Exira, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Exira is a city in Audubon County
, Iowa
, United States
, along the East Nishnabotna River
and U.S. Route 71
. The population was 810 at the 2000 census
.
, who agreed to purchase a lot of property in the town if the town was named for his daughter.
The main industries in and around Exira are agriculture and agribusiness. Exira has an elementary school, built in 1913, and a high school, completed in 1959. There are four churches in the town.
On July 2, 1958, Exira was ravaged by the flooding of the East Nishnabotna River. Nineteen persons in the area lost their lives, 75 homes were destroyed and almost 20 businesses in the western part of Exira were damaged.
Exira is well known for its Fourth of July celebrations, which have been celebrated since 1861. The morning parade and the evening fireworks draw thousands of visitors to the town. Other attractions in the area include the Plow in the Oak Park, south of Exira on Highway 71, and Littlefield Recreation Area, 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of Exira, which features a 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) lake, prairie
restoration area and a live bison
pair.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 810 people, 362 households, and 211 families residing in the city. The population density
was 791.0 people per square mile (306.6/km²). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 384.7 per square mile (149.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.64% White, 0.25% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.49% Asian, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 362 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 27.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 19.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 33.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 73.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,319, and the median income for a family was $32,222. Males had a median income of $25,917 versus $17,656 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,124. About 9.9% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Audubon County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 6,119 in the county, with a population density of . There were 2,972 housing units, of which 2,617 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...
, along the East Nishnabotna River
Nishnabotna River
The Nishnabotna River is a tributary of the Missouri River in southwestern Iowa, northwestern Missouri and southeastern Nebraska in the United States. It flows for most of its length as two parallel streams in Iowa, the East Nishnabotna River and the West Nishnabotna River...
and U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71 is a north–south United States highway. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstate highways. Currently, the highway's northern terminus is in International Falls, Minnesota at the Canadian border, at the southern end of the Fort...
. The population was 810 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
History
The oldest town in Audubon County, Exira was founded in 1857. The town was named for Exira Eckman, daughter of Judge John Eckman from OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, who agreed to purchase a lot of property in the town if the town was named for his daughter.
The main industries in and around Exira are agriculture and agribusiness. Exira has an elementary school, built in 1913, and a high school, completed in 1959. There are four churches in the town.
On July 2, 1958, Exira was ravaged by the flooding of the East Nishnabotna River. Nineteen persons in the area lost their lives, 75 homes were destroyed and almost 20 businesses in the western part of Exira were damaged.
Exira is well known for its Fourth of July celebrations, which have been celebrated since 1861. The morning parade and the evening fireworks draw thousands of visitors to the town. Other attractions in the area include the Plow in the Oak Park, south of Exira on Highway 71, and Littlefield Recreation Area, 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of Exira, which features a 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) lake, prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
restoration area and a live bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
pair.
Geography
Exira is located at 41°35′30"N 94°52′42"W (41.591617, -94.878247).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 city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 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 810 people, 362 households, and 211 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 791.0 people per square mile (306.6/km²). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 384.7 per square mile (149.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.64% White, 0.25% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.49% Asian, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 362 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% 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, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 27.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 19.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 33.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 73.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,319, and the median income for a family was $32,222. Males had a median income of $25,917 versus $17,656 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 $15,124. About 9.9% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Ben F. JensenBen F. JensenBenton Franklin Jensen served thirteen consecutive terms as a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 7th congressional district in the southwestern corner of the state. While on the floor of the U.S...
(1892–1970) U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for the former Iowa's 7th congressional districtIowa's 7th congressional districtIowa's 7th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It was eliminated after the 1970 election, leaving Iowa with six congressional districts. The state has since been reduced to five congressional districts.-Redistricting:... - Jack PardeeJack Pardee-NFL:-External links:...
(1936– ) NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player and Head CoachHead coachA head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
External links
- Exira Community Schools
- City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Exira