Mystic, Iowa

Mystic, Iowa
City
Location of Mystic, Iowa
Coordinates: 40°46′45″N92°56′40″W / 40.77917°N 92.94444°W / 40.77917; -92.94444
Country	USA
State	Iowa
County	Appanoose
Area [1]
• Total	2.94 sq mi (7.63 km2)
• Land	2.94 sq mi (7.63 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	955 ft (291 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	322
• Density	109.38/sq mi (42.22/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	52574
Area code	641
FIPS code	19-55200
GNIS feature ID	2395146 [2]

Mystic is a city in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 322 at the time of the 2020 census. ^[3]

History

Map of the Mystic and Brazil area from 1908, showing the railroads and shipping coal mines (shown in red) of the region. Mystic and Brazil are in the upper left quadrant. Smaller mines that did not ship by rail are not shown.

At the end of the 19th century, "the valley of Walnut Creek was one continuous mining camp, known under different names, Jerome, Diamond, Mystic, Clarkdale, Rathbun and Darby" (later known as Darbyville). ^[4] The present name is derived from Mystic, Connecticut. ^[5] A. M. Elgin opened the first coal mine in the Mystic area in 1857, about 1.5 miles north of Mystic on Little Walnut Creek. The Mystic coal seam was exposed on the surface there, and drifts were opened and abandoned over the next few decades until the hills were honeycombed with mines.

In 1858, Isaac Fuller opened a large mine in Mystic, shipping coal for domestic use in nearby Centerville. In 1887, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway built a line through Mystic, leading to an explosive growth in mining. ^[6] By 1893, there were 14 mines in Mystic and 2 in Brazil, just to the south. ^[7] It is noteworthy that the terms brass, brazzle and brazil are English dialect terms for pyrite or to coal seams with significant pyrite content ^[8] and that a shale layer not far above the Mystic coal seam in Mystic and Brazil contains significant pyrite. ^[4]

Local Assembly 3335 of the Knights of Labor was based in Brazil and had a membership of 75 in 1884. ^[9] The miners of Mystic and Brazil joined the United Mine Workers in 1898. By 1902, Local 201 in Brazil had 220 members and Local 634 in Mystic had 569 members. ^[10] By 1912, Local 201 had 370 members and Locals 239 and 634 in Mystic had a combined membership of 851. ^[11] The total UMWA membership in 1912 represents about 1/4 of the entire population.

In 1914, the Lodwick Brothers Coal Company of Mystic produced over 100,000 tons of coal, ranking among the top 24 coal producers in the state. ^[12]

Geography

Mystic is located in the valley of Walnut Creek, approximately four miles southwest of its confluence with the Chariton River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.92 square miles (7.56 km²), all land. ^[13]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	875		—
1900	1,758		100.9%
1910	2,663		51.5%
1920	2,796		5.0%
1930	1,953		−30.2%
1940	1,822		−6.7%
1950	1,233		−32.3%
1960	761		−38.3%
1970	696		−8.5%
1980	665		−4.5%
1990	545		−18.0%
2000	588		7.9%
2010	425		−27.7%
2020	322		−24.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [14] [3]

2010 census

As of the census ^[15] of 2010, there were 425 people, 181 households, and 112 families residing in the city. The population density was 145.5 inhabitants per square mile (56.2/km²). There were 210 housing units at an average density of 71.9 per square mile (27.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.8% White, 0.2% African American, 0.7% from other races, and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 181 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 10.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 39.9 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[16] of 2000, there were 588 people, 236 households, and 159 families residing in the city. The population density was 200.7 inhabitants per square mile (77.5/km²). There were 273 housing units at an average density of 93.2 per square mile (36.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.15% White, 0.17% Native American, and 0.68% from two or more races.

There were 236 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,568, and the median income for a family was $29,063. Males had a median income of $26,964 versus $18,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,846. About 22.3% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Centerville Community School District operates area public schools. ^[17]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mystic, Iowa
3. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
4. H. Foster Bain, Geology of Appanoose County, Iowa Geological Survey Annual Report, 1895 Conway, Des Moines, 1896; page 389.
5. Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 36.
6. James H. Lees, History of Coal Mining in Iowa, Chapter III of Annual Report, 1908, Iowa Geological Survey, 1909, pages 534–535.
7. Sixth Biennial Report of the State Mine Inspector to the Governor of the State of Iowa for the Two Years Ending June 30, 1893, Ragsdale, Des Moines, 1893, page 11.
8. Julia A. Jackson, James Mehl and Klaus Neuendorf, Glossary of Geology, American Geological Institute, 2005; page 82.
9. Part III, Labor Organizations: Knights of Labor, First Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the State of Iowa, Geo. E. Roberts, Des Moines, 1885; page 55.
10. Trade Unions in Iowa – Table No. 1, Mine Workers of America, United, Tenth Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the State of Iowa, 1901–1902, Murphy, Des Moines, 1903; page 232.
11. Tally Sheet, Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Convention of the United Mine Workers of America Jan. 16 – Feb. 2, 1912, Indianapolis; Volume 2, pages 180A-182A.
12. Frederick E. Saward, The Coal Trade, 1915, page 65.
13. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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. "CENTERVILLE" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education . Retrieved September 10, 2020.

External links

• Iowa portal

• City-Data Comprehensive statistical data and more about Mystic