Swedesburg, Iowa

Swedesburg, Iowa
Census-designated place
Swedesburg, Iowa
Swedesburg Show map of Iowa Swedesburg Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 41°06′22″N91°33′12″W / 41.10611°N 91.55333°W / 41.10611; -91.55333
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Henry
Area [1]
• Total	2.30 sq mi (5.97 km2)
• Land	2.30 sq mi (5.97 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	735 ft (224 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	99
• Density	42.97/sq mi (16.59/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	52652
FIPS code	19-76800
GNIS feature ID	2804140 [2]

Swedesburg is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in northern Henry County, Iowa, United States. It was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census.

Location

Swedesburg is in north central Henry County just west of US Route 218 nine miles north of Mount Pleasant. ^[3]

Although Swedesburg is unincorporated, it has a post office with the ZIP code of 52652. ^[4]

History

Swedesburg was originally built up chiefly by Swedish immigrants. ^[5] They first arrived in the region in the 1860s after a wave of migration to the nearby Jefferson County in the 1840s. ^[6]

Swedesburg had a population of 86 in 2000.

Attractions and landmarks

Swedesburg has a museum, the Swedish American Museum, which commemorates the community's Swedish heritage. It is housed in the former Farmers Union Exchange Building, a structure which dates from the 1920s. ^{[7] [8]}

The following buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places:

• Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church
• John Hultquist House
• Charles E. Hult House, Summer Kitchen and Wood Shed
• Red Ball Garage

Education

It is in the Waco Community School District. ^[9]

Literature

The author Bill Bryson mentions Swedesburg in his 2006 memoir, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. Bryson recalls seeing Swedesburg from a distance whilst visiting his grandparents in nearby Winfield in the 1950s, and reflects how the heritages of settlements such as Swedesburg were affected by the policies of Governor William L. Harding, which resulted in the decline of European languages in the state. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	99		—
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, ^[12] there were 99 people, 41 households, and 33 families residing in the community. The population density was 43.0 inhabitants per square mile (16.6/km²). There were 51 housing units at an average density of 22.1 per square mile (8.5/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 89.9% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 2.0% Native American, 4.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.0% from other races and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 0.0% of the population.

Of the 41 households, 34.1% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% were cohabitating couples, 14.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 19.5% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 19.5% of all households were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the community was 41.1 years. 26.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.0% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 and 44; 26.3% were from 45 and 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the community was 40.4% male and 59.6% female.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Swedesburg, Iowa
3. Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 7th Edition, 2021, p. 61 ISBN   1946494003
4. "Free ZIP Code Lookup with area code, county, geocode, MSA/PMSA, population". www.zipinfo.com.
5. The History of Henry County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Western Historical Company. 1879. pp.  552.
6. Sood, Kiran. "Iowa All Over: Preserving Swedish History in Swedesburg". The Gazette.
7. "View Museum Info". www.museumsusa.org.
8. Brian E. Clark (January 27, 2017). "Swedesburg, Iowa, museum a trove of pioneer artifacts". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
9. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Henry County, IA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved June 17, 2024. - Text list
10. Bryson, B. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, Doubleday, pp.209-210, ISBN   978-0-385-60826-8
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
12. "2020 Census". United States Census Bureau.