Pomeroy, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Pomeroy is a city in Calhoun County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 662 at the 2010 census.
that was later estimated to be F5
on the Fujita scale. With a damage path 500 yards (457.2 m) wide and 55 miles (88.5 km) long, the tornado destroyed about 80% of the homes in Pomeroy. The tornado killed 71 people and injured 200.
In 1910, Pomeroy was the birthplace of Gordon Prange
, who became Chief Historian in General Douglas MacArthur
's staff and wrote the manuscript At Dawn We Slept, The Untold Story Of Pearl Harbor, the basis for the film Tora! Tora! Tora!
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 710 people, 314 households, and 184 families residing in the city. The population density
was 347.4 people per square mile (134.4/km²). There were 356 housing units at an average density of 174.2 per square mile (67.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.58% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.14% from other races
, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.28% of the population.
There were 314 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 39.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 29.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 81.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,531, and the median income for a family was $34,028. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,702. About 9.8% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Calhoun County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,867 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,108 housing units, of which 4,242 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 662 at the 2010 census.
History
On July 6, 1893, Pomeroy was struck by a tornadoTornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
that was later estimated to be F5
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
on the Fujita scale. With a damage path 500 yards (457.2 m) wide and 55 miles (88.5 km) long, the tornado destroyed about 80% of the homes in Pomeroy. The tornado killed 71 people and injured 200.
In 1910, Pomeroy was the birthplace of Gordon Prange
Gordon Prange
Gordon William Prange was the author of several World War II-historical manuscripts which were published by his co-workers after his death in 1980. Dr...
, who became Chief Historian in General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
's staff and wrote the manuscript At Dawn We Slept, The Untold Story Of Pearl Harbor, the basis for the film Tora! Tora! Tora!
Tora! Tora! Tora!
is a 1970 American-Japanese war film that dramatizes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, to the extent these facts were known at the time of production. The film was directed by Richard Fleischer and stars an all-star cast, including So Yamamura, E.G...
.
Geography
Pomeroy is located at 42°32′54"N 94°41′1"W (42.548395, -94.683541).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 2 square miles (5.2 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 710 people, 314 households, and 184 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 347.4 people per square mile (134.4/km²). There were 356 housing units at an average density of 174.2 per square mile (67.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.58% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.14% 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 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.28% of the population.
There were 314 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% 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, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 39.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 29.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 81.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,531, and the median income for a family was $34,028. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $22,083 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 $15,702. About 9.8% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.