Meservey, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Meservey is a city in Cerro Gordo County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 252 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Mason City
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
and Fort Dodge
. It takes its name from the Meservey Brothers who were railroad employees at this time. The western portion of town was originally known as Kausville, and eventually merged into Meservey, and is still legally known as the "Kausville Addition".
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 252 people, 123 households, and 75 families residing in the city. The population density
was 166.9 people per square mile (64.4/km²). There were 137 housing units at an average density of 90.8 per square mile (35.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.81% White, 0.40% from other races
, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.
There were 123 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.60.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.7% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 27.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $28,438 versus $16,406 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,043. About 7.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
, Sheffield
, Chapin
, Rockwell
, Swaledale
, and the surrounding area.
The Meservey school building was built in the 1940s (as a Works Progress Administration
project) as a K-12 facility for Meservey High school. In 1963, it became an elementary and junior high school, and later an elementary only, for the combined Meservey-Thornton school district. Due to declining enrollments, the building was closed in 1983, when all K-12 classes met in the Thornton facility. In 1988, Meservey-Thornton began whole-grade sharing with Sheffield-Chapin school district. The Meservey school facility was razed sometime around 1993, and the property is now Schoolhouse Park.
Meservey High School's mascot was the Rockets. The Meservey-Thornton mascot was the "Lancers". When the high school classes moved to Sheffield in 1988, the Lancer mascot was retained for the middle-school sports teams. However with further consolidation in 2007, the Lancer mascot was officially retired with a parade in Thornton in July, 2007.
Due to continued declining enrollment, the former S-C, M-T, and neighboring Rockwell-Swaledale school districts merged to become the West Fork school district in 2008, with the "Warhawks" as the new mascot. All students now attend Sheffield and Rockwell. Each remaining school will have K - 3, Rockwell will house 4 - 8 and Sheffield 9 - 12.
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 252 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Mason City
Mason City, Iowa
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....
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....
.
History
Meservey was founded in 1886, shortly after a railroad line was built connecting Mason CityMason City, Iowa
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 Fort Dodge
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
. It takes its name from the Meservey Brothers who were railroad employees at this time. The western portion of town was originally known as Kausville, and eventually merged into Meservey, and is still legally known as the "Kausville Addition".
Geography
Meservey is located at 42°54′47"N 93°28′34"W (42.913139, -93.476173).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 1.5 square miles (3.9 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 252 people, 123 households, and 75 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 166.9 people per square mile (64.4/km²). There were 137 housing units at an average density of 90.8 per square mile (35.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.81% White, 0.40% 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 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.
There were 123 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% 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, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.60.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.7% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 27.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $28,438 versus $16,406 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 $16,043. About 7.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
Schools
As of the 2008-2009 school year, Thornton is part of the West Fork Schools, along with students from then neighboring towns of ThorntonThornton, Iowa
Thornton is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 422 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Thornton is located at ....
, Sheffield
Sheffield, Iowa
Sheffield is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 930 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sheffield is located at ....
, Chapin
Chapin, Iowa
Chapin is an unincorporated community in northern Franklin County, Iowa, United States. It lies along local roads just off U.S. Route 65, north of the city of Hampton, the county seat of Franklin County. Its elevation is 1,155 feet , and it is located at...
, Rockwell
Rockwell, Iowa
Rockwell is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 989 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Rockwell is located at ....
, Swaledale
Swaledale, Iowa
Swaledale is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 174 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Swaledale is located at ....
, and the surrounding area.
The Meservey school building was built in the 1940s (as a Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
project) as a K-12 facility for Meservey High school. In 1963, it became an elementary and junior high school, and later an elementary only, for the combined Meservey-Thornton school district. Due to declining enrollments, the building was closed in 1983, when all K-12 classes met in the Thornton facility. In 1988, Meservey-Thornton began whole-grade sharing with Sheffield-Chapin school district. The Meservey school facility was razed sometime around 1993, and the property is now Schoolhouse Park.
Meservey High School's mascot was the Rockets. The Meservey-Thornton mascot was the "Lancers". When the high school classes moved to Sheffield in 1988, the Lancer mascot was retained for the middle-school sports teams. However with further consolidation in 2007, the Lancer mascot was officially retired with a parade in Thornton in July, 2007.
Due to continued declining enrollment, the former S-C, M-T, and neighboring Rockwell-Swaledale school districts merged to become the West Fork school district in 2008, with the "Warhawks" as the new mascot. All students now attend Sheffield and Rockwell. Each remaining school will have K - 3, Rockwell will house 4 - 8 and Sheffield 9 - 12.