Iowa City, Iowa

"Iowa City" redirects here. For the community formerly called Iowa City in California, seeIowa Hill, California.

Iowa City, Iowa
City
Downtown Iowa City, June 2021
Nickname: Athens of Iowa
Location withinJohnson CountyandIowa
Iowa City Location within Iowa Iowa City Location within the United States
Coordinates:41.66°N 91.53°W/41.66; -91.53
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Johnson
Government
• Type	Council–manager
• Mayor	Bruce Teague(D)
• City manager	Geoff Fruin
Area
•City	26.19 sq mi (67.82 km2)
• Land	25.65 sq mi (66.43 km2)
• Water	0.54 sq mi (1.40 km2)
Elevation	668 ft (203.6 m)
Population (2020)
•City	74,828
• Estimate (2023)	75,678
• Rank	5thin Iowa
• Density	2,917.50/sq mi (1,126.47/km2)
•Metro	171,491
•Demonym	Iowa Citian
Time zone	UTC−6(CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5(CDT)
ZIP codes	52240, 52242 – 52246
Area code	319
FIPS code	19-38595
GNISfeature ID	0457827
Website	icgov.org

Iowa Cityis thecounty seatand largest city ofJohnson County, Iowa,United States. At the time of the2020 censusthe population was 74,828, making it the state'sfifth-most populous city.TheIowa City metropolitan area,which encompasses Johnson andWashingtoncounties, has a population of over 171,000. The metro area is also a part of acombined statistical areawith theCedar Rapidsmetro area known as the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids region which collectively has a population of nearly 500,000.

Iowa City is the home of theUniversity of Iowa.It was the second capital of theIowa Territoryand the first capital city of the State of Iowa; theOld Capitol buildingis aNational Historic Landmarkin the center of the University of Iowa campus. The University of Iowa Art Museum andPlum Grove,the home of the first governor of Iowa, are also tourist attractions.

History

Iowa City was created by an act of Legislative Assembly of theIowaTerritory on January 21, 1839, fulfilling the desire of GovernorRobert Lucasto move the capital out ofBurlingtonand closer to the center of the territory. This act began:

An Act to locate the Seat of Government of the Territory of Iowa... so soon as the place shall be selected, and the consent of the United States obtained, the commissioners shall proceed to lay out a town to be called "Iowa City".

A bird's-eye-view map of Iowa Cityc.1868

Building in which the Iowa Territorial Legislature first met in Iowa City. Image recorded after the building, which was called Butler's Capitol, had been moved from its original location near Clinton and Washington streets to an alley-side location along Dubuque Street a half-block south of College Street. In this second location, as shown, it became the notorious City Hotel.

Commissioners Chauncey Swan and John Ronalds met on May 1 in the small settlement of Napoleon, south of present-day Iowa City, to select a site for the new capital city. The following day the commissioners selected a site on bluffs above theIowa Rivernorth of Napoleon, placed a stake in the center of the proposed site and began planning the new capital city. Commissioner Swan, in a report to the legislature in Burlington, described the site:

Iowa City is located on a section of land laying in the form of an amphitheater. There is an eminence on the west near the river, running parallel with it. "

By June of that year, the town had been platted and surveyed from Brown St. in the north to Burlington St. in the south, and from the Iowa River eastward to Governor St.

While Iowa City was selected as the territorial capital in 1839, it did not officially become the capital city until 1841; after construction on the capitol building had begun. The capitol building was completed in 1842, and the last four territorial legislatures and the first sixIowa General Assembliesmet there until 1857, when the state capital was moved toDes Moines.

Iowa Old Capitol Building

Main article:Iowa Old Capitol Building

TheOld Capitoldome is used as a letterhead for theUniversity of Iowa.

John F. Ragueis credited with designing the Territorial Capitol Building. He had previously designed the 1837 capitol of Illinois and was supervising its construction when he got the commission to design the new Iowa capitol in 1839. He quit the Iowa project after five months, claiming his design was not followed, but the resemblance to the Illinois capitol suggests he strongly influenced the final Iowa design. One surviving 1839 sketch of the proposed capital shows a radically different layout, with two domes and a central tower. The cornerstone of the Old Capitol Building was laid in Iowa City on July 4, 1840. Iowa City served as the third and last territorial capital of Iowa, and the last four territorial legislatures met at the Old Capitol Building until December 28, 1846, when Iowa was admitted into the United States as the 29th state of the union. Iowa City was declared the state capital of Iowa, and the government convened in the Old Capitol Building.

1843 cemetery

Oakland Cemeterywas deeded to "the people of Iowa City" by the Iowa territorial legislature on February 13, 1843. The original plot was one block square, with the southwest corner at Governor and Church. Over the years the cemetery has been expanded and now encompasses 40 acres (16 hectares). Oakland Cemetery is a non-perpetual care city cemetery. This cemetery is supported by city taxes. The staff is strongly committed to the maintenance and preservation of privately owned lots and accessories. Since its establishment, the cemetery has become the final resting place of many men and women important in the history of Iowa, of Iowa City and the University of Iowa. These includeRobert E. Lucas,first governor of the territory (1838–41);Samuel J. Kirkwood,governor during the Civil War (1860–64), again in 1876, a U.S. senator in 1877, and subsequently secretary of the interior and U.S. minister to Spain; well-known presidents of the university, Walter A. Jessup (1915–33) and Virgil M. Hancher (1940–64); Cordelia Swan, daughter of one of the three commissioners who selected the site for Iowa City and the new territorial capitol; andIrving B. Weber(1900–1997), noted Iowa City historian. It is also home to the legendary monument called the "Black Angel", which is an 8.5-foot (2.6 m) tall monument for the Feldevert family erected in 1912. The facts behind the Black Angel long ago gave way to myths, superstitions and legend surrounding its mysterious change in color from a golden bronze cast to an eerie black.

1847 University founding

Founded in 1847, today's University of Iowa offers more than 100 areas of study to 31,112 students. The university includes a medical school and one of the United States' largest university-owned teaching hospitals, providing patient care within 16 medical specialties. The University of Iowa College of Law is located there.

1970 riots

The spring of 1970 was a tumultuous time on college campuses. On April 30,PresidentRichard Nixonannounced that U.S. forces would invade Cambodia because of the recentcommunist coup.Students around the country protested this escalation of theVietnam War.On May 4, the National Guardfired on studentsatKent State University,killing four and wounding nine people, which ignited protests all over the country.

Anti-war protests were not new to Iowa City or to elsewhere in Iowa; protests had been occurring throughout the 1960s. Spring of 1970 was different.

After the Kent State shootings, students marched on the National Guard Armory, broke windows there as well as in some downtown businesses. The City Council gave the mayor curfew powers. On May 6, there was a student boycott of classes. That night, about 400 people had a "sleep-in" in front of the Old Capitol. That night also, about 50 people broke into the Old Capitol and set off a smoke bomb. The protesters left voluntarily when asked to do so. Around 2 am Friday morning, PresidentBoydrequested arrest of the students on the Pentacrest by highway patrolmen, but the next day he regretted the mass arrests and said he had received faulty information. On May 8, President Boyd cancelled the 89th annual Governor's dayROTCobservance for the following day. On Friday and Saturday a National Guard helicopter circled the Pentacrest.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, May 9, the Old Armory Temporary (O.A.T.), also known as "Big Pink", which housed the writing lab, was burned down. This building was located next to the Old Armory, where the Adler Journalism and Mass Communications building currently is located. O.A.T was said to be at the top of a list of buildings for burning, probably due to its poor condition and was considered a firetrap.

TheIowa Alumni Reviewincludes an article about the fire in which the author states: "Only the ends stayed upright.... On the south, Lou Kelly's Writing lab bearing the sign 'another mother for peace,' escaped." There was a second, smaller fire on Saturday evening in a restroom in the East Hall Annex.

By Sunday morning, President Boyd gave students the option to leave. Classes were not cancelled but students could leave and take the grade they currently had. An account of the May 1970 protests can be read in the June–July issue of theIowa Alumni Review.

In his autobiography,My Iowa Journey: The Life Story of the University of Iowa's First African American Professor,Philip Hubbard (University Vice-Provost in 1970) gives an administrator's perspective of all the protests of the 1960s. He supported the students' right to protest and in 1966 stated: "Students should not accept everything that is dished out to them. We don't want to dictate what they should or should not do. However, student demonstrations should remain within the law and good taste without interfering with the university's primary purpose of instructing students."

During this time, there was also a strong ROTC presence on campus. Their presence on campus and the academic credit they received for their service was called into question by both students and faculty in the spring of 1970, but Boyd said he could not abolish ROTC. TheAlumni Reviewhad an article called "ROTC: Alive and well at Iowa" in the December 1969 issue which helps provide a more complete picture of this period in history.

2006 tornadoes

Main article:Easter Week 2006 Tornado Outbreak Sequence

On the evening of April 13, 2006, a confirmed EF2tornadostruck Iowa City, causing severe property damage and displacing many from their homes, including manyUniversity of Iowastudents. It was the first tornado ever recorded to hit the city directly. No serious injuries were reported in the Iowa City area.

Several businesses along Riverside Drive and Iowa Highway 1 were destroyed. The 134-year-oldSaint Patrick's Catholic Churchwas heavily damaged only minutes after Holy Thursday Mass, with most of its roof destroyed. The building was ruled a total loss and has since been demolished. The downtown business district as well as the eastern residential area and several parks suffered scattered damage of varying degrees.

Additionally, several houses in the sorority row area were destroyed. TheAlpha Chi Omegahouse was nearly destroyed, though no one was injured. The building was later razed. Cleanup efforts were under way almost immediately as local law enforcement, volunteer workers from all over the state, and Iowa City residents and college students worked together to restore the city. The total cost of damage was estimated at $12 million–$4 million of which was attributed to Iowa City and Johnson County property.

2008 flood

Main article:Iowa flood of 2008

TheUniversity of Iowa Museum of Arton North Riverside Drive during the height of the flood

A local newspaper reported on June 11, 2008, that water exceeded the emergency spillway at theCoralville Reservoiroutside of Iowa City.As a result, the City of Iowa City and the University of Iowa were seriously affected by unprecedented flooding of the Iowa River, which caused widespread property damage and forcedevacuationsin large sections of the city.By Friday, June 13, 2008, the Iowa River had risen to a record level of 30.46 feet (9.28 m) (5:00 pm CST) with a crest of approximately 33 feet (10 m) predicted for Wednesday, June 18, 2008. Much of the city's 500-year floodplain saw mild to catastrophic effects of the rapidly flowing, polluted water. Officials at the University of Iowa reported that up to 19 buildings were affected by rising waters. Extensive efforts to move materials from the university's main library were undertaken as large groups of sandbagging volunteers began to construct a massiveleveenear the building. Approximately $300 million worth of art, including work byPicasso,owned by the university was secretly moved to a holding place in the Chicago area before the fine arts area was heavily hit with flood water.

On Friday, June 13, university employees were encouraged to stay home, and travel was strongly discouraged in Iowa City; one city statement advised, "If you live in east Iowa City, stay in east Iowa City; if you live in west Iowa City, stay in west Iowa City." The Burlington St. bridge was the only bridge that remained open, other than theI-80bridge on the edge of town, to connect the east and west sides of the Iowa River. On Saturday, June 14, officials at the University of Iowa began to power down the university's primary power generating plant along the Iowa River to prevent structural damage. Backup units continued to provide necessary power and steam services for essential University services, including theUniversity of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Water began touching the bottom of the Park St. bridge forcing the Army Corps of Engineers to drill several holes in the bridge to allow air trapped underneath to escape. Also on Saturday, Mayor Regenia Bailey issued a curfew restricting anyone except those authorized by law enforcement from being within 100 yards (91 m) of any area affected by the flood between 8:30 pm and 6 am.

2010s and environmental issues

On October 4, 2019, aFriday climate school strikewithGreta Thunbergwas held in Iowa City, where school youths protested against coal power.

Geography and climate

Iowa City is located in eastern Iowa, along theIowa River,onInterstate 80,approximately 60 miles (97 km) west of theQuad Cities(Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline and Rock Island, Illinois).

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total area of 25.28 square miles (65.47 km²), of which 25.01 square miles (64.78 km²) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.70 km²) is water.

The elevation at the Iowa City Municipal Airport is 668 ft (204 m) above sea level.

Iowa City has a humid continental climate, hot-summer subtype (Dfa in theKöppen climate classification). Average monthly temperatures range from about 22.8 °F (−5.1 °C) in January to 75.8 °F (24.3 °C) in July. Average monthly precipitation is lowest in winter and peaks significantly from May to August, with June being the average wettest month. Showers and thunderstorms are common from May to September, and can be severe, especially from May to July. In winter, snowfall is moderate, occasionally heavy in single storms. Snow cover is occasional in drier and/or warmer winter seasons, but (rarely) can be continuous in the coldest seasons, such as that of 1978–79. The Iowa City area was struck by a severe hailstorm on May 18, 1997, and by tornadoes on April 13, 2006. Overall, Iowa City's tornado risk is lower than that of areas to the south and southwest, such as Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.

Climate data for Iowa City, 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)	68 (20)	76 (24)	88 (31)	93 (34)	105 (41)	105 (41)	109 (43)	108 (42)	101 (38)	94 (34)	81 (27)	74 (23)	109 (43)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	51.8 (11.0)	56.8 (13.8)	72.7 (22.6)	82.3 (27.9)	88.6 (31.4)	93.2 (34.0)	95.4 (35.2)	94.7 (34.8)	91.0 (32.8)	84.3 (29.1)	69.3 (20.7)	55.8 (13.2)	97.2 (36.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	29.3 (−1.5)	34.3 (1.3)	47.9 (8.8)	61.6 (16.4)	72.2 (22.3)	81.0 (27.2)	84.4 (29.1)	82.4 (28.0)	76.3 (24.6)	63.2 (17.3)	47.5 (8.6)	34.4 (1.3)	59.5 (15.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)	20.5 (−6.4)	24.9 (−3.9)	37.2 (2.9)	49.4 (9.7)	60.6 (15.9)	70.0 (21.1)	73.5 (23.1)	71.3 (21.8)	64.0 (17.8)	51.6 (10.9)	37.5 (3.1)	26.0 (−3.3)	48.9 (9.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	11.6 (−11.3)	15.5 (−9.2)	26.6 (−3.0)	37.1 (2.8)	48.9 (9.4)	59.0 (15.0)	62.5 (16.9)	60.2 (15.7)	51.6 (10.9)	39.9 (4.4)	27.6 (−2.4)	17.5 (−8.1)	38.2 (3.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−9.5 (−23.1)	−3.1 (−19.5)	8.1 (−13.3)	24.7 (−4.1)	36.0 (2.2)	48.9 (9.4)	54.9 (12.7)	52.5 (11.4)	38.9 (3.8)	26.1 (−3.3)	13.0 (−10.6)	−1.6 (−18.7)	−13.6 (−25.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−32 (−36)	−32 (−36)	−17 (−27)	10 (−12)	24 (−4)	37 (3)	40 (4)	38 (3)	20 (−7)	4 (−16)	−6 (−21)	−27 (−33)	−32 (−36)
Averageprecipitationinches (mm)	1.14 (29)	1.40 (36)	2.33 (59)	3.86 (98)	5.05 (128)	5.49 (139)	4.56 (116)	4.32 (110)	3.45 (88)	3.00 (76)	2.27 (58)	1.60 (41)	38.47 (977)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	7.6 (19)	7.5 (19)	3.2 (8.1)	0.5 (1.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.4 (1.0)	1.1 (2.8)	7.2 (18)	27.5 (70)
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm)	7.4 (19)	6.4 (16)	2.8 (7.1)	0.5 (1.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	1.0 (2.5)	4.6 (12)	9.7 (25)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in)	7.4	7.0	8.7	11.4	12.6	11.2	8.8	8.9	8.4	9.0	7.6	8.2	109.2
Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in)	4.0	3.5	1.5	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.6	4.0	14.1
Source:NOAA

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1850	1,250	—
1860	5,214	+317.1%
1870	5,914	+13.4%
1880	7,123	+20.4%
1890	7,016	−1.5%
1900	7,987	+13.8%
1910	10,091	+26.3%
1920	11,267	+11.7%
1930	15,340	+36.1%
1940	17,182	+12.0%
1950	27,212	+58.4%
1960	33,443	+22.9%
1970	46,850	+40.1%
1980	50,508	+7.8%
1990	59,735	+18.3%
2000	62,220	+4.2%
2010	67,862	+9.1%
2020	74,828	+10.3%
Source:"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 29,2020.and Iowa Data Center (PDF) Source: U.S. Decennial Census

Iowa City is commonly known as acollege town.It is home to theUniversity of Iowa.The population increases during the months when the two schools are in session.

As of the 2010 census, about 58.0% of adults held a bachelor's degree or higher and 79.7% were white alone, not Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% were Asian alone, and 5.8% were black alone, while the median household income was $41,410, about $10,000 less than the state median.

2010 census

As of the censusof 2010, there were 67,862 people, 27,657 households, and 11,743 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,713.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,047.6/km²). There were 29,270 housing units at an average density of 1,170.3 units per square mile (451.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.5%White,5.8%African American,0.2%Native American,6.9%Asian,2.1% fromother races,and 2.5% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoresidents of any race were 5.3% of the population.

There were 27,657 households, of which 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 57.5% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 25.6 years. 14.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 33.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 17.8% were from 45 to 64; and 8.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

2000 census

As of the censusof 2000, there were 62,220 people, 25,202 households, and 11,189 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,575.0 inhabitants per square mile (994.2/km²). There were 26,083 housing units at an average density of 1,079.4 units per square mile (416.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.33% White, 3.75% African American, 0.31%American Indian,5.64% Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander,1.25% fromother races,and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.95% of the population.

There were 25,202 households, out of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 2% were households with same-sex couples (2000 U.S. Census), 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.6% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.

Age spread: 16.2% under the age of 18, 32.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,977, and the median income for a family was $57,568. Males had a median income of $35,435 versus $28,981 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,269. About 2.7% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

The football team of theUniversity of Iowa(theHawkeyes) play their rival, theUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonBadgers, atKinnick Stadiumin November 2013.

Metropolitan area

The Iowa CityMetropolitan Statistical Areaconsists ofJohnsonandWashingtoncounties in Iowa; Washington County was added to the MSA after the 2000 census. It had a 2000 census population of 131,676, and a 2010 population of 152,586.

Iowa City is contiguous withCoralvilleto the northwest.University Heightsis completely contained within the boundaries of Iowa City, nearKinnick Stadium.Tiffin,North Liberty,Solon,andHillsare other towns within a few miles.

The Iowa City MSA and the nearbyCedar Rapids MSAare collectively a Combined Statistical Area (CSA). This CSA along with two additional counties are known as the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR) Corridor and collectively have a population of over 450,000.

Economy

Iowa City is home to theUniversity of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics(UIHC), the state's only comprehensivetertiary caremedical center.The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center in Iowa City is anNCI-designated Cancer Center,one of fewer than 60 in the country.

ACTcollege testing services is headquartered in Iowa City.

Top employers

According to Iowa City's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	University of IowaandUniversity of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics	29,705
2	Iowa CityVA Medical Center	2,150
3	Iowa City Community School District	1,575
4	Mercy Hospital	1,325
5	ACT Inc.	1,187
6	Procter & Gamble	1,084
7	Hy-Vee	1,012
8	City of Iowa City	931
9	Pearson	775
10	Johnson County	609

Arts and culture

The Old Capitol Building, today a museum about the building, University of Iowa, and State of Iowa's history.

In the early 1970s, the Old Capitol was renovated and university administrative offices were relocated to Jessup Hall. All but one of the major rooms were restored to their appearance when Iowa City was the state capital. In November 2001 thecupolacaught fire during the renovation of itsgold leafdome. The cupola was destroyed and the building was heavily damaged. In 2006, after an extensive restoration, the building re-opened to the public. The building now serves as the Old Capitol Museum, as well as a venue for speeches, lectures, press conferences and performances in the original state senate chamber.

The Iowa Avenue Literary Walk, a series ofbronzerelief panels that feature authors' words as well as attribution, is a tribute to the city's rich literary history. The panels are visually connected by a series of general quotations about books and writing stamped into the concretesidewalk.All 49 authors and playwrights featured in the Literary Walk have ties to Iowa.

In November 2008,UNESCOdesignated Iowa City as the world's thirdCity of Literature,making it a part of the UNESCOCreative Cities Network.It was the only American city to receive the honor, untilSeattle,Washington was designated a City of Literature in 2017.

In 2004, the Old Capitol Cultural District was one of the first Cultural Districts certified by the State of Iowa. The district extends from the University of IowaPentacrest,south to the Johnson County Courthouse, east to College Green Park, and north into the historic Northside Neighborhood.

Cultural events

Iowa City has a variety of cultural events. It has a strong literary history and is the home of theIowa Writers' Workshop,whose graduates includeJohn Irving,Flannery O'Connor,T.C. Boyle,and many other prominent U.S. authors; the nation's leading Non-Fiction Writing Program; the Iowa Playwrights' Workshop; the Iowa Summer Writing Festival; and theInternational Writing Program,a unique residency program that has hosted writers from more than 120 countries.

Iowa City also sponsors a variety of events in the Summer of the Arts program. These include a nationally renowned Iowa City Jazz Festival, Iowa Arts Festival, open-air summer movies series called Saturday Night Free Movie Series and free concerts every Friday night in the pedestrian mall called the Friday Night Concert Series (Ped Mall).

The Iowa City Book Festival began as an annual summer event in 2009 sponsored by the University of Iowa Libraries and in 2013 it was moved to October when management was handed off to the Iowa City UNESCOCity of Literature.It features readings from prominent authors and literature themed events.

TheIowa BiennialExhibition [TIBE] began in 2004 as an international survey of contemporary miniature printmaking held its initial exhibition at the University of Iowa. The 2006 exhibition, received a 2007 "ICKY" award nomination in Visual Arts Programming from theIowa Cultural Corridor Alliancefor its exhibition at the University of Iowa's Project Art Gallery.

Downtown Iowa City arts venues include the historic Englert Theatre, a live music and performing arts center; Riverside Theatre, a professional theatre company with an annual season that includes an outdoor Shakespeare festival; and FilmScene, a non-profit film organization and art house movie theater with two locations and five screens plus a seasonal outdoor cinema.

The Englert Theatre produces Mission Creek Festival each spring, focusing on community events, performance and literary programming featuring over 100 writers each year. Witching Hour takes place each fall and focuses on exploring the unknown, discussing the creative process and presenting new work.

Local landmarks

Black Angel,Oakland Cemetery

TheJohnson County Courthouse

• Hancher Auditorium often hosts nationally touring theater, dance and musical shows, and has commissioned more than 100 works of music, theater and dance during the last 20 years. This facility was badly damaged during theIowa flood of 2008and the facility has been rebuilt farther uphill, away from the Iowa River and reopened in Fall of 2016.
• Hamburg Inn No. 2is a favorite campaign stop for political candidates. It was featured in a 2005 episode of the political dramaThe West Wing.It has also been a favored campaign stop for many U.S. Presidents, includingBill ClintonandRonald Reagan.It was featured inThe New York Timesfor its widely renowned "pie shakes".
• Oakland Cemeterycontains graves of notable locals as well as the "Black Angel" statue.
• Plum Grove Historic Housewas the residence ofRobert Lucas,the first territorial governor of Iowa, and the novelistEleanor Hoyt Brainerd.
• Moffitt cottages,built in a unique vernacular architectural style, are scattered around eastern Iowa City. "These mystical dwellings look as if Germanic elves constructed houses for Irish pixies," is how one writer described them.
• Prospect Hill
• Ned Ashton House, built as a private residence by Iowa bridge engineer Ned Ashton in 1947, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Today, it is a popular venue that can accommodate up to 100 people for meetings, reunions, parties, weddings and receptions along the banks of the Iowa River.

Pedestrian Mall

Main article:Ped Mall (Iowa City)

City Plaza (commonly called the Pedestrian Mall or simply Ped Mall) serves as a gathering place for students and locals and draws large crowds for its summertime events such as the Friday Night Concert Series and the annual Iowa City Jazz Festival and Iowa City Arts Festival. The Ped Mall area contains restaurants, bars, retail, hotels, and theIowa City Public Library.It is known for its appeal to various local artists and musicians, and its wild bar scene. TheColdren Opera Housewas located on the street which has now become the mall.

Education

TheIowa City Community School Districtoperates public schools in Iowa City.Iowa City High School,Iowa City West High School,Liberty High Schoolare the three public high schools. Iowa City is also home to the private PK-12 school district,Regina Catholic Education Center.Iowa City is home toThe University of Iowaand a branch ofKirkwood Community College.

The Iowa City Japanese School (アイオワシティ học bổ túc thụ nghiệp giáoAiowa Shiti Hoshū Jugyō Kō), aweekend educational program for Japanese nationals,provides Japanese language instruction, holding its classes at Zion Lutheran Church.

Sports

City Highbell tower

Iowa City is home of the University of Iowa's athletic teams, known as theIowa Hawkeyes.A member of theBig Ten Conference,the football team plays atKinnick Stadium,while men's and women's basketball, volleyball, and the wrestling and gymnastics teams compete atCarver-Hawkeye Arena.The Hawkeyes football team regularly sends players to the NFL, including Super Bowl Champion all-pro Baltimore Ravens guardMarshall Yanda,2004 2nd overall draft pickRobert Gallery,and San Francisco 49ers tight endGeorge Kittle,among many others.Kirk Ferentzis the longest tenured head coach in NCAA FBS dating back to the 1999–2000 season.

Iowa City's three public high schools,City,West,andLiberty,are members of theMississippi Valley Conference.Reginacompetes in the River Valley Conference.

The Iowa City Gold Sox were a semi-professional baseball team that called Iowa City home from 1912 through 1913.

Parks and recreation

Iowa City is home to many public spaces. Most of the facilities are operated by the City of Iowa City Parks & Recreation Department, while some are owned by the University of Iowa, and others held by private entities such as theBur Oak Land Trust.

Some of the more significant parks include Waterworks Prairie Park which is a naturalized sand pit and the largest park in the city at 231 acres (93 hectares).City Park contains the Bobby Oldis Fields, an outdoor pool complex, many picnic areas and playgrounds, as well as the Riverside Festival Stage.Hickory Hill Parkis a large wooded park on the north side of town. Hubbard Park is a green space directly south of theIowa Memorial Unionbuilding and used for many campus events.

There are three golf courses within city limits. Finkbine Golf Course is an 18-hole course owned by the University of Iowa. Pleasant Valley Golf Course is a public 18-hole course located south along the Iowa River. Elks Lodge Country Club is a private 9-hole course located near the Peninsula Neighborhood.

The Iowa City Kickers Soccer Complex can hold more than 17 soccer fields depending on layout and is home of the Iowa City Kickers soccer club. Napoleon park is located along the Iowa River and has 8 baseball diamonds. Bobby Oldis Fields are located within City Park and has 8 baseball diamonds. Hawkeye Recreation Fields is in the University of Iowa and contains to 12 soccer fields, 4 beach volleyball pitches, and 4 basketball courts. Bill and Jim Ashton Cross Country Course is one of the few dedicated cross country courses in the country.The University of Iowa also operates the Fieldhouse, Campus Recreation & Wellness Center, and Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex which contain fitness space as well as indoor sports pitches and pools.

Iowa City has many miles of cycling trails. There are dedicated trails along the Iowa River,Clear Creek,Willow Creek, andRalston Creek.The Iowa City trail system connects to the northwest to Coralville, Tiffin, and North Liberty's trail systems.

Government

Iowa City is governed by an electedcity councilof seven members: four council members at large and three district members.The two council members at large who receive the most votes and the three district council members serve four-year terms. The other two council members at large serve two-year terms. A mayor and mayor pro tem are elected by the council from within its members to serve terms of two years. As of 2023,Iowa City Council members are:

• Bruce Teague, At-Large, Mayor
• Megan Alter, At-Large, Mayor Pro Tem
• Laura Bergus, At-Large
• Andrew Dunn, At-Large
• Pauline Taylor, District A
• Shawn Harmsen, District B
• John Thomas, District C

Under this form ofcouncil-manager governmentthe powers of the city are vested in the city council. The council is responsible for appointing thecity manager(as of 2016Geoff Fruin) who implements the policy decisions of the city council, enforces city ordinances and appoints city officials. The council selects the mayor and appoints the city attorney and city clerk.

Iowa City is unusual in that it is one of only four cities in Iowa in which the mayor is chosen by the city council. The mayor of Iowa City serves a two-year term from amongst the members of the council. The mayor is primarily afigureheador a"first among equals",with some power to set agendas and lead meetings, as well as serving as the public face of city government.

Media

See also:Media in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Three radio stations are based out of the University of Iowa. Two have become part of the statewideIowa Public Radionetwork:WSUI910 AM, aNational Public Radioaffiliate and originator of some Iowa Public Radio news and talk programming; andKSUI91.7 FM, which broadcasts classical music and concerts by Iowa classical orchestras, opera companies, and other artists, as well as interviews.KCCK-FMis Iowa's only Jazz station and affiliated with Public Radio International.KRUI89.7 FM is the university's student-run radio station.

iHeartMediaowns two of the Iowa City area's commercial radio stations:KXIC800 AM, anews/talkstation, andKKRQ100.7 FM, aclassic rockstation.KCJJ1630 AM is an independently owned, 10,000-watt station that broadcasts a mixture oftalk radioand Hot AC music programming along with area high school football and basketball games and NASCAR racing. Another Iowa City-licensed station,KRNA94.1 FM, now broadcasts fromCedar Rapidsand is operated byCumulus Media.Radio signals from other cities, including Cedar Rapids and theQuad Cities,also reach the Iowa City area.

Iowa City and Johnson County are part of the Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City-Dubuquemedia market,which was ranked 87th byNielsen Media Researchfor the 2007–2008 TV season.Two television stations,KIINchannel 12 (PBS) andKWKBchannel 20 (Court TV Mystery), arelicensedto Iowa City.KCRG-TV9, theABCaffiliate in Cedar Rapids, maintains a news bureau atOld Capitol Mallin downtown Iowa City.

Mediacom,a local cable television franchisee, provides channel space for sevenPublic, educational, and government access(PEG) cable TV channels in Iowa City: City Channel 4, Infovision (channel 5),KirkwoodTelevision Services (channel 11), Public Access Television (channel 18), theIowa City Public LibraryChannel (channel 20), and theIowa City Community School District's channel 21.

Two daily newspapers are published in Iowa City. TheIowa City Press-Citizen,owned byGannett,publishes six days a week with Gannett'sDes Moines Sunday Registerstanding in as a Sunday edition.The Daily Iowan,an independent newspaper based at the University of Iowa, publishes Monday through Friday while classes are in session. In addition,The Gazetteof Cedar Rapids maintains a news bureau in Iowa City.

Little Villageis an independent alt-weekly magazine covering Iowa City and Cedar Rapids metropolitan areas.

Transportation

Iowa City Depot

Iowa City has ageneral aviationairport, theIowa City Municipal Airport,on the south side of the city.The Eastern Iowa Airport,20 miles (32 km) to the northwest, serves Iowa City andCedar Rapidswith scheduled passenger flights.

Interstate 80runs east–west along the north edge of Iowa City.U.S. Highway 218andIowa Highway 27(theAvenue of the Saints) are co-signed along a freeway bypassing Iowa City to the west.U.S. Highway 6andIowa Highway 1also run through Iowa City.

Iowa City is served by the freight-onlyIowa Interstate Railroadand theCedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway(CRANDIC). The historic Iowa City Depot, shown in the picture at left, is no longer in use for railway services; it has been modified into a commercial office building.

In 2009, the Iowa City metropolitan statistical area (MSA) ranked as the seventh highest (tied with Hinesville-Fort Stewart, Georgia MSA) in the United States for percentage of commuters who walked to work (8.2 percent).In 2013, the Iowa City MSA ranked as the sixth lowest in the United States for percentage of workers who commuted by private automobile (73.4 percent). During the same year, 11.1 percent of Iowa City area commuters walked to work.

Buses

An Iowa City Transit bus in the snow

Iowa City Transit,Coralville Transit,and the University of Iowa'sCambussystem provide public transportation.

Commuter bus service to Cedar Rapids is provided by the380 Express.

Intercity bus transit is served at either the Court Street Transportation Center in Iowa City or the Coralville Transit Intermodal Facility inCoralville.

Cycling

There is a system of paved bicycle paths, especially along the Iowa River.

Some of the main roads also have designated bike lanes or sharrows, such as Jefferson street, Market street, First avenue, Mccollister Blvd and Dodge street. As of 2017, both Iowa City and the University of Iowa have been awarded 'silver' status as a bicycle friendly community and university, respectively, by theLeague of American Bicyclists.

Notable people

See also:List of University of Iowa people

• Nancy C. Andreasen,psychiatrist and professor atUniversity of Iowa
• Todd Blodgett,Member of White House staff (Reagan-Bush) 1985-87. Served on Bush-Quayle '88 campaign committee. Also worked with the FBI. Born Iowa City 1960.
• George Washington Ball(1847–1915), Iowa State Senator, Representative, and Iowa City mayor (1905–1909)
• Janusz Bardach,gulag survivor, author, and plastic surgeon.
• Bob Barr,formerGeorgiacongressman and 2008presidential candidate
• Brian Bell,guitarist of thealternative rockbandWeezer
• Moses Bloom,former mayor of Iowa City and the firstJewish mayorof any major American city
• Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd,novelist
• Greg Brown,folk musician
• Ethan Canin,writer
• Thomas R. Cech,1989 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry; graduate fromIowa City High School
• Harry Chase,19th-century marine painter. Received first comprehensive art instruction in Iowa City as a boy.
• Eli P. Clark,railroad man
• James Claussen,lithographer, abstract painter
• Iris DeMent,musician, lives in Iowa City
• Peter A. Dey,Mayor of Iowa City, civil engineer and banker
• Edward M. Doe,Arizona Territorial jurist, lived in Iowa City
• Benjamin Edwards,visual artist
• Albert Erives,biologist, provided pacRNA model for evolutionary origin ofgenetic codeanduniversal homochirality
• Tim Dwight,NFLplayer withAtlanta Falcons,San Diego Chargers,New England Patriots,New York Jets,andOakland Raiders;played at Iowa City High School andUniversity of Iowa
• Kenny Fields,formerNBAplayer, born in Iowa City
• Jim Foster,creator and co-founder of theArena Football League,born in Iowa City
• Dan Gable,Olympic gold medalist;NCAAchampion fromIowa State University;former head wrestling coach forIowa Hawkeyes,leading program to 21Big Ten Conferencechampionships and 15 national championships;Waterloonative
• Janet Guthrie,Indy Car andNASCARdriver, first woman inIndianapolis 500andDaytona 500
• Oscar Hahn,author
• Andy Haman,bodybuilding champion
• Mary Eunice Harlan,daughter-in-law ofAbraham Lincoln
• Hill Harper,actor
• Jay Hilgenberg,center for theChicago Bearsand broadcaster
• Rob Hogg,Iowa State Senate Minority Leader
• John P. Irish(1843–1923), Iowa and California editor, orator and activist
• Zach Johnson(1976– ), golfer on thePGA Tourand the2007 Masterschampion
• Nate Kaeding(1982– ),NFLkicker forSan Diego Chargers;played atIowa City West High Schooland University of Iowa
• Carol Kelso,member of theWisconsin State Assembly
• Seung Min Kim,journalist
• Alex Ko,Broadway actor
• Alan Larson(born 1949), diplomat and ambassador
• Diego Lasansky,visual artist
• Mauricio Lasansky,visual artist
• Tomas Lasansky,visual artist
• Laura Leighton,actress
• Helen Lemme,local activist
• Elinor Levin,member of theIowa House of Representatives
• Janet Lilly,dancer and choreographer
• Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones,state legislator
• Nia Long,actress
• Melissa Ludtke,editor
• Dan McCarney,head football coach forIowa State Cyclones,1995–2006; defensive line coach forFlorida Gators Football,current head football coach for theUniversity of North Texas
• James Alan McPherson,writer
• Corine Mauch,Mayor ofZürich
• Christopher C. Miller,ActingUnited States Secretary of Defense
• Jim Miller,football player
• Julie Miller,harness racingdriver and trainer
• Phil Morris,actor
• Mary Neuhauser,Mayor of Iowa City, state legislator, and lawyer
• Stephanie Novacek,operatic mezzo-soprano
• Dan Perkinsaka Tom Tomorrow, political cartoonist
• Joseph M. Petrick,writer and co-director ofThe Mother of Invention
• Jason Reeves,singer-songwriter
• Marilynne Robinson,Pulitzer Prize-winning author ofGilead
• Nate Ruess,lead vocalist of the bandFun
• Paul Schedl(born 1947 in Iowa City) molecular biologist
• Phyllis Somerville,actress
• Russell Stover,candy maker
• David Strackany,folk singer-songwriter aka Paleo
• John T. Struble,pioneer builder, rancher, and farmer
• Elizabeth Tate,civil rights advocate who ran a boarding house for African-American students.
• James Van Allen,physicist and astronomer, discoverer of the Van Allen Belts
• Michael Wacha,MLBpitcher
• Zach Wahls,anLGBTactivist and state legislator, was raised in Iowa City
• Louis J. Wilde,17th Mayor ofSan Diego(1917–1921), born in Iowa City
• Grant Wood,artist and painter of the iconic "American Gothic"
• Joey Woody,world champion sprinter
• Bart Yates,writer

See also

• Iowa City Public Library
• University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
• University of Iowa
• Kirkwood Community College
• Coralville, Iowa
• Iowa City Community School District
• Iowa City Police Department
• Mormon handcart pioneers

External links

• City of Iowa City
• Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors BureauArchivedOctober 15, 2011, at theWayback Machine
• Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce
• Iowa City Public Library
• City DataStatistical Data and more about Iowa City, Iowa
• City of LiteratureDocumentary produced byThe University of Iowa