Mason City, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Mason City is the county seat
of Cerro Gordo County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census.
The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area
includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth
counties.
and Winnebago
natives. The town of Shibboleth was settled in 1853 by John Long, Joseph Hewitt and George Brentner where the waters of the Winnebago River and Willow Creek come together. The town changed names several times, from Shibboleth, to Masonic Grove, to Masonville, and finally to what it is known as today, Mason City. It is commonly referred to as the 'River City', as the city grew up centered on the Winnebago river.
In 1854 John McMillin opened the first store and Dr. Silas Card opened the first medical practice in the area. The first schoolhouse was established in a log cabin by Lizzie Thompson in 1856. In 1857 the United States Post Office Department
started service to the town. Mason City was named as the county seat in 1858.
grew up in Mason City, having played in the Mason City Symphonic Band as a student at Mason City High School. Willson's crowning achievement was the famous musical The Music Man
; many of the characters in it were taken from people Willson knew from his childhood in Mason City. The show first opened on Broadway in 1957 and became a hit, with a three year run at the Majestic Theatre, followed by an additional 1,375 performances at the Broadway Theatre
. The Music Man has received numerous awards, including 9 Tony Awards in 1957.
in decimal form are 43.148747, −93.201916.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 26.2 square miles (67.9 km²), of which 25.8 square miles (66.8 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (1.45%) is water.
of 2000, there were 29,172 people, 12,368 households, and 7,507 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,131.3 people per square mile (436.7/km2). There were 13,029 housing units at an average density of 505.3 per square mile (195.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.40% White, 1.17% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races
, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.
There were 12,368 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,852, and the median income for a family was $45,160. Males had a median income of $32,451 versus $21,756 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,899. About 7.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
The largest employer is Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. Other major industry includes door manufacturer Curries/Graham Company, Woodhardbor Cabinetry Manufacturers, Principal Financial, Cargill
Kitchen Solutions and the Kraft Foods
plant that produces the nation's entire supply of refrigerated ready-to-eat Jell-O gelatin
and Jell-O pudding snacks. Mason City is also a major production center for Portland Cement
. In November 2007, Reyes Holding / Martin-Brower opened a distribution facility serving McDonald in 5 states. http://www.martin-brower.com
In late May or early June Mason City holds an annual celebration of its musical heritage called The North Iowa Band Festival. Bands from across the midwest compete during the parade to be named the best band. The home band, Mason City High School Marching Band, does not compete but does perform in the parade.
Mason City is widely known for its collection of Prairie School
architecture, the largest concentration of any city in Iowa. At least 32 houses and one commercial building were built in the Prairie Style between 1908 and 1922, 17 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and eight more are contributing properties to a historic district.
The first two Prairie structures, the Dr. G.C. Stockman House
(1908) and the Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank Buildings
(1909–1910) were both designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
. The hotel and bank, a mixed-use development
at the corner of State and Federal Avenues, was the first to be commissioned by local attorneys James E. E. Markley and James E. Blythe. Within a year, Wright was hired to design the Stockman House by Markley's neighbor.
Both the Park Inn Hotel and Stockman House suffered from neglect and unsympathetic alterations before they were saved by community organizations. In 1989, the Stockman House was moved four blocks to prevent its demolition; it was subsequently restored and opened to the public by the River City Society for Historic Preservation. Likewise, Wright on the Park, Inc. began restoration on the Park Inn Hotel in 2005 and the former City National Bank building in 2007. The organization will reopen both buildings as a boutique hotel
in August 2011. The Park Inn Hotel is last remaining of the few hotels that Wright completed during his career and is considered a prototype for Wright's Imperial Hotel
.
The Rock Glen and Rock Crest National Historic district is a small enclave of single-family homes situated along the banks of Willow Creek five blocks east of downtown. It is the largest collection of prairie style homes in a natural setting in the world. It features both Prairie School and Usonian design. Five of these houses were designed by Walter Burley Griffin
and Marion Mahony Griffin
, two by Francis Barry Byrne, and others by William Drummond, Einar Broaten, and Curtis Besinger.
In addition to Prairie Style architecture
, Mason City is home to extensive Victorian
, Craftsman
, and Bungalow
style homes, as well as historic commercial structures dates from between 1892 and 1940, including the Brick and Tile Building at the intersection of State and Delaware Streets.
The Mason City Public Library was designed by Chicago architects Holabird and Root in 1939.
The Len Jus Building
on North Federal Avenue has an extremely rare sheet-metal facade, it had been placed on the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance
’s Most Endangered list because of its poor repair and indifferent ownership, but is now being rehabilitated by the new owner.
The North Iowa Bulls hockey team will begin play in Mason City during the 2011-2012 NA3HL season.
The North Iowa Outlaws
junior hockey team began play in the North American Hockey League
in 2005. They were in Mason City until 2010. The former North Iowa Huskies
played in the United States Hockey League
until 1999.
The Mason City Bats
of the very short lived Great Central League
played baseball here in 1994.
College Football Hall of Fame Coach Barry Alvarez
lead Mason City High School to the 1978 Class 4A state football championship with a 15-13 victory over Dubuque Hempstead.
River City Rugby Football Club was established in Mason City in 1972. The Club competes in two separate two month seasons, April and May in the Spring, and September and October in the Fall. The Club will celebrate it's 40th Anniversary in June of 2012. Over 250 players have played for the Club since it first began. The Club competes against teams from Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska in the Midwest Division 3.
Public schools
Harding Elementary,
Hoover Elementary,
Jefferson Elementary,
Roosevelt Elementary,
Lincoln Intermediate (for 5th and 6th graders),
John Adams Middle School (7-8 grade),
Mason City High School,
Mason City Alternative High School,
Madison Early Childhood Center,
Washington Early Childhood Center,
Private schools
Newman Catholic Elementary/Middle School,
Newman Catholic High School, and North Iowa Christian School.
Advanced education
Mason City is home to several institutions of higher education, including the North Iowa Area Community College
, a branch of Buena Vista University
and Kaplan University
.
The town is featured prominently in the first episode of the 12-part documentary film
How Democracy Works Now.
Television
Radio
News
Mason City is home to the Iowa Traction Railroad
. The IATR is one of the last surviving electric interurban railroads in the U. S., and the only one that still uses electric locomotives to haul freight in regular service.
Mason City also is served by the Canadian Pacific Railway
which owns the Milwaukee Road's former northern Iowa main line and by the Union Pacific Railroad
which took over the Rock Island "spine line" from Kansas City to Minneapolis and several former Minneapolis and St, Louis and Chicago Great Western lines. The Iowa Northern now operates some of these lines.
The city also has a municipal airport, from which Buddy Holly
, Ritchie Valens
and The Big Bopper
took off on the night of February 3, 1959, after a concert at the Surf Ballroom
in nearby Clear Lake, Iowa
, only to crash their plane in a historic event later referred to as the Day the Music Died
.
, Italy, created a Sister City relationship in the spring of 2005. This relationship creates a bridge between the two cities that citizens can use to build new and lasting friendships and relationships.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Cerro Gordo County
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 44,151 in the county, with a population density of . There were 22,163 housing units, of which 19,350 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 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census.
The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area
Mason City micropolitan area
The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in north central Iowa, anchored by the city of Mason City....
includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth
Worth County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,598 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,548 housing units, of which 3,172 were occupied.-2000 census:...
counties.
History
The region around what would later be first called Shibboleth was a summer home to the SiouxSioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
and Winnebago
Ho-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
natives. The town of Shibboleth was settled in 1853 by John Long, Joseph Hewitt and George Brentner where the waters of the Winnebago River and Willow Creek come together. The town changed names several times, from Shibboleth, to Masonic Grove, to Masonville, and finally to what it is known as today, Mason City. It is commonly referred to as the 'River City', as the city grew up centered on the Winnebago river.
In 1854 John McMillin opened the first store and Dr. Silas Card opened the first medical practice in the area. The first schoolhouse was established in a log cabin by Lizzie Thompson in 1856. In 1857 the United States Post Office Department
United States Post Office Department
The Post Office Department was the name of the United States Postal Service when it was a Cabinet department. It was headed by the Postmaster General....
started service to the town. Mason City was named as the county seat in 1858.
Musical heritage
Mason City, above all else is known for its outstanding musical heritage, consistently producing successful performers and educators. Mason City's "favorite son" Meredith WillsonMeredith Willson
Robert Meredith Willson was an American composer, songwriter, conductor and playwright, best known for writing the book, music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical The Music Man...
grew up in Mason City, having played in the Mason City Symphonic Band as a student at Mason City High School. Willson's crowning achievement was the famous musical The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
; many of the characters in it were taken from people Willson knew from his childhood in Mason City. The show first opened on Broadway in 1957 and became a hit, with a three year run at the Majestic Theatre, followed by an additional 1,375 performances at the Broadway Theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. The Music Man has received numerous awards, including 9 Tony Awards in 1957.
Geography
Mason City's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 43.148747, −93.201916.
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 26.2 square miles (67.9 km²), of which 25.8 square miles (66.8 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (1.45%) 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 29,172 people, 12,368 households, and 7,507 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 1,131.3 people per square mile (436.7/km2). There were 13,029 housing units at an average density of 505.3 per square mile (195.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.40% White, 1.17% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.07% 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 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.
There were 12,368 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,852, and the median income for a family was $45,160. Males had a median income of $32,451 versus $21,756 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 $18,899. About 7.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Mason City has a very diverse employment base covering multiple sectors of the economy including Manufacturing, Health, Financial Services, Technology and Education, with no one sector or employer dominating the market.The largest employer is Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. Other major industry includes door manufacturer Curries/Graham Company, Woodhardbor Cabinetry Manufacturers, Principal Financial, Cargill
Cargill
Cargill, Incorporated is a privately held, multinational corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1865, it is now the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2011, number 13 on the Fortune 500,...
Kitchen Solutions and the Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
plant that produces the nation's entire supply of refrigerated ready-to-eat Jell-O gelatin
Gelatin dessert
Gelatin desserts are desserts made with sweetened and flavored gelatin. They can be made by combining plain gelatin with other ingredients or by using a premixed blend of gelatin with additives...
and Jell-O pudding snacks. Mason City is also a major production center for Portland Cement
Portland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
. In November 2007, Reyes Holding / Martin-Brower opened a distribution facility serving McDonald in 5 states. http://www.martin-brower.com
Events and festivals
Every year Mason City High School performs "The Mohawk Follies", which is the longest running high school variety show in the United States. In this show students will sing, play music, and perform skits.In late May or early June Mason City holds an annual celebration of its musical heritage called The North Iowa Band Festival. Bands from across the midwest compete during the parade to be named the best band. The home band, Mason City High School Marching Band, does not compete but does perform in the parade.
Landmarks
Architecture and the Prairie SchoolMason City is widely known for its collection of Prairie School
Prairie School
Prairie School was a late 19th and early 20th century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States.The works of the Prairie School architects are usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands,...
architecture, the largest concentration of any city in Iowa. At least 32 houses and one commercial building were built in the Prairie Style between 1908 and 1922, 17 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places listings in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States...
and eight more are contributing properties to a historic district.
The first two Prairie structures, the Dr. G.C. Stockman House
Dr. G.C. Stockman House
The Dr. G.C. Stockman House, also known as Mrs. Evangeline Skarlis House, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1908 for Dr. George C. and Eleanor Stockman in Mason City, Iowa. The home was originally located at 311 1st St. SE, but was moved to 530 1st St. NE to evade demolition...
(1908) and the Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank Buildings
Park Inn Hotel
Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank are two adjacent commercial buildings located in downtown Mason City, Iowa which were designed in the Prairie School style by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Completed in 1910, the Park Inn Hotel is the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright designed...
(1909–1910) were both designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
. The hotel and bank, a mixed-use development
Mixed-use development
Mixed-use development is the use of a building, set of buildings, or neighborhood for more than one purpose. Since the 1920s, zoning in some countries has required uses to be separated. However, when jobs, housing, and commercial activities are located close together, a community's transportation...
at the corner of State and Federal Avenues, was the first to be commissioned by local attorneys James E. E. Markley and James E. Blythe. Within a year, Wright was hired to design the Stockman House by Markley's neighbor.
Boutique hotel
Boutique hotel is a term popularized in North America and the United Kingdom to describe intimate, usually luxurious or unique hotel environments. Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from larger chain/branded hotels and motels by providing personalized accommodation and services / facilities...
in August 2011. The Park Inn Hotel is last remaining of the few hotels that Wright completed during his career and is considered a prototype for Wright's Imperial Hotel
Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
The Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, was created in the late 1880s at the request of the Japanese aristocracy to cater to the increasing number of western visitors to Japan. The hotel site is located just south of the Imperial Palace grounds, next to the previous location of the Palace moat...
.
The Rock Glen and Rock Crest National Historic district is a small enclave of single-family homes situated along the banks of Willow Creek five blocks east of downtown. It is the largest collection of prairie style homes in a natural setting in the world. It features both Prairie School and Usonian design. Five of these houses were designed by Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
and Marion Mahony Griffin
Marion Mahony Griffin
Marion Griffin was an American architect and artist. She was one of the first licenced female architects in the world, and is considered an original member of the Prairie School.-Biography:...
, two by Francis Barry Byrne, and others by William Drummond, Einar Broaten, and Curtis Besinger.
In addition to Prairie Style architecture
Prairie School
Prairie School was a late 19th and early 20th century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States.The works of the Prairie School architects are usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands,...
, Mason City is home to extensive Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
, Craftsman
American Craftsman
The American Craftsman Style, or the American Arts and Crafts Movement, is an American domestic architectural, interior design, landscape design, applied arts, and decorative arts style and lifestyle philosophy that began in the last years of the 19th century. As a comprehensive design and art...
, and Bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
style homes, as well as historic commercial structures dates from between 1892 and 1940, including the Brick and Tile Building at the intersection of State and Delaware Streets.
The Mason City Public Library was designed by Chicago architects Holabird and Root in 1939.
The Len Jus Building
Len Jus Building (Mason City, Iowa)
The Len Jus Building on Federal Avenue in Mason City, Iowa was constructed in 1882. It has an extremely rare sheet-metal facade, manufactured by the Mesker Brothers Iron Works. This building has been placed on Preservation Iowa’s Most Endangered list because of its poor repair and indifferent...
on North Federal Avenue has an extremely rare sheet-metal facade, it had been placed on the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance
Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance
Preservation Iowa, formerly called the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance , was founded in 1989 by members of the public concerned about the destruction of significant historic sites and buildings in the state of Iowa....
’s Most Endangered list because of its poor repair and indifferent ownership, but is now being rehabilitated by the new owner.
Sports
Mason City has some history of minor league sports teams despite its relatively small size.The North Iowa Bulls hockey team will begin play in Mason City during the 2011-2012 NA3HL season.
The North Iowa Outlaws
North Iowa Outlaws
The North Iowa Outlaws were a Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's central division, and played out of North Iowa Ice Arena in Mason City, Iowa. They have relocated to Onalaska, WI for the 2010 - 2011 season and will be known as the Coulee Region Chill-Regular Season...
junior hockey team began play in the North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
in 2005. They were in Mason City until 2010. The former North Iowa Huskies
North Iowa Huskies
The North Iowa Huskies were a junior ice hockey team based in Mason City, Iowa. They were a member of the United States Hockey League from 1983 to 1999. They played their home games at North Iowa Ice Arena...
played in the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
until 1999.
The Mason City Bats
Mason City Bats
The Mason City Bats was a baseball team in Mason City, Iowa, that played in the Great Central League in 1994. Other teams in the league were from Lafayette, Indiana; Champaign, Illinois; and Minneapolis, Minnesota....
of the very short lived Great Central League
Great Central League
The Great Central League was a short-lived baseball league of four teams that played baseball in the upper Midwest of the United States in . Its only season ended before completion and no championship was ever held.-Teams:*Champaign-Urbana Bandits...
played baseball here in 1994.
College Football Hall of Fame Coach Barry Alvarez
Barry Alvarez
Barry Alvarez is a former American football player and coach and currently the Director of Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He served as the head football coach at Wisconsin for 16 seasons from 1990 to 2005, compiling a career college football record of 118–73–4...
lead Mason City High School to the 1978 Class 4A state football championship with a 15-13 victory over Dubuque Hempstead.
River City Rugby Football Club was established in Mason City in 1972. The Club competes in two separate two month seasons, April and May in the Spring, and September and October in the Fall. The Club will celebrate it's 40th Anniversary in June of 2012. Over 250 players have played for the Club since it first began. The Club competes against teams from Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska in the Midwest Division 3.
Education
The Mason City Community School District has a motto of "Quality Education in a Caring & Responsive Environment"Public schools
Harding Elementary,
Hoover Elementary,
Jefferson Elementary,
Roosevelt Elementary,
Lincoln Intermediate (for 5th and 6th graders),
John Adams Middle School (7-8 grade),
Mason City High School,
Mason City Alternative High School,
Madison Early Childhood Center,
Washington Early Childhood Center,
Private schools
Newman Catholic Elementary/Middle School,
Newman Catholic High School, and North Iowa Christian School.
Advanced education
Mason City is home to several institutions of higher education, including the North Iowa Area Community College
North Iowa Area Community College
The North Iowa Area Community College is a community college in Mason City, Iowa.-History:NIACC began as Mason City Junior College in 1918, becoming the first public two-year college in Iowa. The first year there were 28 students, six instructors, and five fields of study under Principal James Rae...
, a branch of Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University is a private 4-year college located in Storm Lake, Iowa. Founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The university's campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a natural lake...
and Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Kaplan University is the "doing business as" name of the Iowa College Acquisition Corporation, a company that owns and operates for-profit colleges...
.
Media
Movies and documentariesThe town is featured prominently in the first episode of the 12-part documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
How Democracy Works Now.
Television
- KIMTKIMTKIMT is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Driftless Area of North Central Iowa and Southeastern Minnesota. Licensed to Mason City, Iowa, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 42 from a transmitter near Meyer, Iowa south of the Minnesota state line...
- Channel 3 CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
Radio
- KCMRKCMRKCMR is a Christian radio station licensed to serve the community of Mason City, Iowa. KCMR is owned by TLC Broadcasting Corporation, a non-profit corporation overseen by a local 16-member Board of Directors and supported by listener contributions...
FM 97.9 - Religious (TLC Broadcasting) - KIAIKIAIKIAI is a commercial radio station that serves the Mason City, Iowa area. The station broadcasts a Country format. KIAI is licensed to Three Eagles of Lincoln, Inc which is owned by Three Eagles Communications, Inc which owns several other radio stations in Iowa and Minnesota.The station was...
FM 93.9 - Country (Three Eagles CommunicationsThree Eagles CommunicationsThree Eagles Communications, Inc. is a media company based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It operates 50 radio stations in Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Rolland Johnson is chief executive officer, and Gary Buchanan is president and chief operating officer.The company was acquired...
) - KLKK FM 103.7 - Classic Rock (Coloff Media)
- KGLOKGLOKGLO is a radio station licensed to serve Mason City, Iowa. The station is owned by Three Eagles Communications and licensed to Three Eagles Communications, Inc. It airs a News/Talk radio format. The station aired an adult contemporary format during the 1980s.The station's call letters reflect...
AM 1300 - Talk (Three Eagles CommunicationsThree Eagles CommunicationsThree Eagles Communications, Inc. is a media company based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It operates 50 radio stations in Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Rolland Johnson is chief executive officer, and Gary Buchanan is president and chief operating officer.The company was acquired...
) - KLSS FM 106.1 - Hot AC (Three Eagles CommunicationsThree Eagles CommunicationsThree Eagles Communications, Inc. is a media company based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It operates 50 radio stations in Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Rolland Johnson is chief executive officer, and Gary Buchanan is president and chief operating officer.The company was acquired...
) - KRIBKRIBKRIB is a radio station licensed to serve Mason City, Iowa. The station is owned by Three Eagles Communications and licensed to Three Eagles of Mason City, Inc. It airs an Oldies music format....
AM 1490 - Oldies (Three Eagles CommunicationsThree Eagles CommunicationsThree Eagles Communications, Inc. is a media company based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It operates 50 radio stations in Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Rolland Johnson is chief executive officer, and Gary Buchanan is president and chief operating officer.The company was acquired...
) - KSMA FM 98.7 - Country (Coloff Media)
- KUNYKUNYKUNY is a radio station licensed to Mason City, Iowa. The station is owned by the University of Northern Iowa. KUNY is an affiliate of Iowa Public Radio, and carries the network's "News and Information" and "Studio One" services....
FM 91.5 - Iowa Public RadioIowa Public RadioIowa Public Radio is a state network in the U.S. state of Iowa that combines the operations of current Public Radio stations run by Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa...
and the (University of Northern IowaUniversity of Northern IowaThe University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
) - KJCY FM 95.5 Christian (Kinship Radio Broadcasting)
News
- Globe Gazette - Daily newspaper
- North Iowa Today - Area news website
Transportation
The majority of the city is served by Iowa Highway 122, and U.S. Highway 65. U.S. Highway 18 now bypasses the city to the south. Interstate 35 (eight miles to the west) serves the city as well.Mason City is home to the Iowa Traction Railroad
Iowa Traction Railroad
The Iowa Traction Railroad is an electrically operated common carrier railroad running between Mason City and Clear Lake, Iowa, Iowa. It can trace its roots back to the Mason City and Clear Lake Railway which was founded in 1896. The shops were situated in Emery, the midpoint between the two...
. The IATR is one of the last surviving electric interurban railroads in the U. S., and the only one that still uses electric locomotives to haul freight in regular service.
Mason City also is served by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
which owns the Milwaukee Road's former northern Iowa main line and by the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
which took over the Rock Island "spine line" from Kansas City to Minneapolis and several former Minneapolis and St, Louis and Chicago Great Western lines. The Iowa Northern now operates some of these lines.
The city also has a municipal airport, from which Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
and The Big Bopper
The Big Bopper
Jiles Perry "J. P." Richardson, Jr. also commonly known as The Big Bopper, was an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter whose big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star...
took off on the night of February 3, 1959, after a concert at the Surf Ballroom
Surf Ballroom
The Surf Ballroom is a Historic Rock and Roll Landmark at 460 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake, Iowa. The Surf is closely associated with The Day the Music Died - early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson gave their last performances at the Surf on...
in nearby Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,161 at the 2000 census. The city is named for the large lake on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate...
, only to crash their plane in a historic event later referred to as the Day the Music Died
The Day the Music Died
On February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, killed three American rock and roll pioneers: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson. The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean, in his song...
.
Notable people
- Bil BairdBil BairdWilliam Britton Baird , professional name Bil Baird, but often referred to as Bill Baird, was an American puppeteer of the mid- and late 20th century.One of his better known creations was Charlemane the lion...
- puppeteerPuppeteerA puppeteer is a person who manipulates an inanimate object, such as a puppet, in real time to create the illusion of life. The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from the audience. A puppeteer can operate a puppet indirectly by the use of strings, rods, wires, electronics or directly by his or... - Tanna FrederickTanna FrederickTanna Marie Frederick is a stage and independent film actress who rose to prominence for her title role in Henry Jaglom's Hollywood Dreams, for which she received the Best Actress Award at the 2008 Fargo Film Festival.-Biography:...
- actress and ocean conservationistConservationistConservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment... - Walter Burley GriffinWalter Burley GriffinWalter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
, architectArchitectAn architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the... - Jeff HornerJeff HornerJeff Horner is best known as the point guard for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball team. Jeff currently holds the University of Iowa career three point record at 232 shots made. Horner was born in Mason City, Iowa where he excelled at a young age. His father Bob Horner was Mason City...
, basketball player - Jodi HuisentruitJodi HuisentruitJodi Sue Huisentruit was a television news anchor for KIMT, based in Mason City, Iowa in the United States. She disappeared in the early morning hours of June 27, 1995 and is believed to have been abducted. She was 27 years old at the time.-Early life:Huisentruit grew up in Long Prairie, Minnesota...
, anchorwoman and missing personMissing personA missing person is a person who has disappeared for usually unknown reasons.Missing persons' photographs may be posted on bulletin boards, milk cartons, postcards, and websites, along with a phone number to be contacted if a sighting has been made.... - Jack JenneyJack JenneyTruman Eliot "Jack" Jenney was a jazz trombonist who might be best known for instrumental versions of the song Stardust. Born in Mason City, Iowa, Jenney played with his father's band from age 11, his father was a musician and music teacher, but his first professional work began with Austin Wylie...
, jazz musician - Timothy Lannon (born 1951) Creighton UniversityCreighton UniversityCreighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
President - Tim LaudnerTim LaudnerTimothy Jon Laudner is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Minnesota Twins from 1981 to 1989.-Playing career:...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcherCatcherCatcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to... - Joe LillardJoe LillardJoseph Johnny Lillard Jr. was an American football, baseball, and basketball player. From 1932 to 1933, he was a running back for the National Football League's Chicago Cardinals. Along with Ray Kemp, Lillard was the last African American to play in the NFL until Kenny Washington and Woody Strode...
, NFL running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... - Hanford MacNiderHanford MacNiderHanford “Jack” MacNider was a United States diplomat and United States Army General, serving in both World War I and World War II. He was a Scottish Rite Freemason.-Biography:...
(1889–1968) Ambassador to Canada, Brigadier-GeneralGeneral (United States)In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
in the US ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... - Jack Rule, Jr.Jack Rule, Jr.Jack D. Rule, Jr. is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s.Rule was born in Mason City, Iowa and grew up in Waterloo, Iowa. He defeated Jack Nicklaus in the 1956 U.S. Junior Amateur semi-finals but lost to Harlan Stevenson in the finals...
, professional golferProfessional golferIn golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;... - Scott SandageScott SandageScott A. Sandage is a cultural historian at Carnegie Mellon University. He is best known as the author of Born Losers: A History of Failure in America, which was selected as an "Editor's Choice" book by Atlantic Monthly, and was awarded the 34th Annual Thomas J. Wilson Prize, for the best "first...
(born 1964) historianHistorianA historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:... - Frank SecoryFrank SecoryFrank Edward Secory was an American left fielder and umpire in Major League Baseball who played 186 games from 1940 to 1946 for the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Chicago Cubs. His best season was , when he batted .321 in 22 games for the Cubs, the team for which he played nearly his entire...
, MLB left fielderLeft fielderIn baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound... - Ralph SenenskyRalph SenenskyRalph Senensky is an American television director and writer. He studied at the Pasadena Playhouse and worked as a stage director before directing for television....
, television directorTelevision directorA television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
and writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images.... - Meredith WillsonMeredith WillsonRobert Meredith Willson was an American composer, songwriter, conductor and playwright, best known for writing the book, music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical The Music Man...
- composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and playwright
Sister city
Mason City, Iowa, and Montegrotto TermeMontegrotto Terme
Montegrotto Terme is a comune in the Province of Padua in the Italian region Veneto, located about 45 km west of Venice and about 11 km southwest of Padua.Montegrotto Terme is a spa resort, part of the Terme Euganee spas...
, Italy, created a Sister City relationship in the spring of 2005. This relationship creates a bridge between the two cities that citizens can use to build new and lasting friendships and relationships.
External links
- Mason City IowaThe original River City Portal style website including city government.
- Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Mason City Chamber of Commerce
- Mason City Community School District
- Mason City Public Library website
- Wright in Iowa
- KRIB News/Sports website
- City Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Mason City