Algona, Iowa | |
---|---|
Left, the Kossuth County Courthouse, right, the Henry Adams Building | |
![]() Location of Algona, Iowa | |
Coordinates: 43°4′13″N94°13′47″W / 43.07028°N 94.22972°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
County | Kossuth |
Area | |
• Total | 4.62 sq mi (11.97 km2) |
• Land | 4.61 sq mi (11.95 km2) |
• Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
Elevation | 1,194 ft (364 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,487 |
• Density | 1,189.21/sq mi (459.18/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP code | 50511 |
Area code | 515 |
FIPS code | 19-01135 |
GNIS feature ID | 0454126 |
Website | www |
Algona is the county seat of Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. [2] The population was 5,487 at the 2020 census. [3] Ambrose A. Call State Park is located two miles southwest of the city.
Algona was founded in 1854 and was named after the Algonquian word for "Algonquin waters". [4]
Between 1869 and 1875 the community was the location of Algona College, an institution sponsored by the Methodist Church.
In 1894, Algona, along with other Iowa communities such as Dysart and Wesley, became part of the project known as the "Orphan Trains". As New York City saw booming immigration, it also inevitably saw a rise in the number of orphans in its asylums. Unable to provide adequate care for them, it saw fit to ship nearly 100,000 westward to start a new life with families across America. Algona itself welcomed nearly 100 orphans into the town, many of whom remained lifelong residents.
From 1902 to 1906, Algona played host to the Algona Brownies, an African American barnstorming baseball team and interracial team the first two seasons. Despite being declared Western champions in 1903, the team disbanded as an interracial team that same year. The Algona Brownies were an independent interracial baseball team that played in the 1902 and 1903 seasons. They primarily made up of former members of the Chicago Unions, Columbia Giants, and Chicago Union Giants teams. After 1903, the team makeup changed from having both black and white players to a team of only black players. That year, their final year, they won the Western championship, defeating the Chicago Union Giants in a challenge playoff.
The Henry Adams Building, designed by Louis Sullivan in 1913 is located at the northwest corner of East State and Moore streets. Although not designed to be a bank, the building is nonetheless considered to be one of Sullivan's "Jewel Boxes," a series of banks built in the Midwest from 1909 through 1919.
Algona was the location of a German prisoner of war camp during World War II. From 1943 to 1946 Camp Algona held nearly 10,000 prisoners, many of whom were put to work on farms that had family fighting overseas. As a main camp Algona had numerous sub-camps with a couple dozen in Minnesota. A museum now commemorates the camp's history including a nativity scene created by the POWs. [5]
A destructive F3 tornado killed two people and destroyed a large part of Algona on June 28, 1979, about 7:15 PM. The tornado moved in a south-southeast direction through Algona. Severe damage was done to the central business district and a number of homes were rendered uninhabitable. Near F4 damage was reported in some locations. [6] There was about 15 minutes' warning and the tornado sirens were sounded well before the arrival of the tornado. The fact that it was still daylight also contributed to the relatively low death count from this destructive storm.
In 2003, Algona drew national attention when it announced the purchase of the world's largest Cheetos puff. It was meant as a plan to bring tourism to the town to see the puff by a local radio DJ. [7]
Algona is located along the East Fork Des Moines River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.51 square miles (11.7 km2), of which 4.49 square miles (11.6 km2) is land and 0.02 square mile (0.05 km2) is water. [8]
Climate data for Algona, 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) | 66 (19) | 70 (21) | 87 (31) | 95 (35) | 106 (41) | 105 (41) | 108 (42) | 110 (43) | 100 (38) | 94 (34) | 81 (27) | 68 (20) | 110 (43) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 43.9 (6.6) | 49.0 (9.4) | 68.2 (20.1) | 82.6 (28.1) | 89.6 (32.0) | 92.7 (33.7) | 91.9 (33.3) | 89.7 (32.1) | 88.6 (31.4) | 83.2 (28.4) | 66.5 (19.2) | 48.4 (9.1) | 95.3 (35.2) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 24.9 (−3.9) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 42.7 (5.9) | 58.4 (14.7) | 70.5 (21.4) | 80.2 (26.8) | 83.1 (28.4) | 80.6 (27.0) | 75.2 (24.0) | 61.8 (16.6) | 44.7 (7.1) | 30.5 (−0.8) | 56.8 (13.8) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 15.4 (−9.2) | 19.8 (−6.8) | 32.6 (0.3) | 46.1 (7.8) | 58.5 (14.7) | 69.0 (20.6) | 72.1 (22.3) | 69.7 (20.9) | 62.6 (17.0) | 49.7 (9.8) | 34.3 (1.3) | 21.6 (−5.8) | 45.9 (7.7) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 6.0 (−14.4) | 10.2 (−12.1) | 22.6 (−5.2) | 33.8 (1.0) | 46.5 (8.1) | 57.8 (14.3) | 61.2 (16.2) | 58.8 (14.9) | 50.1 (10.1) | 37.5 (3.1) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 12.8 (−10.7) | 35.1 (1.7) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −15.2 (−26.2) | −10.3 (−23.5) | 0.3 (−17.6) | 20.8 (−6.2) | 34.4 (1.3) | 47.0 (8.3) | 51.3 (10.7) | 49.3 (9.6) | 35.6 (2.0) | 21.9 (−5.6) | 6.3 (−14.3) | −8.4 (−22.4) | −17.9 (−27.7) |
Record low °F (°C) | −35 (−37) | −36 (−38) | −25 (−32) | 6 (−14) | 21 (−6) | 35 (2) | 42 (6) | 37 (3) | 22 (−6) | 3 (−16) | −17 (−27) | −30 (−34) | −36 (−38) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.90 (23) | 1.04 (26) | 1.95 (50) | 3.36 (85) | 4.72 (120) | 5.49 (139) | 4.13 (105) | 4.27 (108) | 3.27 (83) | 2.44 (62) | 1.46 (37) | 1.06 (27) | 34.09 (865) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 10.0 (25) | 10.3 (26) | 5.6 (14) | 1.8 (4.6) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 3.7 (9.4) | 9.8 (25) | 41.5 (104.76) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.2 | 5.2 | 6.7 | 9.9 | 13.1 | 11.9 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 7.4 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 97.6 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.6 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 18.8 |
Source 1: NOAA [9] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: National Weather Service [10] |
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1870 | 860 | — |
1880 | 1,359 | +58.0% |
1890 | 2,068 | +52.2% |
1900 | 2,911 | +40.8% |
1910 | 2,908 | −0.1% |
1920 | 3,724 | +28.1% |
1930 | 3,985 | +7.0% |
1940 | 4,954 | +24.3% |
1950 | 5,415 | +9.3% |
1960 | 5,702 | +5.3% |
1970 | 6,032 | +5.8% |
1980 | 6,289 | +4.3% |
1990 | 6,015 | −4.4% |
2000 | 5,741 | −4.6% |
2010 | 5,560 | −3.2% |
2020 | 5,487 | −1.3% |
Source: "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 28, 2020. and Iowa Data Center Source: |
As of the census of 2010, [12] there were 5,560 people, 2,499 households, and 1,495 families living in the city. The population density was 1,238.3 inhabitants per square mile (478.1/km2). There were 2,711 housing units at an average density of 603.8 per square mile (233.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 2,499 households, of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.2% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.79.
The median age in the city was 46.2 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 24.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.
As of the census of 2000, [13] there were 5,741 people, 2,434 households, and 1,550 families living in the city. The population density was 1,279.4 inhabitants per square mile (494.0/km2). There were 2,640 housing units at an average density of 588.3 per square mile (227.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.38% White, 0.09% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 2,434 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% 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 2.92.
Age spread: 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,207, and the median income for a family was $41,210. Males had a median income of $31,504 versus $20,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,979. About 7.9% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
There are two school systems in Algona. The Algona Community School District oversees the public school system. [14] Algona High School has students from Algona Middle School, as well as students from several nearby towns, including grade-shared districts and from open enrollment. The public elementary schools in Algona are Lucia Wallace Elementary, Bryant Elementary, and Bertha Godfrey Elementary School.
The Catholic school system is made up of Bishop Garrigan High School (named after the first bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux City) and Seton Elementary (named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton).
Utilities are provided by the Algona Municipal Utilities, which is directed by a five-member board of trustees appointed by the mayor. Drinking water is pumped from the Buried Sand and Gravel-Dakota aquifer and treated before being distributed to customers. [15] Wastewater is collected and treated, and billed based on water usage. Stormwater impact fees are flat rates based upon the customer type.
Electricity is produced at the George Neal Generating Plant in Sioux City, Iowa, Whelan Unit 2 near Hastings, Nebraska, and the Iowa Distributed Wind Generation Project southeast of Algona. AMU is also a member of North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Association. The AMU purchases power and distributes it to customers in Algona. AMU has also provided cable, internet, and phone service since 1997.
Adair is a city in Adair and Guthrie counties of Iowa in the United States. The population was 791 at the 2020 census.
Gilbertville is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 794 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Parkersburg is a city in Butler County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,015 in the 2020 census, an increase from 1,870 in the 2010 census. Parkersburg, although not the county seat, is the highest-populated city in Butler County.
Farnhamville is a city in Calhoun and Webster counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 383 at the time of the 2020 census.
Lake City is a city in Calhoun County, Iowa, United States, founded in 1856. The population was 1,731 at the time of the 2020 census. The sign coming into town proudly proclaims that Lake City has "Everything but a Lake."
Anita is a city in Cass County, Iowa, United States, platted in 1869 and incorporated in 1875. The population was 963 at the 2020 census. Lake Anita State Park is located just outside the town.
Camanche is a city in Clinton County, Iowa, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 4,565 at the time of the 2020 census.
Woodward is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,346 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. Woodward is also home to the Woodward-Granger Community School District's middle school and high school, the elementary school being located in Granger.
Corwith is a city in Hancock County, Iowa, United States. The population was 266 at the time of the 2020 census.
Livermore is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 381 at the time of the 2020 census. Livermore is the hometown of former University of Iowa and NFL tight end Dallas Clark.
Burt is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 418 at the 2020 census.
Titonka is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 511 at the time of the 2020 census.
Wesley is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 391 at the time of the 2020 census.
Whittemore is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 497 at the time of the 2020 census.
Onawa is a city in, and the county seat of, Monona County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,906 at the time of the 2020 Census. It is the largest town on the Iowa side of the Missouri River between Council Bluffs and Sioux City.
Minden is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 600 at the time of the 2020 census.
Allerton is a city in Wayne County, Iowa. The population was 430 at the time of the 2020 census.
Stratford is a city in Hamilton and Webster counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 707 at the time of the 2020 census.
Lu Verne is a city in Humboldt and Kossuth counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 258 at the time of the 2020 census.
Creston is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Iowa. The population was 7,536 at the time of the 2020 Census.