Onawa, Iowa

Onawa is a city in, and the county seat of, Monona County, Iowa, United States.[2] The population was 2,906 at the time of the 2020 Census.[3][4] It is the largest town on the Iowa side of the Missouri River between Council Bluffs and Sioux City.

Onawa, Iowa
City
Location of Onawa, Iowa
Location of Onawa, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°1′39″N 96°5′47″W
CountryUSA
StateIowa
CountyMonona
Area
[1]
 • Total5.27 sq mi (13.64 km2)
 • Land5.27 sq mi (13.64 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,050 ft (320 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,906
 • Density551.63/sq mi (212.98/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
51040
Area code712
FIPS code19-59115
GNIS feature ID0459865
Websitewww.onawa.com

History

Onawa was named for a character mentioned in the poem The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.[5] Onawa was platted in 1857, and the railway arrived to the city in 1867.[6] The city is known for having the widest main street in the continental United States.[7]

Onawa was the site of a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp for captured German soldiers between 1944 and 1946.[8] Historical documents indicate there were never more than 50 POWs in camp. A larger camp existed near the central Iowa town of Algona, and housed as many as 5,400 German POWs.

Geography

Onawa's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 42.027490, -96.096513.[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.19 square miles (13.44 km2), all land.[10]

Onawa is located in the Loess Hills region of western Iowa, a unique geological and environmental area. Nearby are such natural areas as Lewis & Clark State Park, Preparation Canyon State Park, and the Loess Hills State Forest.

Demographics
Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1870478—    
1880882+84.5%
18901,358+54.0%
19001,933+42.3%
19102,026+4.8%
19202,256+11.4%
19302,538+12.5%
19403,438+35.5%
19503,498+1.7%
19603,176−9.2%
19703,154−0.7%
19803,283+4.1%
19902,936−10.6%
20003,091+5.3%
20102,998−3.0%
20202,906−3.1%
Source:"U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 29, 2020. and Iowa Data Center
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[11][3]

2010 census

As of the 2010 Census, there were 2,998 people, 1,345 households, and 756 families living in the city.[4] The population density was 577.6 inhabitants per square mile (223.0/km2). There were 1,519 housing units at an average density of 292.7 per square mile (113.0/km2).[10] The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% non-Hispanic White, 0.4% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.2% of the population.[4]

There were 1,345 households, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.8% were non-families. Thirty-eight point nine percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.91.[4]

The median age in the city was 44.8 years. Twenty-three point two of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 24% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 3,091 people, 1,329 households, and 796 families living in the city. The population density was 629.1 inhabitants per square mile (242.9/km2). There were 1,452 housing units at an average density of 295.5 per square mile (114.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.86% White, 0.03% African American, 1.16% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,329 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.

Population spread: 22.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 25.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,796, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $27,981 versus $20,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,928. About 3.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

West Monona Community School District operates public schools serving the community.[13]

Culture
Barack Obama campaigning at the Onawa Public Library, March 2007

The Eskimo Pie was created in Onawa in 1920 by Chris Nelson, an ice cream shop owner.

Notable people

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  4. Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Community Facts". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  5. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 110.
  6. History of Western Iowa, Its Settlement and Growth. Western Publishing Company. 1882. pp. 250.
  7. Butz, Dolly (May 3, 2012). "Widest Street in America". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  8. Hayworth, Bret (October 28, 2005). "60 years ago, POW camp brought Germans to Onawa". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "West Monona." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on February 25, 2019.
  14. E. Wight Bakke papers-biographical note
  15. 'Prominent Former County and State Officla [sic?] Dies At Des Moines Sunday,' The Onawa Democratic Weekly, July 22, 1948, pg. 1
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