Rathbun, Iowa

Rathbun, Iowa
City
Location of Rathbun, Iowa
Coordinates: 40°48′06″N92°53′16″W / 40.80167°N 92.88778°W / 40.80167; -92.88778
Country	USA
State	Iowa
County	Appanoose
Area [1]
• Total	0.21 sq mi (0.55 km2)
• Land	0.21 sq mi (0.55 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	906 ft (276 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	43
• Density	200.93/sq mi (77.58/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	52544
Area code	641
FIPS code	19-65730
GNIS feature ID	2396323 [2]

Rathbun is a city in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 43 at the time of the 2020 census. ^[3]

History

Incorporated in 1897, ^[4] Rathbun was established in 1892 as a mining town. ^[5] It was named for Charles H. Rathbun, a mine official. ^[6] At the end of the 19th century, "the valley of Walnut Creek was one continuous mining camp, known under different names, Jerome, Diamond, Mystic, Clarksdale, Rathbun and Darby" (later known as Darbyville). ^[7]

The Star Coal Company of Streator, Ill. operated the Rathbun Mine, with an 82-foot-deep (25 m) shaft. This mine was in operation in 1895, and by 1908 it was considered one of the best equipped longwall mines in the county. The Darby mine, operated by the Unity Block Coal Company, was about a mile northeast of Rathbun. This had a 50-foot (15 m) shaft and was nearly played out by 1908. The Evans Mine, about halfway between the Rathbun and Darbyville, formerly operated by the American Coal Company, had already been closed by 1908. ^[8] In 1912, United Mine Workers Local 372 in Rathbun had 213 members. ^[9] This was close to half the total population at the time.

Geography

An aerial photograph of Rathbun, Iowa, taken on September 25, 2023

Rathbun is located approximately one mile west of the confluence of Walnut Creek and the Chariton River, about two miles south of the Rathbun Dam.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.22 square miles (0.57 km²), all land. ^[10]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rathbun has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

Climate data for Rathbun, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1970–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	67 (19)	76 (24)	87 (31)	89 (32)	97 (36)	103 (39)	106 (41)	104 (40)	99 (37)	92 (33)	79 (26)	74 (23)	106 (41)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	55.0 (12.8)	59.9 (15.5)	73.5 (23.1)	81.9 (27.7)	87.2 (30.7)	91.5 (33.1)	95.4 (35.2)	95.1 (35.1)	90.0 (32.2)	83.8 (28.8)	70.4 (21.3)	58.9 (14.9)	97.3 (36.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	31.3 (−0.4)	36.6 (2.6)	49.6 (9.8)	61.8 (16.6)	71.4 (21.9)	80.9 (27.2)	85.0 (29.4)	83.5 (28.6)	76.6 (24.8)	64.6 (18.1)	49.7 (9.8)	37.2 (2.9)	60.7 (15.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	22.0 (−5.6)	26.1 (−3.3)	38.8 (3.8)	50.3 (10.2)	61.4 (16.3)	71.2 (21.8)	75.3 (24.1)	73.5 (23.1)	65.2 (18.4)	53.3 (11.8)	39.6 (4.2)	28.2 (−2.1)	50.4 (10.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	12.7 (−10.7)	15.6 (−9.1)	27.6 (−2.4)	38.7 (3.7)	51.3 (10.7)	61.4 (16.3)	65.6 (18.7)	63.5 (17.5)	53.8 (12.1)	42.0 (5.6)	29.4 (−1.4)	19.1 (−7.2)	40.1 (4.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−8.0 (−22.2)	−2.9 (−19.4)	8.3 (−13.2)	25.8 (−3.4)	38.0 (3.3)	50.4 (10.2)	56.1 (13.4)	54.1 (12.3)	41.1 (5.1)	27.1 (−2.7)	13.4 (−10.3)	0.2 (−17.7)	−11.9 (−24.4)
Record low °F (°C)	−28 (−33)	−26 (−32)	−11 (−24)	12 (−11)	28 (−2)	41 (5)	43 (6)	43 (6)	30 (−1)	16 (−9)	−8 (−22)	−26 (−32)	−28 (−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.09 (28)	1.49 (38)	2.03 (52)	3.93 (100)	5.36 (136)	5.24 (133)	4.57 (116)	4.62 (117)	3.81 (97)	2.93 (74)	2.04 (52)	1.46 (37)	38.57 (980)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	7.2 (18)	3.0 (7.6)	2.1 (5.3)	0.5 (1.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	trace	0.1 (0.25)	3.7 (9.4)	16.6 (41.85)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	8.0	5.4	8.1	11.7	13.6	11.8	10.5	10.3	8.2	9.8	6.1	6.7	110.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	5.0	1.5	1.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	1.3	9.1
Source 1: NOAA [11]
Source 2: National Weather Service [12]

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1900	270	—
1910	382	+41.5%
1920	630	+64.9%
1930	299	−52.5%
1940	352	+17.7%
1950	229	−34.9%
1960	203	−11.4%
1970	113	−44.3%
1980	93	−17.7%
1990	89	−4.3%
2000	88	−1.1%
2010	89	+1.1%
2020	43	−51.7%
Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census [13] [3]

2010 census

As of the census ^[14] of 2010, there were 89 people, 42 households, and 27 families living in the city. The population density was 404.5 inhabitants per square mile (156.2/km²). There were 51 housing units at an average density of 231.8 per square mile (89.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.9% White and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 42 households, of which 19.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.7% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.67.

The median age in the city was 47.5 years. 18% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.1% were from 25 to 44; 37.2% were from 45 to 64; and 20.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.9% male and 46.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[15] of 2000, there were 88 people, 39 households, and 24 families living in the city. The population density was 408.7 inhabitants per square mile (157.8/km²). There were 53 housing units at an average density of 246.2 per square mile (95.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.86% White, and 1.14% from two or more races.

There were 39 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 2.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $25,833 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,749. There were 18.5% of families and 17.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 28.0% of under eighteens and 10.0% of those over 64.

Education

The Centerville Community School District operates area public schools. ^[16]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rathbun, Iowa
3. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
4. Acts and Resolutions passed at the Extra Session of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, F. R. Conway, Des Moines, 1897; page 38.
5. L. L. Taylor, Past and Present of Appanoose County Iowa, Vol. 1, S. J. Clarke, Chicago, 1913; pages 152, 416.
6. Tom Savage (August 1, 2007). A Dictionary of Iowa Place-Names. University of Iowa Press. p. 188. ISBN   978-1-58729-759-5.
7. H. Foster Bain, Geology of Appanoose County, Iowa Geological Survey Annual Report, 1895 Conway, Des Moines, 1896; page 389.
8. Henry Hinds, The Coal Deposits of Iowa, Chapter I of the Iowa Geological Survey Annual Report, 1908, Des Moines, 1909; page 270.
9. Tally Sheet, Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Convention of the United Mine Workers of America Jan. 16 – Feb. 2, 1912, Indianapolis; Volume 2, page 180A.
10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
11. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
12. "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 11, 2012.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. "CENTERVILLE" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education . Retrieved September 10, 2020.