Iowa, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Iowa is a town in Calcasieu Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 2,663 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lake Charles
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
, Illinois
and Iowa
to the French Canadians (Cajuns) to Jean Lafitte
's pirates along the Old Spanish Trail
. The community of Iowa was developed in the mid-19th century.
The railroad that cut through this country brought settlers who were lured to the prairie land for rice farming, cattle raising and later oil fields. Much of southwest Louisiana was developed by the North American Land and Timber Co. Seaman A. Knapp, president of the Iowa State College of Agriculture, was engaged in 1885 to demonstrate the suitability of the region for rice production. Knapp attracted a number of Iowans to settle the area. The settlers were lured to this area by advertisements published in newspapers in the midwestern states.
Iowa experienced a growth boom when oil was struck in 1930 and oil companies came to try their luck in the Iowa Oil and Gas Fields. Even though this was the Great Depression
era, Iowa thrived as more men came to work in the oil fields.
Today, oil continues to be a vital part of the town's economy, as are farming and cattle.
The town of "Iowa" is actually pronounced with the long A sound at the end, opposed to the pronunciation of the state of Iowa.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), of which 3.1 square miles (8 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (0.64%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,663 people, 963 households, and 727 families residing in the town. The population density
was 863.1 people per square mile (332.7/km²). There were 1,041 housing units at an average density of 337.4 per square mile (130.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.90% White, 18.59% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.60% from other races
, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.
There were 963 households, of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town, the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,581, and the median income for a family was $37,102. Males had a median income of $33,929 versus $19,393 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,652. About 17.5% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.
at exit 43. U.S. Route 90
goes through the town as well.
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish[p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Charles. As of 2010, the parish population was 192,768...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,663 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lake Charles metropolitan area
The Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the Acadiana region of southwest Louisiana that covers two parishes - Calcasieu and Cameron. According to a 2009 Census estimate, the MSA had a population of 194,138. It is also part of the larger Lake Charles-Jennings...
.
History
The history of this region is filled with stories of the early Midwestern Settlers from KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and 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...
to the French Canadians (Cajuns) to Jean Lafitte
Jean Lafitte
Jean Lafitte was a pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He and his elder brother, Pierre, spelled their last name Laffite, but English-language documents of the time used "Lafitte", and this is the commonly seen spelling in the United States, including for places...
's pirates along the Old Spanish Trail
Old Spanish Trail
Old Spanish Trail may refer to:*Old Spanish Trail , connecting Santa Fe, New Mexico with Los Angeles, California in the 19th century...
. The community of Iowa was developed in the mid-19th century.
The railroad that cut through this country brought settlers who were lured to the prairie land for rice farming, cattle raising and later oil fields. Much of southwest Louisiana was developed by the North American Land and Timber Co. Seaman A. Knapp, president of the Iowa State College of Agriculture, was engaged in 1885 to demonstrate the suitability of the region for rice production. Knapp attracted a number of Iowans to settle the area. The settlers were lured to this area by advertisements published in newspapers in the midwestern states.
Iowa experienced a growth boom when oil was struck in 1930 and oil companies came to try their luck in the Iowa Oil and Gas Fields. Even though this was the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
era, Iowa thrived as more men came to work in the oil fields.
Today, oil continues to be a vital part of the town's economy, as are farming and cattle.
The town of "Iowa" is actually pronounced with the long A sound at the end, opposed to the pronunciation of the state of Iowa.
Geography
Iowa is located at 30°14′15"N 93°0′51"W (30.237433, -93.014191).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 town has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), of which 3.1 square miles (8 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (0.64%) is water.
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 2,663 people, 963 households, and 727 families residing in the town. 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 863.1 people per square mile (332.7/km²). There were 1,041 housing units at an average density of 337.4 per square mile (130.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.90% White, 18.59% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.60% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.
There were 963 households, of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% 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, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town, the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,581, and the median income for a family was $37,102. Males had a median income of $33,929 versus $19,393 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 town was $14,652. About 17.5% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Iowa is accessed from Interstate 10Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
at exit 43. U.S. Route 90
U.S. Route 90
U.S. Route 90 is an east–west United States highway. Despite the "0" in its route number, U.S. 90 never was a full coast-to-coast route; it has always ended at Van Horn, Texas. A short-lived northward extension to U.S...
goes through the town as well.