Story City, Iowa

Story City is a city in Story County, Iowa. It is located within the Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area which envelops the entirety of Story County and combined with the Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area makes up the larger Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area. The population was 3,352 in the 2020 census, a slight increase from 3,228 in 2000.[2]

Story City, Iowa
City
Downtown Story City
Downtown Story City
Location of Story City, Iowa
Location of Story City, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°11′11″N 93°35′31″W
Country United States
State Iowa
CountyStory
IncorporatedDecember 12, 1881
Government
 • MayorMike Jensen
Area
[1]
 • Total2.86 sq mi (7.40 km2)
 • Land2.86 sq mi (7.40 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
1,001 ft (305 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,352
 • Density1,173.67/sq mi (453.15/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
50248
Area code515
FIPS code19-75675
GNIS feature ID0462019
Websitecityofstorycity.org

History

Story City was known as Fairview throughout much of its early history. The named changed in 1881 when the town established a post office and discovered that the Fairview name was already in use for another town. Story City was renamed after Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story. The boundaries of "Old Fairview" are outlined by signs during Scandinavian Days, and is approximately in the northeast corner of current Story City with the southern boundary being Broad Street.

Story City was laid out including Fairview in 1878, and officially incorporated in 1881. The railroad arrived in 1878 and connected the city to Ames by the narrow-gauge Des Moines & Minnesota and to Des Moines via the Chicago and North Western Railroad in Ames.

The city has deep historic and cultural ties to the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden, and mostly Norway. A large contingent of the city's current population is descended from a major immigration of people from Nordic countries in the 1840s through 1860s. It is evident in the large number of Lutheran churches in the community with ministers historically delivering sermons in different languages (Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian) respective of the makeup of their congregations.

Geography

Story City's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 42.1872062, -93.5957713.[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.80 square miles (7.25 km2) which is all land.[4]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880331—
189053661.9%
19001,197123.3%
19101,38715.9%
19201,59114.7%
19301,434−9.9%
19401,4793.1%
19501,5454.5%
19601,77314.8%
19702,10418.7%
19802,76231.3%
19902,9597.1%
20003,2289.1%
20103,4316.3%
20203,352−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5][2]

2010 census

As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 3,431 people, 1,472 households, and 895 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,225.4 inhabitants per square mile (473.1/km2). There were 1,586 housing units at an average density of 566.4 per square mile (218.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 1,472 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 44.4 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 23% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.5% male and 53.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 3,228 people, 1,321 households, and 816 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,334.1 inhabitants per square mile (515.1/km2). There were 1,377 housing units at an average density of 569.1 per square mile (219.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.76% White, 0.28% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.

There were 1,321 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% 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 2.97.

23.5% are under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $41,275, and the median income for a family was $51,493. Males had a median income of $33,500 versus $21,161 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,345. About 3.9% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

About Story City

Story City is located in central Iowa on Interstate 35, 45 minutes north of Des Moines and 10 minutes north of Ames which is home to Iowa State University. Industrial parks, shopping malls, and several restaurants are located on the interstate, with a historic downtown located less than two miles west of I-35.

Bethany Life Communities, American Packaging, Eby, and Innovative Lighting are major employers in Story City.

The Story Theatre/Grand Opera House is the oldest continuously operating theater in the Midwest and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to showing movies, the theater features productions by Story City's Judge Story's Theatrical Troupe during Scandinavian Days in the summer and the annual Yulefest Celebration in the winter.[8]

Story City is home to a 1913 Herschell-Spillman antique carousel. It is open at noon daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.[9]

The Story City Park is situated along the banks of the Skunk River, one of Iowa's recreational water trails. It is the starting point for the Skunk River Canoe Trail. City Park is home to a historic swinging bridge, constructed in 1936 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration program; it was damaged by ice in March 2019.[10][11]

The Skunk River Greenbelt Trail system begins just south of Story City, immediately off Interstate 35 on County Road E-18.[12]

Story City has a nine-hole River Bend Golf Course featuring 2,980 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 37. The course rating is 34.3 and it has a slope rating of 117 on bluegrass. Designed by Charles Calhoun, the River Bend golf course opened in 1971.[13]

Story City is located at the western boundary of the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area.[14]

Arts and culture

Story City features an annual Scandinavian Days celebration. The event began in 1965, occurs in the first week of June, and features live music with a beer garden, rides, and games. Participants find themselves in an immersion of Nordic culture in the form of food and arts.[15] An annual storytelling festival, STORY! Celebrating the Art of Storytelling, is also held each September.

One of many of the city's prominent Lutheran Churches

Area churches include the following: Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMC),[16] St. Petri Lutheran Church (ELCA),[17] Harvest Evangelical Free Church,[18] Grace United Methodist Church,[19] Church of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church (Located 7 miles southwest of Story City). Riverside Bible Camp is located 2 miles north of Story City.

The Nordic traditions of the community are evident in some of ethnic foods of the area. Popular and frequently served food items around Story City include:

Education

The Roland–Story Community School District operates public schools. The district was established on July 1, 1969, with the merger of the Roland and Story City school districts.[20]

Story City is the home of the Roland–Story Senior High School. Roland–Story High School's athletic teams are known as Norsemen and participate in Heart of Iowa conference and Iowa High School Athletic Association level 2A sports.

Media

Print media: Story City Herald - weekly newspaper

Digital media: The Rocket - digital media and streaming audio

Radio: KHOI KHJJ

Notable people

Bill Willingham's 2012 graphic novel Fable: Werewolves of the Heartland is set entirely in Story City.[23]

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. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. "Story City Theatre & Grand Opera House". ameshistory.org. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  9. "Carousel | Story City GCC". Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  10. "Feature: Swinging Bridge and Carousel (Story City, Iowa) | Iowa Backroads". Iowa Backroads. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  11. Lawless, Ronna (March 19, 2019). "Historic Swinging Bridge damaged by river ice". Story City Herald. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  12. Inc, Informatics. "Skunk River Greenbelt - Story, IA". www.mycountyparks.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  13. "River Bend Golf Course - Story City, Iowa". River Bend Golf Course. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  14. "Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  15. Faaborg, Ronna (July 8, 2021). "Kumla on a stick: Scandinavian Days returns to Story City in a modified fashion with some new specialties". The Ames Tribune. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  16. "Immanuel Lutheran Church | Home". immanuelstorycity.org. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  17. "St. Petri Lutheran Church - Story City, IA". St. Petri Lutheran Church - Story City, IA. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  18. "Harvest Evangelical Free Church". Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  19. "Grace United Methodist Church". Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  20. "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  21. "Hank Severeid". BASEBALL-Reference. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  22. Wulf, Steve (July 9, 1979). "A Roundup Of The Week June 25-July 1". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  23. "FABLES: WEREWOLVES OF THE HEARTLAND". Vertigo Comics. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
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