Elk Horn, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Elk Horn is a city in Shelby County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 649 at the 2000 census. Elk Horn is known as a center of Danish ethnicity and is home to The Danish Immigrant Museum
. Along with the nearby village of Kimballton, the community makes up the largest, rural Danish community outside of Denmark
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 649 people, 248 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density
was 844.6 people per square mile (325.4/km²). There were 261 housing units at an average density of 339.7 per square mile (130.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.08% White, 0.15% Native American, 0.62% Asian, and 0.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.
There were 248 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% 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 2.73.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 2.6% from 18 to 24, 17.3% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 42.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,333, and the median income for a family was $38,281. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,412. About 1.2% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2010, all sports were combined with the Exira "Vikings" and "Vikettes" from Exira, IA to create the Exira-EH-K Spartans; mascot colors now are maroon and black for both schools, the original colors for EH-K were orange and black. And starting in the new school year of 2011, the schools will combine completely. High school and elementary being in Elk Horn, and middle school and junior high being in Exira.
Elk Horn was also the site of the Elk Horn Højskole. This school, founded in 1878 by Danish immigrant Kristian Ostergaard
, was the first Danish folk school in America. It served as a magnet for Danish immigrants, drawing them to Elk Horn in great numbers. In 1894, Pastor Kristian Anker
, then owner and principal of the Elk Horn Højskole, sold it to the newly formed Danish Lutheran Church in North America
for use as a seminary and college. In 1896, the seminary was relocated and consolidated with Trinity Seminary at Dana College
in Blair, Nebraska
.
Shelby County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,167 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,542 housing units, of which 5,085 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 649 at the 2000 census. Elk Horn is known as a center of Danish ethnicity and is home to The Danish Immigrant Museum
The Danish Immigrant Museum
The Danish Immigrant Museum, is a national museum located in Elk Horn, Iowa. Its mission is to "celebrate Danish roots and American dreams."-History:...
. Along with the nearby village of Kimballton, the community makes up the largest, rural Danish community outside of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Geography
Elk Horn is located at 41°35′34"N 95°3′35"W (41.592694, -95.059615).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 649 people, 248 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 844.6 people per square mile (325.4/km²). There were 261 housing units at an average density of 339.7 per square mile (130.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.08% White, 0.15% Native American, 0.62% Asian, and 0.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.
There were 248 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% 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 2.73.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 2.6% from 18 to 24, 17.3% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 42.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,333, and the median income for a family was $38,281. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,412. About 1.2% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Students from the area attend Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School, which is located in Elk Horn. The school mascots are the "Danes" and "Lady Danes," which represents Elk Horn's Danish ancestry and tradition.As of 2010, all sports were combined with the Exira "Vikings" and "Vikettes" from Exira, IA to create the Exira-EH-K Spartans; mascot colors now are maroon and black for both schools, the original colors for EH-K were orange and black. And starting in the new school year of 2011, the schools will combine completely. High school and elementary being in Elk Horn, and middle school and junior high being in Exira.
Elk Horn was also the site of the Elk Horn Højskole. This school, founded in 1878 by Danish immigrant Kristian Ostergaard
Kristian Ostergaard
Kristian Ostergaard was Danish-American Lutheran pastor, educator and author.-Background:Kristian Ostergaard was born in Østergård in the Hjerm parish of Viborg County, now Struer Municipality, Region Midtjylland, Denmark.-Career:Ostergaard immigrated to the United States where he worked at...
, was the first Danish folk school in America. It served as a magnet for Danish immigrants, drawing them to Elk Horn in great numbers. In 1894, Pastor Kristian Anker
Kristian Anker
Kristian Anker was a Lutheran minister who served as the first president of the combined Trinity Seminary and Dana College.-Background:...
, then owner and principal of the Elk Horn Højskole, sold it to the newly formed Danish Lutheran Church in North America
United Evangelical Lutheran Church
The United Evangelical Lutheran Church was one of the many denominations formed when Lutherans came to the United States from Europe...
for use as a seminary and college. In 1896, the seminary was relocated and consolidated with Trinity Seminary at Dana College
Dana College
Dana College is a now defunct baccalaureate college located in Blair, Nebraska. Its rural 150-acre campus is approximately 25 miles northwest of Omaha, and overlooks a portion of the Missouri River Valley....
in Blair, Nebraska
Blair, Nebraska
Blair is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,990 at the 2000 census. Blair is a part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
.
External links
- Official website of Elk Horn and Kimballton
- The Danish Immigrant Museum
- The Danish Windmill in Elk Horn, IA, USA
- City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Elk Horn