Colo, Iowa

Colo, Iowa
City
Motto:  "A place to call home" [1]
Location of Colo, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°1′1″N93°19′3″W / 42.01694°N 93.31750°W / 42.01694; -93.31750
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Story
Area [2]
• Total	1.06 sq mi (2.76 km2)
• Land	1.06 sq mi (2.76 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,040 ft (317 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	845
• Density	793.43/sq mi (306.43/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	50056
Area code	641
FIPS code	19-15240
GNIS feature ID	0455538
Website	City of Colo

Colo is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States. The population was 845 at the 2020 census. ^[3] The Lincoln Highway and Jefferson Highway both pass through Colo. It is part of the Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a part of the larger Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area.

History

Colo was incorporated on April 26, 1876. Railroad official John Blair named the community after his dog. ^{[4] [5]} The community would see an influx of visitors in the 1920s and 1930s with the completion of the Lincoln and Jefferson highways which intersect in Colo. ^{[6] [7]}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.06 square miles (2.75 km²), all land. ^[8]

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1870	226	—
1880	296	+31.0%
1890	261	−11.8%
1900	391	+49.8%
1910	463	+18.4%
1920	507	+9.5%
1930	532	+4.9%
1940	539	+1.3%
1950	538	−0.2%
1960	574	+6.7%
1970	606	+5.6%
1980	808	+33.3%
1990	771	−4.6%
2000	868	+12.6%
2010	876	+0.9%
2020	845	−3.5%
Source: "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 29, 2020. and Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census [9] [3]

2010 census

As of the census ^[10] of 2010, there were 876 people, 348 households, and 252 families living in the city. The population density was 826.4 inhabitants per square mile (319.1/km²). There were 370 housing units at an average density of 349.1 per square mile (134.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.6% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 348 households, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.6% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 40.9 years. 26.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[11] of 2000, there were 868 people, 339 households, and 248 families living in the city. The population density was 1,121.9 inhabitants per square mile (433.2/km²). There were 354 housing units at an average density of 457.6 per square mile (176.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.70% White, 0.92% African American, 0.46% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.

There were 339 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% 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 3.02.

27.6% are under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,711, and the median income for a family was $48,438. Males had a median income of $33,500 versus $24,091 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,173. About 2.8% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Located near Colo is Hickory Grove Park, Story County's largest recreational, fishing, and swimming area with 445 acres, including a 98-acre (400,000 m²) lake. ^[12]

East of Colo, along the Lincoln Highway, lies the Colo Bogs, which drains into the Iowa River just east of Marshalltown. ^[13]

Education

The community is within the Colo–NESCO Community School District. ^[14] The district was established on July 1, 1991, by the merger of the Colo and NESCO school districts. ^[15] The district operates an elementary school in Zearing and a middle and high school in Colo. ^[16]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Historic Reed/Niland Corner found on the intersection of U.S Route 30 and U.S Route 65.

Colo is located at the intersection of the historic Lincoln and Jefferson highways. The intersection is marked by the historic complex of Reed/Niland Corner, which includes a diner, vintage gas station, motel, and small park. ^[17]

For modern-day travelers, Colo lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 (halfway between Ames and Marshalltown), and U.S. Route 65 (halfway between Des Moines and Iowa Falls).

The Overland Route of the Union Pacific Railroad runs through Colo, splitting the town in half. The community is within the Clinton Subdivision portion of the route. ^[18]

Notable people

• Michael Fitzgerald, longest serving state Treasurer in United States history (1983-2023) ^[19]

• Robert Lounsberry, 11th Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa from 1973-1987 ^[20]

References

1. "City of Colo". City of Colo, Iowa. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
3. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
4. 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. 58.
5. Moyer, Armond; Moyer, Winifred (1958). The origins of unusual place-names. Keystone Pub. Associates. p. 26.
6. https://www.traveliowa.com/trails/jefferson-highway-heritage-byway/99/
7. http://www.iowalincolnhighway.com/counties/story-2/
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 11, 2012.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. "Story County Conservation". Story County, Iowa. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
13. https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/places/1025/view
14. "Colo-Nesco" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education . Retrieved March 25, 2020.
15. "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
16. "Colo-NESCO Community School District". Colo-NESCO. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
17. https://www.traveliowa.com/places/reed-niland-corner/2290/
18. https://www.up.com/aboutup/reference/maps/
19. "Meet Michael L. Fitzgerald". The Treasurers Office of Iowa . Retrieved September 28, 2022.
20. https://www.newspapers.com/article/43581513/obituary-for-robert-lounsberry-aged-82/

External links

• Iowa portal