Eldon, Iowa

Eldon is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 783 at the time of the 2020 census.[3] It is the site of the small Carpenter Gothic style house that has come to be known as the American Gothic House. Artist Grant Wood used this home for the background in his world-famous 1930 painting American Gothic.[4]

Eldon, Iowa
City
Clockwise from top left: Downtown viewing (Elm Street), Eldon Carnegie Public Library, and the Dibble House otherwise known as the American Gothic House
Clockwise from top left: Downtown viewing (Elm Street), Eldon Carnegie Public Library, and the Dibble House otherwise known as the American Gothic House
Location of Eldon, Iowa
Location of Eldon, Iowa
Coordinates: 40°55′05″N 92°13′05″W
Country United States
State Iowa
CountyWapello
Area
[1]
 • Total1.10 sq mi (2.85 km2)
 • Land1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
[2]
630 ft (190 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total783
 • Density715.72/sq mi (276.36/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
52554
Area code641
FIPS code19-24420
GNIS feature ID2394637[2]

Eldon today is a regional tourist destination with visitors coming to visit the American Gothic House, the Historic Rock Island Railway depot, and the Historic McHaffey Opera House.[5]

History
Main Street, Eldon, Iowa
Main Street around 1910

Eldon got its start in the year 1870, following construction of the Keokuk and Des Moines Railway through the territory.[6] It was incorporated in 1872.[7]

Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold, who was born in nearby Ottumwa, operated Roseanne and Tom's Big Food Diner in Eldon from 1993 to 1995.[8]

Eldon is also the home of the Wapello County Fair which began in 1868.[9]

Geography
Aerial photo of Eldon (2013).

Eldon is located in the southeast corner of Wapello County eleven miles southeast of Ottumwa on the northeast bank of the Des Moines River across the river from the Soap creek confluence. Iowa Highway 16 passes through the community. The Eldon Water Management Area is across the river in adjacent Davis County two miles to the southwest along Soap Creek.[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.12 square miles (2.90 km2), of which 1.11 square miles (2.87 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2; 2.59 ha) is water.[11]

Education

Eldon is served by the Cardinal Community School District which has its campus 2.5 miles north of the town in rural Wapello County.

Eldon is consolidated with the towns of Agency, Batavia, and the unincorporated communities of Selma and Bladensburg within the Cardinal Community School District.

Cardinal Schools mascot is the "Comet". The Cardinal athletic teams participate in the South Central Conference.

Demographics
Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1880729—    
18901,725+136.6%
19001,850+7.2%
19102,024+9.4%
19202,091+3.3%
19301,788−14.5%
19401,676−6.3%
19501,457−13.1%
19601,386−4.9%
19701,319−4.8%
19801,255−4.9%
19901,070−14.7%
2000998−6.7%
2010927−7.1%
2020783−15.5%
Source:"U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 29, 2020. and Iowa Data Center
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[12][3]
The population of Eldon, Iowa from US census data
The population of Eldon, Iowa from US census data

2010 census

At the 2010 census 927 people, 406 households, and 260 families were residing in the city. The population density was 835.1 inhabitants per square mile (322.4/km2). The 448 housing units had an average density of 403.6 per square mile (155.8/km2). The racial makup of the city was 98.4% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1%.[13]

Of 406 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 15% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28, and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age was 42.3 years old. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 19.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census 998 people, 438 households, and 275 families were residing in the city. The population density was 884.3 inhabitants per square mile (341.4/km2). The 470 housing units had an average density of 416.5 per square mile (160.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.20% White, 0.40% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50%.[14]

Of the 438 households 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.7% of households were one person and 18.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median household income was $26,950 and the median family income was $37,250. Males had a median income of $29,261 versus $20,573 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,495. About 11.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.

American Gothic By Grant Wood

National Register of Historic Places

In addition to the American Gothic House, the following properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Eldon, Iowa
  3. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  4. "Departments and Officials of Wapello County, Iowa". www.wapellocounty.org. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  5. "Eldon, Iowa | South Central Iowa | Travel Iowa | #ThisIsIowa". www.traveliowa.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  6. Waterman, Harrison Lyman (1914). History of Wapello County, Iowa, Volume 1. S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 283.
  7. Evans, Samuel B. (1901). History of Wapello County, Iowa, and Representative Citizens. Higginson Book Company. p. 139.
  8. "TV Acres". TV Acres. August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  9. "Wapello County Fair Eldon, Iowa". wapellocountyfair.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  10. Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 7th ed., 2021, pp. 59–60 ISBN 1946494003
  11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
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