Algona, Iowa
Algona, Iowa | |
|---|---|
  Left, theKossuth County Courthouse,right, theHenry Adams Building | |
 Location of Algona, Iowa | |
| Coordinates:43°4′13″N94°13′47″W/ 43.07028°N 94.22972°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Kossuth |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.62 sq mi (11.97 km2) |
| • Land | 4.61 sq mi (11.95 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,194 ft (364 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 5,487 |
| • Density | 1,189.21/sq mi (459.18/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6(Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5(CDT) |
| ZIP code | 50511 |
| Area code | 515 |
| FIPS code | 19-01135 |
| GNISfeature ID | 0454126 |
| Website | www |
Algonais thecounty seatofKossuth County,Iowa,United States.[2]The population was 5,487 at the2020 census.[3]Ambrose A. Call State Parkis located two miles southwest of the city.
History
[edit]Algona was founded in 1854 and was named after theAlgonquianword for "Algonquin waters".[4]
Between 1869 and 1875 the community was the location ofAlgona College,an institution sponsored by the Methodist Church.
In 1894, Algona, along with other Iowa communities such asDysartandWesley,became part of the project known as the "Orphan Trains".AsNew York Citysaw booming immigration, it also inevitably saw a rise in the number of orphans in its asylums. Unable to provide adequate care for them, it saw fit to ship nearly 100,000 westward to start a new life with families across America. Algona itself welcomed nearly 100 orphans into the town, many of whom remained lifelong residents.
From 1902 to 1906, Algona played host to theAlgona Brownies,anAfrican Americanbarnstormingbaseball team and interracial team the first two seasons. Despite being declared Western champions in 1903, the team disbanded as an interracial team that same year. The Algona Brownies were an independent interracial baseball team that played in the 1902 and 1903 seasons. They primarily made up of former members of the Chicago Unions, Columbia Giants, and Chicago Union Giants teams. After 1903, the team makeup changed from having both black and white players to a team of only black players. That year, their final year, they won the Western championship, defeating the Chicago Union Giants in a challenge playoff.
TheHenry Adams Building,designed byLouis Sullivanin 1913 is located at the northwest corner of East State and Moore streets. Although not designed to be a bank, the building is nonetheless considered to be one of Sullivan's "Jewel Boxes," a series of banks built in the Midwest from 1909 through 1919.
Algona was the location of a Germanprisoner of warcamp duringWorld War II.From 1943 to 1946Camp Algonaheld nearly 10,000 prisoners, many of whom were put to work on farms that had family fighting overseas. As a main camp Algona had numerous sub-camps with a couple dozen in Minnesota. A museum now commemorates the camp's history including a nativity scene created by the POWs.[5]
A destructive F3tornadokilled two people and destroyed a large part of Algona on June 28, 1979, about 7:15 PM. The tornado moved in a south-southeast direction through Algona. Severe damage was done to the central business district and a number of homes were rendered uninhabitable. Near F4 damage was reported in some locations.[6]There was about 15 minutes' warning and the tornado sirens were sounded well before the arrival of the tornado. The fact that it was still daylight also contributed to the relatively low death count from this destructive storm.
In 2003, Algona drew national attention when it announced the purchase of the world's largestCheetospuff. It was meant as a plan to bring tourism to the town to see the puff by a local radio DJ.[7]
Geography
[edit]Algona is located along theEast Fork Des Moines River.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total area of 4.51 square miles (11.7 km2), of which 4.49 square miles (11.6 km2) is land and 0.02 square mile (0.05 km2) is water.[8]
Climate
[edit]| Climate data for Algona, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) |
70 (21) |
87 (31) |
95 (35) |
106 (41) |
105 (41) |
108 (42) |
110 (43) |
100 (38) |
94 (34) |
81 (27) |
68 (20) |
110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 43.9 (6.6) |
49.0 (9.4) |
68.2 (20.1) |
82.6 (28.1) |
89.6 (32.0) |
92.7 (33.7) |
91.9 (33.3) |
89.7 (32.1) |
88.6 (31.4) |
83.2 (28.4) |
66.5 (19.2) |
48.4 (9.1) |
95.3 (35.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 24.9 (−3.9) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
42.7 (5.9) |
58.4 (14.7) |
70.5 (21.4) |
80.2 (26.8) |
83.1 (28.4) |
80.6 (27.0) |
75.2 (24.0) |
61.8 (16.6) |
44.7 (7.1) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
56.8 (13.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 15.4 (−9.2) |
19.8 (−6.8) |
32.6 (0.3) |
46.1 (7.8) |
58.5 (14.7) |
69.0 (20.6) |
72.1 (22.3) |
69.7 (20.9) |
62.6 (17.0) |
49.7 (9.8) |
34.3 (1.3) |
21.6 (−5.8) |
45.9 (7.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 6.0 (−14.4) |
10.2 (−12.1) |
22.6 (−5.2) |
33.8 (1.0) |
46.5 (8.1) |
57.8 (14.3) |
61.2 (16.2) |
58.8 (14.9) |
50.1 (10.1) |
37.5 (3.1) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
12.8 (−10.7) |
35.1 (1.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −15.2 (−26.2) |
−10.3 (−23.5) |
0.3 (−17.6) |
20.8 (−6.2) |
34.4 (1.3) |
47.0 (8.3) |
51.3 (10.7) |
49.3 (9.6) |
35.6 (2.0) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
6.3 (−14.3) |
−8.4 (−22.4) |
−17.9 (−27.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −35 (−37) |
−36 (−38) |
−25 (−32) |
6 (−14) |
21 (−6) |
35 (2) |
42 (6) |
37 (3) |
22 (−6) |
3 (−16) |
−17 (−27) |
−30 (−34) |
−36 (−38) |
| Averageprecipitationinches (mm) | 0.90 (23) |
1.04 (26) |
1.95 (50) |
3.36 (85) |
4.72 (120) |
5.49 (139) |
4.13 (105) |
4.27 (108) |
3.27 (83) |
2.44 (62) |
1.46 (37) |
1.06 (27) |
34.09 (865) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 10.0 (25) |
10.3 (26) |
5.6 (14) |
1.8 (4.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
3.7 (9.4) |
9.8 (25) |
41.5 (104.76) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 5.2 | 5.2 | 6.7 | 9.9 | 13.1 | 11.9 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 7.4 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 97.6 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 4.6 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 18.8 |
| Source 1: NOAA[9] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[10] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
[edit]| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 860 | — |
| 1880 | 1,359 | +58.0% |
| 1890 | 2,068 | +52.2% |
| 1900 | 2,911 | +40.8% |
| 1910 | 2,908 | −0.1% |
| 1920 | 3,724 | +28.1% |
| 1930 | 3,985 | +7.0% |
| 1940 | 4,954 | +24.3% |
| 1950 | 5,415 | +9.3% |
| 1960 | 5,702 | +5.3% |
| 1970 | 6,032 | +5.8% |
| 1980 | 6,289 | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 6,015 | −4.4% |
| 2000 | 5,741 | −4.6% |
| 2010 | 5,560 | −3.2% |
| 2020 | 5,487 | −1.3% |
| Source:"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 28,2020.andIowa Data Center Source: | ||
2010 census
[edit]As of thecensus of 2010,[12]there were 5,560 people, 2,499 households, and 1,495 families living in the city. Thepopulation densitywas 1,238.3 inhabitants per square mile (478.1/km2). There were 2,711 housing units at an average density of 603.8 per square mile (233.1/km2). Theracial makeupof the city was 97.2% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 2,499 households, of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% weremarried couplesliving together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.2% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.79.
The median age in the city was 46.2 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 24.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.
2000 census
[edit]As of thecensus of 2000,[13]there were 5,741 people, 2,434 households, and 1,550 families living in the city. The population density was 1,279.4 inhabitants per square mile (494.0/km2). There were 2,640 housing units at an average density of 588.3 per square mile (227.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.38% White, 0.09% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 2,434 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% weremarried couplesliving together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.92.
Age spread: 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,207, and the median income for a family was $41,210. Males had a median income of $31,504 versus $20,667 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $16,979. About 7.9% of families and 10.8% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
[edit]There are two school systems in Algona. TheAlgona Community School Districtoversees the public school system.[14]Algona High Schoolhas students from Algona Middle School, as well as students from several nearby towns, including grade-shared districts and from open enrollment. The public elementary schools in Algona are Lucia Wallace Elementary, Bryant Elementary, and Bertha Godfrey Elementary School.
The Catholic school system is made up ofBishop Garrigan High School(named after the first bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux City) and Seton Elementary (named for St.Elizabeth Ann Seton).
Utilities
[edit]
Utilities are provided by the Algona Municipal Utilities, which is directed by a five-member board of trustees appointed by the mayor. Drinking water is pumped from the Buried Sand and Gravel-Dakota aquifer and treated before being distributed to customers.[15]Wastewater is collected and treated, and billed based on water usage.Stormwaterimpact fees are flat rates based upon the customer type.
Electricity is produced at the George Neal Generating Plant inSioux City, Iowa,Whelan Unit 2 nearHastings, Nebraska,and the Iowa Distributed Wind Generation Project southeast of Algona. AMU is also a member of North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Association. The AMU purchases power and distributes it to customers in Algona. AMU has also provided cable, internet, and phone service since 1997.
Notable people
[edit]- Paul Bell– politician
- Dick Dale– singer onLawrence Welktelevision show
- Lester Dickinson–U.S. RepresentativeandU.S. Senatorfrom Iowa
- Steve Doocy– co-host ofFox & Friends,Fox News
- Curt Hanson– educator and politician
- Denis Menke– Major League baseball player and coach
- Mike Mercer– National Football League kicker and punter
- Brad Nelson– Major League baseball player
- Mary Jane Odell– Iowa Secretary of State
- Elizabeth Bunnell Read– journalist and suffragist
- Paul Seiler- Played in the American and National Football Leagues for the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders
- Eric Swalwell– Congressman Dublin, CA, father was police chief Algona, Iowa
- J.L. Wilkinson– owner of Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Baseball League, memberBaseball Hall of Fame
- Audi Crooks- basketball player for Iowa State University
References
[edit]- ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 16,2022.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^ab"2020 Census State Redistricting Data".census.gov.United states Census Bureau.RetrievedAugust 12,2021.
- ^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. 36.
- ^"Prisoner of War Camp Algona".Archived fromthe originalon February 25, 2020.RetrievedApril 21,2021.
- ^Stanford, John L; Tornado: Accounts of Tornadoes in Iowa, 2nd Edition, pp.100-106
- ^Algona is home to the World's largest Cheeto
- ^"US Gazetteer files 2010".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon January 25, 2012.RetrievedMay 11,2012.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Algona, IA".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedMarch 4,2023.
- ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Des Moines".National Weather Service.RetrievedMarch 4,2023.
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 11,2012.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^"Algona."Iowa Department of Education.Retrieved on July 21, 2018.
- ^"2017 Water Quality Report for Algona Municipal Utilities"(PDF).Iowa Department of Natural Resources.2017. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on July 15, 2019.RetrievedMay 20,2018.
External links
[edit]
Municipalities and communities ofKossuth County, Iowa,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
