Thor, Iowa

Thor, Iowa
Town
Park in Thor
Location of Thor, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°41′19″N94°2′56″W / 42.68861°N 94.04889°W / 42.68861; -94.04889
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Humboldt
Area [1]
• Total	0.99 sq mi (2.58 km2)
• Land	0.99 sq mi (2.58 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,138 ft (347 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	181
• Density	181.91/sq mi (70.21/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	50591
Area code	515
FIPS code	19-77790
GNIS feature ID	0462224

Thor is a town in Norway Township, Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 181 at the time of the 2020 census. ^[2]

History

The town of Thor is a farming community which was originally built up chiefly by Scandinavian immigrants. ^[3] Settlement of the township started in 1869 with the filing of a claim by Ole Willicksen, who was a native of Stavanger, Norway. In 1881, the town of Thor was laid out by the Western Town Lot Company. ^{[4] [5]} Thor was platted in 1882. ^[6] It was named after the mythical deity Thor in Old Norse mythology. ^[7]

Thor was formerly serviced by Iowa Highway 302, which was decommissioned in 1980. ^[8]

Geography

Thor is located at 42°41′19″N94°2′56″W / 42.68861°N 94.04889°W / 42.68861; -94.04889 (42.688687, -94.048902). ^[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.00 square mile (2.59 km²), all land. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1900	274	—
1910	271	−1.1%
1920	285	+5.2%
1930	257	−9.8%
1940	264	+2.7%
1950	271	+2.7%
1960	234	−13.7%
1970	212	−9.4%
1980	200	−5.7%
1990	205	+2.5%
2000	174	−15.1%
2010	186	+6.9%
2020	181	−2.7%
Sources: [11] [12] Source: U.S. Decennial Census [13] [2]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, ^[14] there were 181 people, 67 households, and 48 families residing in the city. The population density was 181.8 inhabitants per square mile (70.2/km²). There were 77 housing units at an average density of 77.4 per square mile (29.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 5.0% of the population.

Of the 67 households, 47.8% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% were cohabitating couples, 20.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 23.9% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 28.4% of all households were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 31.8 years. 34.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 7.2% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 and 44; 18.8% were from 45 and 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.6% male and 46.4% female.

2010 census

As of the census ^[15] of 2010, there were 186 people, 73 households, and 49 families residing in the city. The population density was 186.0 inhabitants per square mile (71.8/km²). There were 80 housing units at an average density of 80.0 per square mile (30.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 1.1% Asian, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 73 households, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 32.7 years. 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.9% were from 25 to 44; 17.8% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.2% male and 47.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[16] of 2000, there were 174 people, 82 households, and 45 families residing in the city. The population density was 174.6 inhabitants per square mile (67.4/km²). There were 88 housing units at an average density of 88.3 per square mile (34.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White.

There were 82 households, out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were non-families. 36.6% 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 2.12 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,000, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $23,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,410. About 9.5% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 24.1% of those 65 or over.

Education

The Eagle Grove Community School District serves children from PreK to 12th grade. The district covers area of Wright, Humboldt, and Webster counties, and serves the communities of Eagle Grove, Thor, Vincent, Woolstock, and the surrounding rural areas. ^[17]

Notable person

• John K. Hanson (1913–1996), founder and former chairman of Winnebago Industries Inc. ^{[18] [19]}

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 August 12, 2021.
3. History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa. Union Publishing Company. 1884. p.  857. Note that Google Books misspells "Humboldt".
4. "Thor, Norway Township". Humboldt County Town Histories. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
5. "Norway Township Settlers". Humboldt County Town Histories. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
6. 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. 130.
7. "Thor, Old Norse Þórr". Norse Mythology for Smart People. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
8. Jason Hancock. "Highway 302". Iowa Highways. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau.
12. Iowa Data Center
13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
14. "2020 Census". United States Census Bureau.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 11, 2012.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. "EAGLE GROVE" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education . Retrieved August 12, 2020.
18. Obituary: Luise V. Hanson, The New York Times , 2003-11-03.
19. "Founder and CEO of Winnebago Industries Dies". RV NEWS. Retrieved January 31, 2011.