Okoboji, Iowa

Okoboji, Iowa
City
Location of Okoboji, Iowa
Coordinates: 43°23′15″N95°8′17″W / 43.38750°N 95.13806°W / 43.38750; -95.13806 Coordinates: 43°23′15″N95°8′17″W / 43.38750°N 95.13806°W / 43.38750; -95.13806
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Dickinson
Government
• Mayor	Mary VanderWoude
• City Administrator	Michael Meyers
Area [1]
• Total	1.76 sq mi (4.56 km2)
• Land	1.76 sq mi (4.55 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	1,421 ft (433 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	768
• Density	437.11/sq mi (168.77/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	51355
Area code	712
FIPS code	19-58710
GNIS feature ID	0459815
Website	okobojicity.com

Depot at Okoboji, 1902

Okoboji is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States, along the eastern shore of West Okoboji Lake in the Iowa Great Lakes region. At the time of the 2020 census, its population was 768. ^[2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.86 square miles (4.82 km²), of which 1.85 square miles (4.79 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water. ^[3]

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1930	176	—
1940	271	+54.0%
1950	336	+24.0%
1960	330	−1.8%
1970	361	+9.4%
1980	559	+54.8%
1990	775	+38.6%
2000	820	+5.8%
2010	807	−1.6%
2020	768	−4.8%
Source: "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2020-03-29. and Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census [4] [2]

2010 census

As of the census ^[5] of 2010, there were 807 people, 427 households, and 241 families living in the city. The population density was 436.2 inhabitants per square mile (168.4/km²). There were 1,167 housing units at an average density of 630.8 per square mile (243.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.8% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 427 households, of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.6% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.39.

The median age in the city was 55.2 years. 11.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.6% were from 25 to 44; 35.3% were from 45 to 64; and 29% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[6] of 2000, there were 820 people, 427 households, and 240 families living in the city. The population density was 460.0 inhabitants per square mile (177.6/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 529.6 per square mile (204.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.66% White, 0.12% African American, 0.73% Native American, 0.12% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.

There were 427 households, out of which 16.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.50.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 14.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $54,659. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $24,018 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,297. About 2.6% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Most of the community is served by the Okoboji Community School District. ^[7] The district was established on July 1, 1988 by the merger of the Arnolds Park and Milford school districts. ^[8] Okoboji High School in Milford is the local high school.

Tourism

Okoboji is a major summer tourism area. A growing number of resorts around the Iowa Great Lakes and the proximity of other tourist-friendly sites, such as Arnolds Park ^[9] and Spirit Lake, have contributed to its growing popularity. Okoboji has also become a recognizable name around the country due to the sales of many products that proudly display the town name in bold letters. Visitors to Okoboji will immediately notice bumper stickers, mugs, and sweatshirts touting the fictitious University of Okoboji where many locals claim to have received an education. ^[10] University of Okoboji T-shirts or sweatshirts are popular with college students in the Midwest.

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 12 August 2021.
3. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
4. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2012-05-11.
6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
7. "Okoboji" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education . Retrieved 2020-03-24.
8. "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-09. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
9. "Arnolds Park $15 Million Makeover Bringing Return of Roof Garden". 8 June 2019.
10. "University of Okoboji entrance exams center around fun".

External links

• Official city website