidence of this abandoned right-of-way can still be seen in Tipton in a few places.

Education
The Tipton Community School District operates local public schools split into 2 separate buildings, one teaching PK-8th and the other teaching 9th-12th. The district is home to roughly 977 students and 144 staff.

Notable people

 * George Crawford Britton, South Dakota and Washington state politician
 * Dick Dickinson, actor.
 * William M. Furnish, paleontologist.
 * Bertha Lum, who pioneered the use of Japanese art techniques in the U.S.
 * Gus Monckmeier, racing car driver.
 * Daria O'Neill, radio and television personality.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Tipton, Iowa


text:
West Branch, Iowa

West Branch is a city in Cedar and Johnson counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 2,509 as of the 2020 census. It is the birthplace of the only American president born in Iowa, Herbert Hoover.

The Johnson County portion of West Branch is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

West Branch was laid out in 1869 by Joseph Steer. It was incorporated in 1875.

The city was first settled chiefly by Quakers from Ohio. Its name is derived from the meeting place of the West Branch Quakers, and the location of the city on the west branch of the Wapsinonoc Creek. Most of Main Street is part of the West Branch Commercial Historic District.

Before the American Civil War, areas in and around West Branch were stops of the Underground Railroad. Abolitionist John Brown once stayed at the Maxson farm east of West Branch. He also stayed at James Townsend's inn, the Traveler's Rest, in the winter of 1856. In 2008, archaeologists found evidence of unmarked graves in nearby North Liberty Cemetery while investigating an account of 17 escaped slaves who died before reaching Canada. West Branch experienced rapid growth after the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway was built through it.

President Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch in 1874. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum was dedicated here by Hoover and his close friend, President Harry Truman, in 1962. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, which includes the Library-Museum, the Hoover Birthplace Cottage and the gravesites of President and Lou Henry Hoover, was authorized by Congress on August 12, 1965.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.19 sqmi, all land.

West Branch is located approximately 10 mi east of Iowa City, and 40 mi west of Davenport.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,322 people, 947 households, and 612 families residing in the city. The population density was 727.9 PD/sqmi. There were 990 housing units at an average density of 310.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 947 households, of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 38.7 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.4% were from 45 to 64; and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,341 people, 840 households, and 572 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,106.8 PD/sqmi. There were 876 housing units at an average density of 443.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.71% White, 0.37% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.

There were 840 households, out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.

26.9% are under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $51,667. Males had a median income of $31,949 versus $26,379 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,577. About 4.5% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
West Branch has been one of 36 communities in the Main Street Iowa program since being accepted on June 1, 2006. The program encourages downtown economic development through historic preservation.

The city's industrial park is home to a major distribution center of Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble. The building is 550000 sqft and as of 2007, is undergoing an expansion. The industrial park is also home to Plastic Products, Wausau, Acciona Windpower North America and, Tidewater Direct.

As of November 2007, construction was completed on Acciona Energía's wind turbine generator engineering and assembly plant, the first in North America. Production began at the plant in December 2007.

Media
West Branch Times has been in continuous publication since 1875.

Museums

West Branch is home to the Herbert Hoover National Historical Site, run by the National Park Service and Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, run by the National Archives and Records Administration. The library holds the documentary legacy of Rose Wilder Lane and her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Landmarks
The Gruwell and Crew General Store is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was named as one of the most endangered historic properties in Iowa by the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance in 2008.

Butch Pedersen Field, formerly known as Oliphant Street Field, the playing field for the West Branch High School football team, is situated just northwest of downtown. Colloquially known as "the Little Rose Bowl", it was constructed by the Works Progress Administration by excavating a sloped field, yielding a playing field with natural seating on three sides.

Education
The West Branch Community School District operates local public schools. It has about 800 students and includes three schools: Hoover Elementary, West Branch Middle School and West Branch High School.

Scattergood Friends School, a Quaker boarding school, is located east of the city.

Transportation
Interstate 80 passes from west to east through West Branch.

Notable people

 * Marv Cook, football player
 * Mildred Adams Fenton, paleontologist
 * Herbert Hoover (1874–1964), 31st President of the United States (1929-1933)
 * Dave Rummells, PGA Tour golfer
 * Fine printers Harry Duncan and Allan Kornblum each printed and published books in West Branch.

title: West Branch, Iowa


text:
Wilton, Iowa

Wilton (formerly Wilton Junction) is a city in Cedar and Muscatine counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 2,924 at the time of the 2020 census. The Muscatine County portion of Wilton is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The first settler to build a home in the area that was to be known as Wilton in the new state of Iowa (1846) was Mr. Christian Marolf who came in July 1849, and erected of a small log house opposite the German Lutheran church. When he built his home Mr. Marolf could only see the home of Mr. Stearns just west of town on the south side of the Moscow road. Mr. Marolf was soon followed by Mr. Ben Maurer in 1850 whose land now comprises North Wilton and Peter Marolf in 1851, which is now known as Marolf's addition. North Wilton is at present (1947) not within the corporate limits of Wilton. The city was once home to the Wilton German English College from 1894 to 1905. The campus of the college was later turned into City Park, and some of the college's buildings remain to this day.

Geography
Wilton is at 41.58944°N, -91.0175°W (41.589350, -91.017487).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.95 sqmi, all land. The city sits at an elevation of 679 feet.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,802 people, 1,155 households, and 767 families residing in the city. The population density was 1436.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,231 housing units at an average density of 631.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.5% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 1,155 households, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 37.7 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.4% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,842 people, 1,105 households, and 784 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,509.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,141 housing units at an average density of 608.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.74% White, 0.21% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% of the population.

There were 1,105 households, out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,278, and the median income for a family was $49,615. Males had a median income of $37,146 versus $23,350 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,445. About 5.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Witon has a library/community center building in the northeast section of the city, near the high school that provides numerous resources to residents.

Historic sites include the Wilton Candy Kitchen, which is the oldest ice cream parlor in the world, and the former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad depot built in 1898. Both are in the downtown area and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Parks and recreation
Wilton has four parks. The City Park (known by residents as the Blue Park) in the heart of the town has an indoor swimming pool as well as a playground, shelter house, and baseball field. Westview Park is on the west side of town and has tennis courts, playground equipment, a walking path, and a ball field. Elder Park is in the downtown area and has a small picnic area. Cherrydale Park on the southside contains three baseball fields and a playground.

Religion
Wilton is home to many churches, including St. Mary's Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church, Grace United Church of Christ, Heartland Fellowship Church, United Methodist Church, and the Zion Lutheran Church.

Education
The Wilton Community School District, home to the Wilton Beavers, and is part of the River Valley Conference, serves Wilton, Moscow, and the surrounding rural areas. The school district includes an elementary school and a junior/senior high school, which is now a connecting part of the new elementary. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 12:1.
 * Public schools

Media
Wilton-Durant Advocate News is a weekly newspaper in the area. Daily newspapers such as The Muscatine Journal and Quad-City Times are available.

Wilton Jr./Sr. High School has a student-run school news website called This Just In, which is maintained during the school year by journalism students. The class also produces a student newspaper called "The Beaver Tale" which is printed monthly during the school year in the Advocate News.

Transportation
Wilton is three miles (5 km) south of Interstate 80, at the junction of County Highway F58 and Iowa Highway 38, within driving distance of Muscatine, the Quad Cities, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Interstate Railroad passes through the city and provides service to local industries. The Quad City International Airport is 30 miles east of Wilton providing non-stop flights to destinations throughout the country. Wilton sits along the historic transcontinental U.S. Route 6, though this section was transferred to IA927 and later to county F58.

Utilities
Electricity is provided by Wilton Municipal Light and Power Company and water by the city water department, which operates its own water treatment plant. The city has a 500,000 gallon water tower on the west side of town near the industrial park, and another 300,000-gallon tower in the center of the city.

Healthcare
Trinity Medical Center in Muscatine has a "physicians' clinic" located in Wilton. The closest hospitals are located in Muscatine (Trinity-Muscatine), the Quad Cities (Genesis West, Genesis East, Trinity-Bettendorf), and Iowa City (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Mercy Hospital, and the Veteran's Hospital).

Police Department and Fire Department
The city is served by the Wilton Police Department and Wilton Fire Department.

Notable people

 * Mary Ryerson Butin (1857–1944), physician, born and raised in Wilton.
 * Eddy Chandler, actor was born and raised in Wilton.
 * Charles H. Gabriel, hymnwriter was born and raised in Wilton.
 * Wally Hilgenberg; played in NFL for the Detroit Lions and Super Bowls with Minnesota Vikings and was raised partly in Wilton.
 * S. J. Mathes, printer and newspaperman

title: Wilton, Iowa


text:
Clear Lake, Iowa

Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,687 at the 2020 census. The city is named for the large lake on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate 35 with many restaurants, hotels and truck stops.

History
The region around the lake that would later be called Clear Lake was a summer home to the Dakota and Winnebago American Indians. During a land survey of northern Iowa done in 1832 by Nathan Boone, the son of the famous explorer Daniel Boone, a map was made showing the lake and other bodies of water in the area.

In 1851, Joseph Hewitt and James Dickirson brought their families to camp on the east side of Clear Lake, soon building a cabin, and began a friendship with the Winnebago natives. By 1853, many more white settlers had also came to settle in the area. By the year 1855, the first Clear Lake school was built as well as the first steam saw mill. In that year a hotel was built by James Crow.

By 1870, the town had 775 residents and by 1871 the streets were graded and sidewalks were made of raised boards, sure signs of a thriving new city. The city of Clear Lake was incorporated on May 26, 1871. The first bandstand in Clear Lake was built in 1877 at the City Park. The town continued to grow and built its first library in 1889. In 1909, Bayside Amusement park opened for the first time. The first North Iowa Band Festival was organized by John Kopecky, among others, in 1932.

In 1933, the Surf Ballroom opened up on the site of the old Tom Tom ballroom that had been destroyed by fire. The opening dance night saw approximately 700 couples attend. In 1947, the Surf Ballroom burned down; a new Surf Ballroom was built across the street the following year. The Bayside Amusement park closed down in 1958.

The Day the Music Died

In the early hours of February 3, 1959, a Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper, who had been performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, took off from the local runway in nearby Mason City, on its way to the next show in Moorhead, Minnesota.

The plane crashed soon after take off, killing everyone aboard. The event was later eulogized by folk singer Don McLean in his 1971 song "American Pie", which led to the crash being nicknamed "The Day the Music Died".

In June 1988, around 600 people gathered to witness the dedication of the monument to the three musicians. Clear Lake also renamed Second Place North to "Buddy Holly Place".

Geography
Clear Lake is located at 43.13639°N, -93.38°W (43.136479, −93.379927).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.44 sqmi, of which 10.80 sqmi is land and 2.64 sqmi is water.

Climate
Clear Lake, Iowa has a hot/warm summer humid continental climate (Dfa).

Demographics

Clear Lake is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 7,777 people, 3,507 households, and 2,087 families residing in the city. The population density was 720.1 PD/sqmi. There were 4,423 housing units at an average density of 409.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 3,507 households, of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.5% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 46.3 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 31.9% were from 45 to 64; and 20.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,161 people, 3,461 households, and 2,239 families residing in the city. The population density was 782.4 PD/sqmi. There were 4,156 housing units at an average density of 398.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.99% White, 0.27% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.86% of the population.

There were 3,461 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.86.

Age spread:23.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,097, and the median income for a family was $45,589. Males had a median income of $30,266 versus $21,356 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,213. About 5.0% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

 * Surf Ballroom: Site of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper's last concert, the Surf Ballroom continues to host concerts and can be reserved as a convention hall or reception site. It is also a tourist attraction and holds a tribute to the three rock and roll singers each February.
 * Lady of the Lake: A sternwheeler ferry boat which takes passengers on a scenic cruise around Clear Lake. It has an enclosed lower level and an open upper level.
 * Clear Lake Fire Museum: Designed to resemble an early fire station, this museum's highlights include a 1924 Ahrens-Fox pumper truck, the city's 1883 hand-pulled hose cart, and the original fire bell used by the department. A memorial is dedicated to honor firefighters who have served Clear Lake.
 * Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel: Built by Jack Kennedy, the Guardian Angel Chapel overlooks Interstate 35 and is open to the public daily.
 * Clear Lake Arts Center: This non-profit organization displays local and regional artists' work along with a sales gallery and art classes open to the public.
 * PM Park: Site of the Patriarchs Militant camp (a subgroup of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows). Established in 1914, turned into a historical eating and lodging venue.
 * Central Gardens of North Iowa, Inc. has over 20 themed gardens on nearly 3 acres of land and is the only free public garden within 90 miles of Clear Lake. It is open daily, dawn to dusk, May 1 through October 31 and offers over 50 free activities, events, and programs each year.
 * Lake Theatre: Historic single screen movie theatre showing current titles. Originally an Opera House, converted to movie theatre in 1935. https://www.clearlaketheatre.com

Education
There are three schools in the local public school district, Clear Lake Community School District. Clear Creek Elementary School hosts preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1–5; Clear Lake Middle School hosts grades 6–8; and Clear Lake High School hosts grades 9–12. Lakeside Alternative, an alternative school program, is run jointly with the Garner–Hayfield–Ventura Community School District in neighboring Ventura, Iowa.

Clear Lake Classical, a preK–8 Classical Christian school, is the only private school in the city.

Transportation
Clear Lake is located along Interstate 35 approximately halfway between the Twin Cities and Des Moines, Iowa. U.S. Highway 18 runs east–west through the northern side of the city until it meets Interstate 35; at this interchange, Iowa Highway 122 begins and continues to the east. U.S. 18 proper continues to the south, overlapping an approximately 3.5-mile stretch of Interstate 35 and Iowa Highway 27 (part of the Avenue of the Saints). Just south of the city, U.S. 18 and Iowa 27 break from Interstate 35 and continue to the east.

The North Iowa Area Council of Governments operates Region 2 Transit, which provides city and regional demand responsive public bus transit. Jefferson Lines, a private intercity bus service, maintains a stop in Clear Lake with service to locations throughout the Midwest.

Mason City Municipal Airport is located immediately to the east of Clear Lake.

Two freight rail lines run through the city. Canadian Pacific Railway operates a line parallel to U.S. 18, which stops at a minor grain facility; trackage rights are given to the Iowa Northern Railway. Progressive Rail maintains the Iowa Traction Railway, a shortline railroad which runs between Clear Lake and Mason City.

Utilities
The city's electric power and natural gas utilities are provided by Alliant Energy. Since 2004, Alliant Energy has operated a natural gas—fired electricity generation plant southeast of the city.

Sewage treatment is provided by the Clear Lake Sanitary District, a local government entity separate from the city government. Wastewater travels through pump stations within the city before being routed to a treatment plant to the south. There, it is filtered, processed through a sequencing batch reactor, and disinfected with ultraviolet light. Some of the resulting treated effluent is routed to the nearby Alliant Energy plant for cooling purposes.

Telephone, cable television, and internet services are provided by local provider CL Tel and Mediacom.

Water supply services are provided by the city. The city's water is drawn from shallow wells in the Cedar Valley Formation.

Waste collection services are also provided by the city and operated by local company Absolute Waste Removal. Further processing is performed at the Landfill of North Iowa to the east.

Health care
MercyOne Medical Center North Iowa in neighboring Mason City is the nearest hospital. Both MercyOne and Iowa Specialty Hospital operate clinics within the city.

In September 2020, construction began on a wellness center near Clear Lake High School for joint use by Clear Lake Community School District and the community.

Notable people

 * Carl S. Bates (1884–1956), aviation pioneer and inventor of the Bates Monoplane
 * Todd Blodgett - Member of White House staff (Reagan-Bush) 1985-87. Served on Bush-Quayle '88 campaign committee. Also worked with the FBI.
 * Richie Hayward (1946–2010), founding member for the rock band Little Feat
 * Will Kirk Kaynor (1884–1929), United States Representative for Massachusetts
 * Milo Knutson (1917–1981), mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin and Wisconsin State Senator
 * Max McGraw (1883–1964), founder of McGraw-Edison and Centel
 * Robert Allan Phillips (1906–1976), Lasker Award-winning physician who developed intravenous fluid replacement treatment for cholera

title: Clear Lake, Iowa


text:
Dougherty, Iowa

Dougherty is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 62 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
A post office called Dougherty has been in operation since 1900. Dougherty was named for a local farmer, whose relatives still live.

Geography
Dougherty is located at 42.9225°N, -93.04111°W (42.922381, -93.041194).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.55 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 58 people, 29 households, and 18 families living in the city. The population density was 105.5 PD/sqmi. There were 43 housing units at an average density of 78.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White and 3.4% Asian.

There were 29 households, of which 10.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 3.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.9% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.90 and the average family size was 2.33.

The median age in the city was 51.7 years. 8.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 13.8% were from 25 to 44; 46.5% were from 45 to 64; and 24.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 80 people, 37 households, and 19 families living in the city. The population density was 144.5 PD/sqmi. There were 52 housing units at an average density of 93.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.25% White, 2.50% Native American, and 1.25% from two or more races.

There were 37 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 2.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. 48.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 27.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,458, and the median income for a family was $50,417. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $30,893 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,569. There were no families and 4.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Education
Dougherty is part of the West Fork Community School District, formed in 2011 by the merger of SCMT (Sheffield–Chapin–Meservey–Thornton) Community School District and the Rockwell–Swaledale Community School District.

title: Dougherty, Iowa


text:
Mason City, Iowa

Mason City is a city and the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,338 in the 2020 census. Mason City is known for its musical heritage, high concentrations of renowned Prairie School style architecture, and a close connection with nearby Clear Lake.

The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties. Local institutions of higher education include North Iowa Area Community College. The Winnebago River traverses the community to the southeast.

History
The region around what would later be first called Shibboleth was a summer home to the Sioux and Winnebago nations. The first settlement that became Shibboleth was established in 1853 at the confluence of the Winnebago River and Calmus Creek. The town had several freemasonic influenced names: Shibboleth, Masonic Grove, and Masonville until Mason City was adopted in 1855, in honor of a founder's son, Mason Long. In 1854, John McMillin opened the first store, and Dr. Silas Card opened the first medical practice in the area. Lizzie Thompson established the first schoolhouse in a log cabin in 1856. The United States Post Office Department started service to the town in 1857. Mason City was named the county seat in 1858. In 1870, Mason City, Iowa was officially incorporated as a town with Darius B. Mason as the first mayor.

Musical heritage
The city's "favorite son," Meredith Willson, grew up in Mason City and played in the Mason City Symphonic Band as a high school student. Willson's crowning achievement was the famous stage musical The Music Man. Many of the characters in it were based on people Willson knew from his childhood in Mason City. Mason City also features the Parker's Opera House.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.10 sqmi, of which 27.81 sqmi is land and 0.29 sqmi is water.

Climate
Mason City has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb), bordering closely on the hot-summer variant.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 28,079 people, 12,366 households, and 7,210 families living in the city. The population density was 1009.7 PD/sqmi. There were 13,352 housing units at an average density of 480.1 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 93.8% White, 1.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.1% of the population.

There were 12,366 households, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.7% were non-families. Of all households, 35.0% were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the city was 40.9 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64, and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,172 people, 12,368 households, and 7,507 families living in the city. The population density was 1,131.3 PD/sqmi. There were 13,029 housing units at an average density of 505.3 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 95.40% White, 1.17% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.

There were 12,368 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. Of all households, 33.5% were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,852, and the median income for a family was $45,160. Males had a median income of $32,451 versus $21,756 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,899. About 7.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Mason City has a very diverse employment base covering multiple sectors of the economy including manufacturing, health, financial services, technology and education, with no one sector or employer dominating the market.

The largest employer is MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, formerly known as Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, and before that as St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, is the region's largest hospital. The facility serves 14 counties across northern Iowa. In June 2019, the hospital opened a new $10.6 million behavioral center. The new center will help MercyOne to increase the number of behavioral health-care services it can offer to those in the community it serves who are struggling with mental illness and substance abuse issues.

Other major employers include door manufacturers Curries (part of Assa Abloy) and Graham (part of Masonite International), Woodhardbor Cabinetry Manufacturers, Principal Financial, Cargill Kitchen Solutions and the Kraft Foods plant that produces the nation's entire supply of refrigerated ready-to-eat Jell-O pudding snacks. Mason City is also a major production center for Portland cement. In November 2007, Reyes Holding / Martin-Brower opened a distribution facility serving McDonald's in 5 states.

In March 2016, North Carolina based company Prestage Farms proposed to build a $240 million pork processing plant or slaughterhouse in Mason City, employing about 1,800 people. In May, the Mason City Council cast a tie vote rejecting the proposed project. Plant opponents raised environmental issues and expressed concern about possible harm to property values.

Arts and culture
The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum includes a permanent collection of American art, the famous Bil Baird puppets, and a wide range of ceramics.

Music Man Square is located near downtown and features multiple exhibits related to Meredith Willson and The Music Man, including Willson's boyhood home, the Meredith Willson Museum, and a replica streetscape from the musical.

Events and festivals
In late May or early June Mason City holds an annual celebration of its musical heritage called The North Iowa Band Festival. School bands from across the Midwest compete during the parade to be named the best band. The home bands, Mason City High School and Newman Catholic High School Marching Bands, do not compete but do perform in the parade. Meredith Willson returned to participate in the festival many times.

Landmarks

Mason City is widely known for its collection of Prairie School architecture. The Rock Crest-Rock Glen Historic District is the largest concentration of any city in Iowa. At least 32 houses and one commercial building were built in the Prairie Style between 1908 and 1922, 17 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and eight more are contributing properties to a historic district.
 * Architecture and the Prairie School

The first two Prairie structures, the Dr. G.C. Stockman House (1908) and the Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank Buildings (1909–1910) were both designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The hotel and bank, a mixed-use development at the corner of State and Federal Avenues was the first to be commissioned by local attorneys James E. E. Markley and James E. Blythe. Within a year, Wright was hired to design the Stockman House by Markley's neighbor.

Both the Park Inn Hotel and Stockman House suffered from neglect and unsympathetic alterations before they were saved by community organizations. In 1989, the Stockman House was moved four blocks to prevent its demolition; it was subsequently restored and opened to the public by the River City Society for Historic Preservation. Likewise, Wright on the Park, Inc. began restoration on the Park Inn Hotel in 2005 and the former City National Bank building in 2007. The organization reopened both buildings as a boutique hotel in August 2011. The Park Inn Hotel is last remaining of the few hotels that Wright completed during his career and is considered a prototype for Wright's Imperial Hotel.

The Rock Glen and Rock Crest National Historic district is a small enclave of single-family homes situated along the banks of Willow Creek five blocks east of downtown. It is the largest collection of prairie-style homes in a natural setting in the world. It features both Prairie School and Usonian design. Five of these houses were designed by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, two by Francis Barry Byrne, and others by William Drummond, Einar Broaten, and Curtis Besinger.

In addition to Prairie Style architecture, Mason City is home to extensive Victorian, Craftsman, and Bungalow style homes, as well as historic commercial structures, dates from between 1892 and 1940, including the Brick and Tile Building at the intersection of State and Delaware Streets.

The Mason City Public Library was designed by Chicago architects Holabird and Root in 1939.

The Len Jus Building on North Federal Avenue has an extremely rare sheet-metal facade, it had been placed on the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance's Most Endangered list because of its poor repair and indifferent ownership, but is now being rehabilitated by the new owner.

Sports
Mason City has some history of minor league and amateur sports teams despite its relatively small size.

The North Iowa Bulls are a junior ice hockey team that first began play in 2011 as member of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The Bulls won the league championship in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2021, while also winning the Tier III National Championship in 2013 and 2015. The Bulls moved up to the Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) and rebranded the Tier III team as the Mason City Toros in 2021. The North Iowa Outlaws junior hockey team previously played in the NAHL from 2005 until 2010, when they relocated to Onalaska, Wisconsin, to become the Coulee Region Chill. The North Iowa Huskies played in the United States Hockey League from 1983 to 1999 and then moved to Cedar Rapids.

Mason City was home to minor league baseball. The Mason City Cementmakers (1912) and Mason City Claydiggers (1915–1917) played as members of the Iowa State League (1912) and Central Association (1915–1917). The teams played at Hanford Park.

The Mason City Bats of the short-lived Great Central League played baseball here in 1994.

College Football Hall of Fame coach Barry Alvarez led Mason City High School to the 1978 Class 4A state football championship with a 15–13 victory over Dubuque Hempstead.

River City Rugby Football Club was established in Mason City in 1972. The club competes in two separate two-month seasons, April and May, and September and October. The club celebrated its 40th anniversary in June 2012. Over 250 players have played for the club since it first began. The club competes against teams from Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska in the Midwest Division 3.

Primary and secondary schools
Mason City Community School District operates the following schools: Harding Elementary School, Hoover Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, Lincoln Intermediate School (5–6), John Adams Junior High School (7–8), Mason City High School, (9–12), Mason City Alternative High School, Madison Early Childhood Center. Past schools include Lincoln, Washington, Grant, Central Heights, Central, McKinley, Wilson, Jackson, Monroe and Garfield elementary schools, and Monroe and Roosevelt junior high schools.

Newman Catholic Elementary/Middle School, Newman Catholic High School, and North Iowa Christian School. Mason City is also the home of the Worldwide College of Auctioning founded in 1933 by the well-known auctioneer Col. Joe Reisch and subsequently owned/operated for many years by Col. Gordon E. Taylor.

Postsecondary education
Mason City is home to several institutions of higher education, including the North Iowa Area Community College (formerly Mason City Junior College), a branch of Buena Vista University which is located on the NIACC campus, and Purdue University Global formerly known as Kaplan University. Hamilton College, a business school, has operated in the city since 1900.

Movies and documentaries
The town is featured prominently in the first episode of the 12-part documentary film How Democracy Works Now. In the 1989 movie UHF the character Stanley Spadowski (played by Michael Richards) is seen wearing a Mason City t-shirt.

Mason City served as the inspiration for the fictional town of River City, Iowa, in The Music Man, a musical that was composed and written by Mason City native son Meredith Willson (although the 1962 film, which had its world premiere in Mason City, was shot entirely at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California).

Newspapers

 * Globe Gazette – daily newspaper

Transit
Mason City Transit provides fixed-route and demand-response mass transit services to the city.

Roadways
The majority of Mason City is served by Iowa Highway 122 and U.S. Route 65. U.S. Route 18 now bypasses the city to the south. Interstate 35 (eight miles to the west) serves the city as well.

Rail service
Mason City is home to the Iowa Traction Railway. The IATR is one of the last surviving electric interurban railroads in the U. S., and the only one that still uses electric locomotives to haul freight in regular service.

Mason City also is served by the Canadian Pacific Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The Canadian Pacific track is part of its US subsidiary the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (former I&M Rail Link and Milwaukee Road trackage. The Union Pacific's track was inherited from the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company when it bought it in the 1990s. Much of the trackage is composed of the old Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad's (aka Rock Island Railroad )

While the Iowa Northern Railway does not operate in the city of Mason City, it does serve other communities in the Mason City micropolitan statistical area. The Iowa Northern has facilities in Manly, Iowa.

Airports
The city also hosts Mason City Municipal Airport, (MCW) with commercial service by United Airlines. It is the airport from which early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson) took off on the night of February 3, 1959, after a concert at the Surf Ballroom in nearby Clear Lake, Iowa, en route to Fargo, N.D. The plane crashed a few miles west of the airport in an historic event later referred to as the Day the Music Died. Holly, Valens, Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson all died in the accident.

Notable people

 * Barry Alvarez, former head football coach and athletic director at Wisconsin
 * Todd Blodgett, Member of White House staff (Reagan-Bush) 1985–87. Served on Bush-Quayle '88 campaign committee. Also worked with the FBI.
 * Bil Baird, puppeteer
 * Charles F. Barlow, pediatric neurologist
 * Carrie Chapman Catt, woman's suffrage
 * Don Eddy, MLB pitcher, raised in Swaledale but born in Mason City
 * Tanna Frederick, actress
 * Walter Burley Griffin, architect
 * Jodi Huisentruit, anchorwoman and missing person
 * Jack Jenney, jazz musician
 * Tim Lannon (born 1951), Creighton University President
 * Tim Laudner, Major League Baseball catcher
 * Sandra Levinson, executive director and co-founder of the Center for Cuban Studies
 * Joe Lillard, NFL running back
 * Hanford MacNider (1889–1968), Ambassador to Canada, Brigadier-General in the US Army
 * James J. Montague (1873–1941), journalist and poet
 * Sonny Onoo, professional wrestling manager
 * Jack Rule, Jr., professional golfer
 * Scott Sandage (born 1964), historian and author
 * Frank Secory, MLB left fielder and umpire
 * Ralph Senensky, television director and writer
 * Esther J. Walls, librarian and international advocate for literacy
 * Meredith Willson, composer and playwright, The Music Man

Sister city
Mason City, Iowa, and Montegrotto Terme, Italy, created a Sister City relationship in the spring of 2005.

title: Mason City, Iowa


text:
Meservey, Iowa

Meservey is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 222 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Meservey was founded in 1886, shortly after a railroad line was built connecting Mason City and Fort Dodge. It takes its name from the Meservey brothers, who were railroad employees at this time. The western portion of town was originally known as Kausville, and eventually merged into Meservey, and is still legally known as the "Kausville Addition".

Geography
Meservey is at 42.91306°N, -93.47611°W (42.913139, -93.476173).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.51 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 256 people, 122 households, and 68 families residing in the city. The population density was 169.5 PD/sqmi. There were 139 housing units at an average density of 92.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 99.2% White and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 122 households, of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.3% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.69.

The median age in the city was 46.3 years. 17.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 25.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 252 people, 123 households, and 75 families residing in the city. The population density was 166.9 PD/sqmi. There were 137 housing units at an average density of 90.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.81% White, 0.40% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.

There were 123 households, out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.60.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 16.7% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 27.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $28,438 versus $16,406 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,043. About 7.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

Schools
Meservey is part of the West Fork Community School District, formed in 2011 by the merger of the Sheffield–Chapin–Meservey–Thornton (SCMT) Community School District and the Rockwell–Swaledale Community School District. Meservey became a part of the West Fork whole grade-sharing school system, prior to the official merging of districts, as of the 2008–09 school year. SCMT was formed in 2007 by the merger of the Meservey–Thornton Community School District and the Sheffield–Chapin Community School District. Meservey–Thornton, in turn, formed in 1963 from the merger of the Meservey Community School District and the Thornton Community School District.

Meservey School
The Consolidated Independent School District of Meservey, Iowa, was seeking a builder for its school in the 1920s.

The Meservey school building was built in the 1940s (as a Works Progress Administration project) as a K–12 facility for Meservey High School. In 1963, it became an elementary and junior high school for the combined Meservey–Thornton school district. At a later time it became elementary school only as junior high classes were moved to Thornton. Due to declining enrollments, the building was closed in 1983, when all K–12 classes met in the Thornton facility. In 1988, Meservey–Thornton began whole-grade sharing with Sheffield–Chapin school district. The Meservey school facility was razed sometime around 1993, and the property is now Schoolhouse Park.

Meservey High School's mascot was the Rockets. The Meservey–Thornton mascot was the "Lancers". When the high school classes moved to Sheffield in 1988, the Lancer mascot was retained for the middle-school sports teams. However, with further consolidation in 2007, the Lancer mascot was officially retired with a parade in Thornton in July 2007.

Due to continued declining enrollment, the former S-C, M-T, and neighboring Rockwell–Swaledale school districts entered into a grade-sharing agreement to form the West Fork school partnership in 2008, with the "Warhawks" as the new mascot. All students now attend Sheffield and Rockwell. Each remaining school will have K–3, Rockwell will house 4–8 and Sheffield 9–12. The districts legally merged in 2011.

title: Meservey, Iowa


text:
Nora Springs, Iowa

Nora Springs is a city that is partially in Cerro Gordo and Floyd counties in the U.S. state of Iowa, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 1,369 at the time of the 2020 census.

The Cerro Gordo County portion of Nora Springs is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Nora Springs was founded in 1857 and was incorporated in 1875. It was first called Woodstock, but community pioneer Edson Gaylord, managed to persuade wealthy pioneer Edward Greeley of nearby Woodbridge (later Nashua) to come to town. Greeley agreed to buy and improve the gristmill, and to purchase 20 acres of land from Gaylord, if the town would change its name from Woodstock to Elnora, in honor of a former lady love from Vermont. Gaylord had wanted the town to be named "Springs" and as a result of a compromise, Woodstock became Elnora Springs, quickly shortened to Nora Springs. Shortly thereafter, Greeley made a trip to Vermont; upon his return, he sold the land back to Gaylord, returned to Woodbridge, and never visited Nora Springs again.

At its founding, the town's business district was located near the millpond and nearby gristmill, at the western end of present day Sixth Street NW. Two competing railroads began laying track several blocks to the south; as a result, the downtown gradually moved nearer to the rail lines, and the former business district became known to locals as Old Town. The gristmill went out of business, and stood empty for many years. It was demolished in the late 1950s. The millrace and dam still exist, and in recent years, the city has developed the area into a scenic park. A footbridge over the Shell Rock River dam was constructed in 2019,

Geography
Nora Springs is located at 43.14389°N, -93.00889°W (43.144010, −93.008929).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.22 sqmi, of which 2.19 sqmi is land and 0.03 sqmi is water.

2010 Census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,431 people, 577 households, and 388 families residing in the city. The population density was 653.4 PD/sqmi. There were 636 housing units at an average density of 290.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 99.1% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 577 households, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 Census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,532 people, 597 households, and 401 families residing in the city. The population density was 700.5 PD/sqmi. There were 629 housing units at an average density of 287.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 99.54% White, 0.07% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.07% from other races, and 0.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.

There were 597 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

24.0% are under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,926, and the median income for a family was $43,516. Males had a median income of $28,043 versus $21,536 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,246. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Nora Springs Buffalo Days
The last week of June always marks Nora Springs Buffalo Days. Festivities include a parade, entertainment at Boulder Park such as food vendors, and inflatable rides. Other activities include a 5K Run/Walk and Bingo. At the Fire Department the Fireman's Ball is held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Education
Its public schools are operated by the Central Springs Community School District, established on July 1, 2011, by the merger of North Central Community School District and Nora Springs–Rock Falls Community School District. The athletic teams are the Central Springs Panthers.

All high school students in the district, grades 9-12, as well as K-3 elementary students from the Plymouth, Manly, and Hanlontown area attend school at the Manly site. Meanwhile, all middle school students, grades 4-8, plus grades K-3 from the Nora Springs and Rock Falls area, plus those from the unincorported community of Portland, attend school at the Nora Springs site. The school colors are black and blue, the mascot being a panther.

Notable people

 * Louis Bauman Brethren, minister, writer, and Bible conference speaker, and was born in Nora Springs.
 * Arthur Gratias, Iowa State Senator, farmer, and educator, was born in Nora Springs.
 * John P. Gregg LSU college football coach, Wisconsin quarterback, and died in Nora Springs.
 * Howard B. Rooks, Electrical Engineer, 10 US Patents, born and raised in Nora Springs.

title: Nora Springs, Iowa


text:
Plymouth, Iowa

Plymouth is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 375 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Plymouth is located at 43.24528°N, -93.1225°W (43.245346, -93.122575).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.44 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 382 people, 164 households, and 111 families residing in the city. The population density was 868.2 PD/sqmi. There were 180 housing units at an average density of 409.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.4% White, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 164 households, of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.3% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 45.4 years. 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.7% were from 25 to 44; 36.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.4% male and 47.6% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 429 people, 164 households, and 120 families residing in the city. The population density was 976.6 PD/sqmi. There were 171 housing units at an average density of 389.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.83% White, 0.70% Native American, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.

There were 164 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,344, and the median income for a family was $40,179. Males had a median income of $31,042 versus $20,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,888. About 4.1% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Plymouth's public schools are operated by the Central Springs Community School District, established on July 1, 2011, by the merger of North Central Community School District and Nora Springs–Rock Falls Community School District. Prior to the merger, it was in the North Central district.

title: Plymouth, Iowa


text:
Rock Falls, Iowa

Rock Falls is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 150 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Rock Falls is located at 43.20611°N, -93.08611°W (43.206223, -93.086145).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.21 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 155 people, 68 households, and 50 families residing in the city. The population density was 738.1 PD/sqmi. There were 74 housing units at an average density of 352.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.7% White, 0.6% Asian, and 0.6% from two or more races.

There were 68 households, of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.5% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.64.

The median age in the city was 49.5 years. 14.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 27.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 170 people, 68 households, and 55 families residing in the city. The population density was 806.7 PD/sqmi. There were 69 housing units at an average density of 327.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 68 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,714, and the median income for a family was $42,917. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $16,719 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,523. None of the families and 1.1% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 4.4% of those over 64.

Education
Rock Falls' public schools are operated by the Central Springs Community School District, established on July 1, 2011, by the merger of North Central Community School District and Nora Springs–Rock Falls Community School District.

title: Rock Falls, Iowa


text:
Rockwell, Iowa

Rockwell is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,071 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Rockwell, IA is located at 42.98472°N, -93.19°W (42.984671, -93.190007).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.98 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,039 people, 420 households, and 299 families living in the city. The population density was 348.7 PD/sqmi. There were 444 housing units at an average density of 149.0 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 98.6% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 420 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the city was 41.7 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 989 people, 371 households, and 268 families living in the city. The population density was 333.2 PD/sqmi. There were 390 housing units at an average density of 131.4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 97.88% White, 0.10% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.

There were 371 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,219, and the median income for a family was $47,167. Males had a median income of $31,522 versus $21,406 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,491. About 4.2% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation
The city has two large parks, Zeidler Park and Linn Grove Campground, a camping area, a swimming pool, and the Linn Grove Golf Course.

Education
Rockwell is part of the West Fork Community School District, formed in 2011 by the merger of the Rockwell–Swaledale Community School District and the SCMT (Sheffield–Chapin–Meservey–Thornton) Community School District. The Rockwell–Swaledale district was formed in 1960 by the merger of the Rockwell Community School District and the Swaledale Community School District.

It is home to the West Fork elementary school. The mascot for West Fork is the Warhawk, and the middle and high school is located in the neighboring town of Sheffield.

title: Rockwell, Iowa


text:
Swaledale, Iowa

Swaledale is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 144 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Swaledale is located at 42.97806°N, -93.31556°W (42.977956, -93.315537).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.25 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 165 people, 77 households, and 46 families living in the city. The population density was 660.0 PD/sqmi. There were 83 housing units at an average density of 332.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.6% White and 2.4% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 77 households, of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.3% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.76.

The median age in the city was 48.4 years. 20% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 29.7% were from 45 to 64; and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 174 people, 75 households, and 48 families living in the city. The population density was 682.9 PD/sqmi. There were 83 housing units at an average density of 325.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White.

There were 75 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,906, and the median income for a family was $34,167. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,710. About 4.2% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

Education
Swaledale is part of the West Fork Community School District, formed in 2011 by the merger of the Rockwell–Swaledale Community School District and the SCMT (Sheffield–Chapin–Meservey–Thornton) Community School District. The Rockwell–Swaledale district was formed in 1960 by the merger of the Rockwell Community School District and the Swaledale Community School District.

Notable resident

 * Don Eddy, Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox from 1970 to 1971

title: Swaledale, Iowa


text:
Thornton, Iowa

Thornton is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 400 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Thornton, Iowa is located at 42.945°N, -93.38417°W (42.944972, -93.384115).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.25 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 422 people, 188 households, and 125 families residing in the city. The population density was 337.6 PD/sqmi. There were 204 housing units at an average density of 163.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.6% White, 0.5% African American, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 188 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.72.

The median age in the city was 45.3 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 20.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

Matt Ingebretson is the mayor of Thornton.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 422 people, 183 households, and 124 families residing in the city. The population density was 338.6 PD/sqmi. There were 193 housing units at an average density of 154.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.58% White, 0.24% Native American, 0.71% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 183 households, out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.81.

Age spread: 21.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,125, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $30,893 versus $19,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,622. About 5.0% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Thornton is part of the West Fork Community School District, formed in 2011 by the merger of the Sheffield–Chapin–Meservey–Thornton (SCMT) Community School District and the Rockwell–Swaledale Community School District. Thornton became a part of the West Fork Schools whole grade-sharing partnership as of the 2008–09 school year, prior to the formal district merger. SCMT was formed in 2007 by the merger of the Meservey–Thornton Community School District and the Sheffield–Chapin Community School District. Meservey–Thornton, in turn, formed in 1963 from the merger of the Thornton Community School District and the Meservey Community School District.

Thornton Public Library serves the community.

Thornton School
The school building served the community until 2007. The mascot for secondary athletic teams was the Lancers.

There was a prior school building that was destroyed in a fire. The new building opened in 1936 and received extra classrooms, office space, a gymnasium, and a library in a 1955 addition. The building initially served Thornton and its associated school district only, but after it merged into Meservey–Thornton in 1963 it began serving the consolidated district's senior high school students. Junior high school students were later moved to the building. The Meservey School closed in 1983, making the Thornton School K–12. High school students were moved out of the building as a result of the grade-sharing agreement between Meservey–Thornton and Sheffield–Chapin. At that point the Lancers mascot was now only used at the middle school level.

Due to declining enrollment, the former S-C, M-T, and neighboring Rockwell–Swaledale school districts entered a whole-grade sharing agreement to become the West Fork school system in 2008, with the "Warhawks" as the new mascot. The Thornton building closed after the 2007–08 season after 72 years of service, and all students now attend Sheffield and Rockwell. Each remaining school will have K–3, Rockwell will house 4–8 and Sheffield 9–12. The school districts formally merged in 2011. On July 5, 2008, an all-school reunion was held to commemorate the closing of the Thornton School.

In 2007 the Lancers mascot was discontinued. The Thornton residents held a celebratory farewell parade at that time. The school closed that in July 2008. The Thornton school was demolished in 2012 by the Dumont company Peterson Backhoe; the SCMT district chose demolition after a tentative agreement for another party to buy the building fell through in 2009.

title: Thornton, Iowa


text:
Ventura, Iowa

Ventura is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 711 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area. Ventura is located on the northeastern basin of Clear Lake, making it an area with many lakeside areas.

Geography
Ventura is located at 43.12667°N, -93.47333°W (43.126710, -93.473276).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.43 sqmi, of which 1.77 sqmi is land and 0.66 sqmi is water.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 717 people, 315 households, and 215 families living in the city. The population density was 405.1 PD/sqmi. There were 377 housing units at an average density of 213.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.3% White, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 315 households, of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.70.

The median age in the city was 48.3 years. 18.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.5% were from 25 to 44; 34.1% were from 45 to 64; and 21.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.5% male and 48.5% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 670 people, 277 households, and 195 families living in the city. The population density was 387.4 PD/sqmi. There were 319 housing units at an average density of 184.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 99.40% White and 0.60% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.

There were 277 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,875, and the median income for a family was $47,969. Males had a median income of $37,019 versus $21,983 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,994. About 3.3% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Ventura is a part of the Garner–Hayfield–Ventura Community School District. It was established on July 1, 2015, with the merger of the Garner–Hayfield Community School District and the Ventura Community School District.

Fun Facts
Local legend suggests, though isn't confirmed, that a cryptid called the Mugwump lives in a marsh in Ventura, Iowa.

title: Ventura, Iowa


text:
Aurelia, Iowa

Aurelia is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 968 at the 2020 census.

History
Aurelia was founded in 1873 as a stop along the Illinois Central Railroad branch connecting Sioux City, Iowa, to Chicago, Illinois. This was the only railroad connecting the two Midwestern hubs and so gave birth to many railroad towns. Aurelia was named for the youngest daughter of the owner of the railroad, John Insley Blair, who died in 1866. The location of Aurelia was only set after a last minute change in the railroad design that saw it redirect to go through LeMars and Cherokee, rather than connect Sioux City directly to Storm Lake. Almost 70% of Aurelia's population is people over age 50. Its newspaper is the Aurelia Star which was founded in March 1881 as the Aurelia Sentinel.

Geography
Aurelia is located at 42.71406°N, -95.4347°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.04 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,036 people, 426 households, and 299 families living in the city. The population density was 996.2 PD/sqmi. There were 447 housing units at an average density of 429.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 426 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.8% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 45.2 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.4% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 23.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,062 people, 424 households, and 295 families living in the city. The population density was 1,015.2 PD/sqmi. There were 469 housing units at an average density of 448.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.87% White, 0.09% African American, 0.19% Asian, 0.75% from other races, and 0.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.

There were 424 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.88.

23.6% were under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,250, and the median income for a family was $44,135. Males had a median income of $30,259 versus $19,333 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,417. About 3.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education
It is within the Alta–Aurelia Community School District. It was in the Aurelia Community School District until it merged into Alta–Aurelia on July 1, 2018.

Aurelia houses one of the two K–4 elementary schools in the district and the sole middle school, which serves grades 5–8. The high school is in Alta.

title: Aurelia, Iowa


text:
Cherokee, Iowa

Cherokee is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,199 at the 2020 Census, down from 5,369 in 2000. It is the county seat of Cherokee County.

History
Cherokee was laid out as a town in 1870, and was named for the Southeast Indian tribe, most of whose members had been removed to Indian Territory in the late 1830s. Cherokee was incorporated on April 5, 1873.

Tyson Foods closed its Tyson Foods Deli Plant in Cherokee on September 27, 2014. Tyson was the largest employer in Cherokee at the time, and they laid off approximately 450 employees or over eight percent of the total population of Cherokee.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.45 sqmi, of which 6.43 sqmi is land and 0.02 sqmi is water.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 5,253 people in 2,316 households, including 1,339 families, in the city. The population density was 817.0 PD/sqmi. There were 2,569 housing units at an average density of 399.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% White, 1.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9%.

Of the 2,316 households 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 37.3% of households were one person and 16.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age was 46.3 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.9% were from 45 to 64; and 22.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 5,369 people in 2,362 households, including 1,393 families, in the city. The population density was 837.8 PD/sqmi. There were 2,556 housing units at an average density of 398.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.5% White, 0.54% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51%.

Of the 2,362 households 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 37.3% of households were one person and 19.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.82.

Age spread: 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median household income was $31,240 and the median family income was $42,333. Males had a median income of $28,350 versus $21,333 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,846. About 5.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Sites on the National Register of Historic Places
The nearby Cherokee Sewer Site is a well-preserved prehistoric Indian bison-processing site. Findings here have helped to redefine the Archaic period in the Midwest. The Phipps Site is a 1000-year-old indigenous Plains farming village, which may have been fortified. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Annual events
The annual Jazz Festival is held in January, often headlined by Mark Pender, a member of the Basic Cable band.

The Cherokee County Fair, and the Cherokee Rodeo are held in the summer.

Creek Fest is an annual summer music festival held along the banks of Mill Creek. Past performers include Kid Rock, The Band Perry, Big & Rich, and Florida Georgia Line.

Museums
Cherokee is the home of the Sanford Museum and Planetarium that opened in 1951. The founders, Mr & Mrs W.A. Sanford, intended to create a museum that was free and open to the public. The facility has exhibits and activities on a variety of subjects including: archaeology, art, astronomy, geology, history, natural history, and paleontology.

Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra, the Cherokee Symphony. This 60-member orchestra has been referred to as "the best kept secret in Northwest Iowa".

Education
The Cherokee Community School District operates local schools.

Infrastructure

Hospitals in the city include Cherokee Regional Medical Center, and Cherokee Mental Health Institute.

Notable people

 * Ralph Block, film producer and screenwriter; president of Screen Actors Guild.
 * Elwood Brown, basketball coach.
 * Wilmer D. Elfrink, football and basketball player.
 * Guy M. Gillette, U.S. Representative (1930 - 1936) and Senator (1936 -1945) from Iowa.
 * Roger Goeb, composer.
 * Kelly Goodburn, NFL punter and Super Bowl champion for Washington Redskins.
 * Major General Joseph A. Green, Chief of the Coast Artillery Corps.
 * T. J. Hockenson, tight end for the Minnesota Vikings.
 * Dan Huseman, member of Iowa House of Representatives.
 * Royal C. Johnson, 8th Attorney General of South Dakota, U.S. Representative from South Dakota; highly decorated World War I veteran.
 * Matt Koch, MLB baseball player with Arizona Diamondbacks.
 * Ben F. Laposky, artist and mathematician.
 * Edward Lindberg, Olympic gold medalist in 1912, track and field.
 * Steve Melter, baseball player.
 * Thomas Miller, Iowa newspaper editor and politician
 * Spike Nelson, football player and coach.
 * Ken Nordine, voiceover.
 * Doug Ohlson, abstract artist.
 * Jason Ravnsborg, 31st Attorney General of South Dakota.
 * Laurence Rickels, theorist and philosopher, studied vampires, the Devil, technology and science fiction.
 * General John D. Ryan, US Air Force Chief of Staff, 1969–71.
 * Francis L. Sampson, Army officer whose rescue of young soldier inspired film Saving Private Ryan.
 * Harold D. Schuster, editor and film director.
 * Adam Timmerman, NFL lineman and Super Bowl champion for St. Louis Rams and Green Bay Packers.
 * Steven VanRoekel, second Federal Chief Information Officer of the United States
 * Stanton Warburton, U.S. Representative from Washington; moved to Cherokee.

title: Cherokee, Iowa