Boone, Iowa

Boone (/ˈbuːn/ BOON) is a city in Des Moines Township, and county seat of Boone County, Iowa, United States.[2]

Boone
Stoll Bottling Works Building in Boone
Stoll Bottling Works Building in Boone
Location of Boone, Iowa
Location of Boone, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°3′40″N 93°53′10″W
CountryUnited States
StateIowa
CountyBoone
TownshipDes Moines
Incorporated1849
Government
 • MayorJohn Slight
Area
[1]
 • Total9.08 sq mi (23.53 km2)
 • Land9.08 sq mi (23.53 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,135 ft (346 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total12,460
 • Density1,371.64/sq mi (529.57/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
50036-50037
Area code515
FIPS code19-07480
GNIS feature ID0454753
Websitewww.boonegov.com

It is the principal city of the Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Boone County. This micropolitan statistical area, along with the Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area comprise the larger Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area. The population of the city was 12,460 at the 2020 census.[3]

History
Map of the Boone area from 1908, showing the railroads and coal mines (shown in red) of the region.

Coal mining played an important part in the early history of the Boone area. Local blacksmiths were already mining coal from the banks of Honey Creek south of what became Boone in 1849[4].

Boone was platted as a town in 1865 by John Insley Blair. It was incorporated the following year, when the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company railroad station was built there. The town was originally named "Montana";[5] it was renamed to Boone in 1871.[6] The nearby town of Boonesboro was also chartered in 1866; Boonesboro was annexed to Boone in 1887.[6] The present name is a tribute to Nathan Boone, son of explorer Daniel Boone.[7]

Commercial mining was spurred by the arrival of the railroad. In 1867, Canfield and Taylor opened a mine just west of town. Their mine shaft was 242 feet deep, and they hauled coal to the railroad by wagon. In 1874, a railroad spur was built to the mine. This mine was taken over by the railroad, and operated for 30 years. There were coal seams in the Boone area; the upper vein, about 3 feet thick, was always worked using longwall mining, while the lower vein was always mined using room and pillar mining.[8] In 1912, United Mine Workers Local 869 in Boone had 554 members, close to 10% of the population at the time.[9]

The grocery chain Fareway originated in Boone. The company maintains their business offices in town also.[10]

Original Casey's store in Boone, IA as it looked in March 2022

The first Casey's General Store was founded in Boone, Iowa in 1968.[11]

Other larger businesses that have had or still maintain facilities in Boone include Gates Rubber, Heinrich Envelope, Archway Bakery, Lowe-Berry Seeds, Coca-Cola Bottling, Quinn Iron & Wire Works (now Besser Quinn Machine & Foundry), Mid-States Steel, Sunoco Products, Specialty Leather Productions, Randy's Frozen Meats, PDM Distribution, ProLiant Biologicals, APC, Thermomass Composite Tech, CDS Global, Patterson Logistics and Stoll Bottling.[12]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.02 square miles (23.36 km2), all land.[13]

Ledges State Park is located four miles south of Boone and is a popular destination.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Boone has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

Climate data for Boone, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1904–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 68
(20)		 77
(25)		 88
(31)		 95
(35)		 110
(43)		 106
(41)		 111
(44)		 111
(44)		 103
(39)		 95
(35)		 82
(28)		 72
(22)		 111
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 50.8
(10.4)		 55.6
(13.1)		 72.0
(22.2)		 82.8
(28.2)		 88.6
(31.4)		 92.4
(33.6)		 94.2
(34.6)		 92.8
(33.8)		 90.1
(32.3)		 84.0
(28.9)		 69.1
(20.6)		 54.9
(12.7)		 95.9
(35.5)
Average high °F (°C) 28.2
(−2.1)		 33.3
(0.7)		 46.3
(7.9)		 60.0
(15.6)		 71.0
(21.7)		 80.7
(27.1)		 84.2
(29.0)		 82.2
(27.9)		 76.1
(24.5)		 63.2
(17.3)		 46.9
(8.3)		 33.8
(1.0)		 58.8
(14.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 18.7
(−7.4)		 23.3
(−4.8)		 35.9
(2.2)		 48.4
(9.1)		 59.7
(15.4)		 69.6
(20.9)		 73.5
(23.1)		 71.5
(21.9)		 63.9
(17.7)		 51.0
(10.6)		 36.8
(2.7)		 24.8
(−4.0)		 48.1
(9.0)
Average low °F (°C) 9.1
(−12.7)		 13.3
(−10.4)		 25.6
(−3.6)		 36.7
(2.6)		 48.5
(9.2)		 58.6
(14.8)		 62.7
(17.1)		 60.8
(16.0)		 51.7
(10.9)		 38.8
(3.8)		 26.8
(−2.9)		 15.8
(−9.0)		 37.4
(3.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −13.7
(−25.4)		 −8.5
(−22.5)		 4.1
(−15.5)		 21.2
(−6.0)		 33.4
(0.8)		 45.0
(7.2)		 51.8
(11.0)		 50.7
(10.4)		 36.4
(2.4)		 23.6
(−4.7)		 9.9
(−12.3)		 −5.2
(−20.7)		 −17.6
(−27.6)
Record low °F (°C) −35
(−37)		 −35
(−37)		 −22
(−30)		 −1
(−18)		 21
(−6)		 35
(2)		 40
(4)		 35
(2)		 23
(−5)		 −6
(−21)		 −11
(−24)		 −25
(−32)		 −35
(−37)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.20
(30)		 1.41
(36)		 2.26
(57)		 4.06
(103)		 5.17
(131)		 5.38
(137)		 4.80
(122)		 4.92
(125)		 3.32
(84)		 2.97
(75)		 2.08
(53)		 1.57
(40)		 39.14
(993)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 9.9
(25)		 9.3
(24)		 5.0
(13)		 1.3
(3.3)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.6
(1.5)		 1.9
(4.8)		 7.9
(20)		 35.9
(91.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 8.9 8.5 9.5 12.5 14.4 12.8 10.4 10.9 9.2 9.4 7.7 8.8 123
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 6.1 5.8 2.8 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.4 5.2 22.6
Source 1: NOAA[14]
Source 2: National Weather Service[15]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18803,330—
18906,52095.8%
19008,88036.2%
191010,34716.5%
192012,45120.3%
193011,886−4.5%
194012,3734.1%
195012,164−1.7%
196012,4682.5%
197012,4680.0%
198012,6021.1%
199012,392−1.7%
200012,8033.3%
201012,661−1.1%
202012,460−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[16][3]
The population of Boone, Iowa from US census data
The population of Boone, Iowa from US census data

2010 census

At the 2010 census,[17] there were 12,661 people, 5,380 households and 3,278 families living in the city. The population density was 1,403.7 inhabitants per square mile (542.0/km2). There were 5,917 housing units at an average density of 656.0 per square mile (253.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.7% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 5,380 households, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% 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 2.92.

The median age was 38.1 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[18] there were 12,803 people, 5,313 households and 3,363 families living in the city. The population density was 1,433.9 inhabitants per square mile (553.6/km2). There were 5,585 housing units at an average density of 625.5 per square mile (241.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.34% White, 0.32% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 5,313 households, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 31.5% 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 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.

24.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median household income was $43,256. Males had a median income of $32,106 and females $22,119. The per capita income was $22,611. About 5.4% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Boone is located on U.S. Route 30. The original Lincoln Highway ran through the center of town, but a new four-lane highway was built in the late 1960s that bypassed the center of Boone to the south. There is also a network of paved country roads radiating out in all directions.

Boone is served by the mainline of the Union Pacific, which purchased the Chicago & North Western Railroad (C&NW) in 1995. Boone was a division and crew change point on the railroad under the Chicago & North Western and some of that business remains today. There is a moderate-sized rail yard to the east of the downtown area. The locomotives no longer sound their horns in the town proper due to modifications to the various points where streets intersect with the rail line.

Boone was also the exact midpoint on the Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railroad, an electric interurban line converted to diesel in 1955 after a flood on the Des Moines River devastated the Fraser hydroelectric power plant that supplied power to the railroad. It connected with the C&NW downtown. It was purchased by the C&NW in 1968 and subsequently abandoned. The western part of the line to Fraser has been resurrected as the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, a tourist line.

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad also ran a branch line into Boone from the southeast. It likewise connected with the C&NW. The line was trimmed back to Luther in the late 1960s and completely abandoned a few years later.

Economy
Former freight station and grain elevator in Boone
  • Unemployment rate
2.8% (3.6% USA)
  • Recent job growth
-0.48% (-0.12% USA)
  • Future job growth
33.14% (31.25% USA)
  • Sales taxes
7.00% (6.80% USA)
  • Income per capita
$23,283 ($27,067 USA)
  • Household income
$46,749 ($52,954)[19]

Education

The Boone Community School District operates local public schools.[20] The Sacred Heart parish operates a parochial school for kindergarten through 8th grade. Trinity Lutheran Church operates a school for students 3 years old to 8th grade.[21] The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) has a campus in the south central part of the town. It was established when DMACC purchased the former Boone Junior College in 1969 and was the second campus added during the initial period of expansion. [22]

Arts and culture

Festivals and events

Pufferbilly Days, an annual event celebrating Boone's railroad heritage, is held at the end of the summer and is one of Iowa's top five community festivals with over 30,000 attendees.[23]

The IMCA Super Nationals are held at the Boone Speedway, occurring during the week of Labor Day.[24]

Boone River Valley Festival was started in 2017 and takes place in May. It is an outdoor festival with events to celebrate all of the beauty and activities that Boone and Boone County have to offer. [25]

Boone is also a site of the annual Farm Progress Show. Originally the show rotated from one farm to another in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana before the permanent sites were established at Boone, Iowa and Decatur, Illinois. The show now alternates between these two permanent sites on an annual basis.[26]

Tourist attractions

Vincenzo Miserendino's final and largest statue of Theodore Roosevelt, which was eight times life-size was commissioned in 1941, and was scheduled to arrive in Boone, Iowa, in 1943. However, before casting, its 4,000 pounds of bronze was appropriated for World War II. Miserendino commented that Theodore Roosevelt himself would have approved of that decision to put the service of the country first. Later, in 1946, the Roman Bronze Corporation of Corona, New York City, produced the casting in Miserendino's original mold.[lower-alpha 1] On January 6, 1948, it was placed in McHose Park.[lower-alpha 2] Residing on three large granite blocks, the 6' 3" statue depicts Roosevelt rising out of a mountainous landscape with his hand outstretched as if addressing a crowd. Below the statue are ten bas reliefs of Roosevelt's outdoor accomplishments.[27]

Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum are other points of interest. The B&SVRR allows visitors to view Boone and the Boone river valley area via train, riding behind various historic train equipment. Thomas the Tank Engine makes annual visits to B&SVRR, at the Day Out with Thomas event, usually in September.[28] The railroad also hosts several "dinner" trains, a regular weekly train excursion as well as a special Christmas themed event. The James H. Andrew museum, located on site, highlights railroad history with a variety of exhibits and authentic railroad related artifacts.[29]

Parks and recreation

J.B. McHose Park and Shelter is the largest park in Boone, and features shelters, baseball fields, tennis courts, a sand volleyball area, a basketball court, playgrounds, nature trails, an equestrian trail, fishing pond, Teddy Roosevelt monument, bike trail, disc golf course, and a swimming pool.[30]

Notable people
Birthplace of First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower, 709 (formerly 718) Carroll Street, Boone, Iowa

Notes
  1. Miserendino died in 1943 before the 1946 casting of Roosevelt.
  2. James Buritt McHose was an admirer of Theodore Roosevelt. On July 25, 1924, McHose and his wife, Ella, gave nearly 200 acres of land on the southwest side of Boone to the city for a park which is named in their honor. When McHose died in June of 1927 at the age of 78, shortly after the park’s dedication, his last will and testament specified that a statue of Roosevelt be placed in the park. John W. Jordan, the attorney for McHose's will, oversaw the Roosevelt statue project for the park.

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  4. "About - County History - Boone County Government - Iowa". www.boonecounty.iowa.gov. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  5. "Bird's eye view of the city of Montana, Boone Co., Iowa 1868". historymap.com. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  6. "County History". Boone County, Iowa. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  7. Savage, Tom (August 2007). A Dictionary of Iowa Place-Names. University of Iowa Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-58729-759-5.
  8. James H. Lees, History of Coal Mining in Iowa, Chapter III of Annual Report, 1908, Iowa Geological Survey, 1909, pages 575–579.
  9. Tally Sheet, Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Convention of the United Mine Workers of America Jan. 16 – Feb. 2, 1912, Indianapolis; Volume 2, page 182A.
  10. "History - Reflecting on 75 Years". Fareway. Fareway. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  11. "Community Pride, Hometown Heart". Casey's General Store. Casey's General Store. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  12. "Manufacturing". Boone County Iowa. Boone Co. Chamber of Commerce - IA. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  13. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  14. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  15. "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. "Boone, Iowa Economy". www.bestplaces.net.
  20. "Boone" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  21. "Trinity Lutheran Church of Boone, Iowa – Trinity's presence on the internet". Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  22. DMACC staff. "College History". Des Moines Area Community College. DMACC. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  23. "Pufferbilly Days". Boone County Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  24. "IMCA Super Nationals". IMCA. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  25. "Boone River Valley Festival". Boone River Valley Festival. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  26. "Celebrating Over 50 Years of Farm Progress Show Success". Kansas Farmer. Informa USA Inc. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  27. Caswell, Suzanne (April 24, 2013). "The statue of Teddy Roosevelt". Iowa Living Magazines. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  28. Staff. "Day Out with Thomas". Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and James H. Andrew Railroad Museum. Iowa Railroad Historical Society. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  29. Staff. "James H. Andrew Museum". Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. Iowa Railroad History Society. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  30. "Locations / J.B. McHose Park & Shelter / Boone, IA". www.boonegov.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  31. Staff. "Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower". The White House. The White House. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  32. Staff. "Governor Norman Arthur Erbe". National Governors Assoc. National Governors Assoc. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  33. Staff. "Jerry McNertney Stats". Baseball Almanac. Baseball Almanac, Inc. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  34. Kelley, Mo. "Is He the Greatest". Kelley's Korner. Mo Kelley. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  35. Staff. "Chad Rinehart Biography". ESPN. ESPN Enterprises Inc. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  36. Rose, Darlene Deibler. Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990. Print.
  37. White, Maury. "Ed Updegraff". Register Sports Hall of Fame. Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  38. Staff. "Curtis D. Wilbur (1924-1929)". UVA / Miller Center. University of Virginia. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  39. Staff. "Ray L. Wilbur (1929-1933)". UVA / Miller Center. University of Virginia. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
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