Gravity, Iowa

Gravity, Iowa
City
Location of Gravity, Iowa
Coordinates: 40°45′33″N94°44′39″W / 40.75917°N 94.74417°W / 40.75917; -94.74417
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Taylor
Area [1]
• Total	0.34 sq mi (0.87 km2)
• Land	0.34 sq mi (0.87 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,201 ft (366 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	154
• Density	458.33/sq mi (176.97/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	50848
Area code	712
FIPS code	19-32520
GNIS feature ID	0457083

Gravity is a city in Taylor County, Iowa, United States. The population was 154 at the time of the 2020 census. ^[2]

Welcome sign

Gravity, Iowa Post Office

History

Gravity got its start in the year 1881, following construction of the railroad through the territory. It was incorporated in 1883. ^[3] The origin of the name "Gravity" is obscure. ^[4]

Geography

Gravity is located along the Middle Fork One Hundred and Two River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.30 square miles (0.78 km²), all land. ^[5]

Gravity is located north of Bedford on Iowa Highway 148.

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1890	210	—
1900	549	+161.4%
1910	475	−13.5%
1920	464	−2.3%
1930	465	+0.2%
1940	514	+10.5%
1950	369	−28.2%
1960	275	−25.5%
1970	286	+4.0%
1980	245	−14.3%
1990	218	−11.0%
2000	218	+0.0%
2010	188	−13.8%
2020	154	−18.1%
Source: "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 28, 2020. and Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census [6] [2]

The population of Gravity, Iowa from US census data

2010 census

As of the census ^[7] of 2010, there were 188 people, 82 households, and 53 families living in the city. The population density was 626.7 inhabitants per square mile (242.0/km²). There were 103 housing units at an average density of 343.3 per square mile (132.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.5% White and 0.5% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 82 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.68.

The median age in the city was 42 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.8% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.7% male and 46.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[8] of 2000, there were 218 people, 85 households, and 64 families living in the city. The population density was 729.6 inhabitants per square mile (281.7/km²). There were 103 housing units at an average density of 344.7 per square mile (133.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.08% White, 0.46% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.21% of the population.

There were 85 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $20,536 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,312. About 16.2% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 5.4% of those 65 or over.

Education

Gravity is within the Bedford Community School District. ^[9]

Notable people

• Lulu Johnson (1907-1995), historian, university administrator, and the second African-American to earn a Ph.D. in the United States.
• Bob King (1923-2004) head men's basketball coach at Indiana State University and University of New Mexico.
• Roberta Linn (1931-), singer

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. Crosson, Frank E. (1910). History of Taylor County, Iowa: From the Earliest Historic Times to 1910. Walsworth Publishing Company. p. 193.
4. Moyer, Armond; Moyer, Winifred (1958). The origins of unusual place-names. Keystone Pub. Associates. pp. 141–142.
5. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 11, 2012.
8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
9. "Bedford." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on June 20, 2018.