Iowa Falls, Iowa

Iowa Falls is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. Iowa Falls is the home of Ellsworth Community College. It is also a regional transportation center, located along U.S. Routes 20 and 65 and the Canadian National and Union Pacific Railroads. The population was 5,106 at the time of the 2020 census.[2] A landmark in the city is its movie theater. Built as the Metropolitan Opera House in 1899, it presented plays, operas, and vaudeville in the town during the first half of the twentieth century, and today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Iowa Falls, Iowa
City
Nickname: 
The Scenic City
Location of Iowa Falls, Iowa
Location of Iowa Falls, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°31′N 93°16′W
Country United States
State Iowa
CountyHardin
Area
[1]
 • Total5.46 sq mi (14.15 km2)
 • Land5.39 sq mi (13.95 km2)
 • Water0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2)
Elevation
1,106 ft (337 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,106
 • Density948.01/sq mi (366.06/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
50126
Area code641
FIPS code19-38640
GNIS feature ID0457829
Websitewww.cityofiowafalls.com
Main Street, Iowa Falls, Iowa, 1915
Main Street, Iowa Falls, Iowa, 1915

History

Iowa Falls was laid out and platted in 1856.[3] It was named from the falls on the Iowa River.[4]

The Illinois Central Railroad was built through Iowa Falls in 1866.[5]

Geography

Iowa Falls is located at 42°31′N 93°16′W (42.5221, -93.2673).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.44 square miles (14.09 km2), of which 5.36 square miles (13.88 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) is water.[7]

Iowa Falls is located at the point where the Iowa River flows through a limestone gorge 70 feet (21.34 m) deep between bluffs that rise another 50 feet (15.24 m). The falls themselves were also known as the "rapids of the Iowa."[8] The falls are now submerged by a dam built in 1926 that is 26 feet (7.92 m) feet high and 200 feet long and serves a hydroelectric power station that currently generates 1.5MW.[9][10]

Climate

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

Climate data for Iowa Falls, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 68
(20)		 68
(20)		 87
(31)		 97
(36)		 107
(42)		 107
(42)		 111
(44)		 108
(42)		 101
(38)		 95
(35)		 79
(26)		 70
(21)		 111
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 46.6
(8.1)		 51.7
(10.9)		 67.5
(19.7)		 81.4
(27.4)		 87.4
(30.8)		 91.8
(33.2)		 92.6
(33.7)		 90.6
(32.6)		 89.0
(31.7)		 82.5
(28.1)		 67.2
(19.6)		 51.1
(10.6)		 94.1
(34.5)
Average high °F (°C) 25.7
(−3.5)		 30.6
(−0.8)		 43.5
(6.4)		 58.3
(14.6)		 69.9
(21.1)		 79.9
(26.6)		 82.9
(28.3)		 80.8
(27.1)		 74.8
(23.8)		 61.7
(16.5)		 45.0
(7.2)		 31.5
(−0.3)		 57.1
(13.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 16.9
(−8.4)		 21.3
(−5.9)		 33.9
(1.1)		 46.8
(8.2)		 58.8
(14.9)		 69.1
(20.6)		 72.6
(22.6)		 70.2
(21.2)		 62.7
(17.1)		 50.0
(10.0)		 35.3
(1.8)		 23.2
(−4.9)		 46.7
(8.2)
Average low °F (°C) 8.1
(−13.3)		 12.1
(−11.1)		 24.4
(−4.2)		 35.3
(1.8)		 47.7
(8.7)		 58.4
(14.7)		 62.2
(16.8)		 59.7
(15.4)		 50.6
(10.3)		 38.3
(3.5)		 25.6
(−3.6)		 14.9
(−9.5)		 36.4
(2.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −14.2
(−25.7)		 −8.7
(−22.6)		 3.1
(−16.1)		 21.5
(−5.8)		 33.5
(0.8)		 46.7
(8.2)		 51.9
(11.1)		 49.9
(9.9)		 36.0
(2.2)		 23.2
(−4.9)		 8.9
(−12.8)		 −6.0
(−21.1)		 −17.2
(−27.3)
Record low °F (°C) −34
(−37)		 −32
(−36)		 −31
(−35)		 3
(−16)		 18
(−8)		 34
(1)		 36
(2)		 31
(−1)		 19
(−7)		 −5
(−21)		 −13
(−25)		 −31
(−35)		 −34
(−37)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.92
(23)		 1.16
(29)		 2.08
(53)		 3.80
(97)		 5.57
(141)		 6.13
(156)		 4.54
(115)		 4.37
(111)		 3.49
(89)		 2.56
(65)		 1.97
(50)		 1.54
(39)		 38.13
(968)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.1
(18)		 7.1
(18)		 4.5
(11)		 1.3
(3.3)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 1.6
(4.1)		 6.1
(15)		 27.7
(69.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 6.7 6.2 7.5 10.6 12.8 11.5 8.8 9.4 8.3 8.5 6.6 7.1 104
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 5.0 4.4 2.2 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 4.6 18.2
Source 1: NOAA[11]
Source 2: National Weather Service[12]

Demographics
Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1880955—    
18901,796+88.1%
19002,840+58.1%
19102,797−1.5%
19203,954+41.4%
19304,112+4.0%
19404,425+7.6%
19504,900+10.7%
19605,565+13.6%
19706,454+16.0%
19806,174−4.3%
19905,435−12.0%
20005,193−4.5%
20105,238+0.9%
20205,106−2.5%
Source:"U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 29, 2020. and Iowa Data Center
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[13][2]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 5,238 people, 2,207 households, and 1,295 families living in the city. The population density was 977.2 inhabitants per square mile (377.3/km2). There were 2,462 housing units at an average density of 459.3 per square mile (177.3/km2). The racial makup of the city was 94.0% White, 2.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9%.[14]

Of the 2,207 households 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.3% were non-families. 37.1% of households were one person and 18.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age was 40.9 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 5,193 people, 2,215 households, and 1,331 families living in the city. The population density was 1,043.1 inhabitants per square mile (402.7/km2). There were 2,412 housing units at an average density of 484.5 per square mile (187.1/km2). The racial makup of the city was 97.34% White, 1.21% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.42% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04%.[15]

Of the 2,215 households 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 34.6% of households were one person and 18.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.81.

The age distribution was20.3% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% that were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median household income was $32,141 and the median family income was $42,279. Males had a median income of $31,216 versus $21,004 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,330. About 7.1% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Radio stations

KIFG (Iowa River Radio) 95.3 FM, 1510 AM

Education

Iowa Falls Community School District operates public schools.

Cable broadcasting

An over-the-air cable system existed in Iowa Falls, similar to one in Iron Mountain, Michigan. A list of channels and what they rebroadcast:

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  3. History of Hardin County, Iowa. Union Publishing Company. 1883. pp. 732.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 165.
  5. Moir, William J. (1911). Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa. Unigraphic. pp. 250.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  8. Samuel Walker Beyer, Geology of Hardin County, Iowa Geological Annual Report 10(1) 1899; pages 241-314, see particularly 254-255.
  9. Iowa Falls Hydro Dam, Iowa Whitewater Coalition, 23 Jan. 2018.
  10. Dam data sheet, Iowa Falls, State ID #1304, Renewable World Energies, 10 Sep. 2015.
  11. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  12. "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
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