Prairie City, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Prairie City is a city in Jasper County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 1,680 at the 2010 census.
in 1990, brought about by the destruction by fire of Monroe's high school. The new school is called the PCM Mustangs.
Prairie City's Historical Society was established in 1995. The Prairie City Historical Museum is located at 109 S. Main Street and open by appointment. Many artifacts from Prairie City's history are housed in the museum including the Dowden Potato Digger, which was originally manufactured in Prairie City.
The city was the subject of Douglas Bauer's popular reminiscence of change in small town Iowa from the 1950s through the 1970s, Prairie City, Iowa: Three Seasons at Home.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,365 people, 553 households, and 388 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,182.5 people per square mile (458.3/km²). There were 567 housing units at an average density of 491.2 per square mile (190.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.46% White, 0.29% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 553 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,750, and the median income for a family was $54,205. Males had a median income of $32,389 versus $25,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,864. About 3.4% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
The city annually celebrates Prairie Days, an "old settler's" festival, in June.
Prairie City has is also building a recreational park. When complete, the park will include sports facilities, playgrounds, and open areas.
and County Route S6G allow access from the north and south respectively.
Jasper County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 36,842 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,181 housing units, of which 14,806 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 1,680 at the 2010 census.
History
Prairie City was founded by James Elliot in 1856, for whom it was originally named; it was later changed because there was already another Elliot in the state. The first resident was William Means, who built a tavern 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Elliot's cabin. The railroad first came through Prairie City in 1866. The first school in Prairie City was built on 1868(The Plainsmen) ; the city's district remained independent until a merger with that of MonroeMonroe, Iowa
Monroe is a city in Jasper County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,808 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Monroe's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 41.521880, -93.103492...
in 1990, brought about by the destruction by fire of Monroe's high school. The new school is called the PCM Mustangs.
Prairie City's Historical Society was established in 1995. The Prairie City Historical Museum is located at 109 S. Main Street and open by appointment. Many artifacts from Prairie City's history are housed in the museum including the Dowden Potato Digger, which was originally manufactured in Prairie City.
The city was the subject of Douglas Bauer's popular reminiscence of change in small town Iowa from the 1950s through the 1970s, Prairie City, Iowa: Three Seasons at Home.
Geography
Prairie City is located at 41°35′53"N 93°14′12"W (41.598042, -93.236726).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 1.2 square miles (3.1 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 1,365 people, 553 households, and 388 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 1,182.5 people per square mile (458.3/km²). There were 567 housing units at an average density of 491.2 per square mile (190.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.46% White, 0.29% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.29% 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 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 553 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,750, and the median income for a family was $54,205. Males had a median income of $32,389 versus $25,500 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 $19,864. About 3.4% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Parks and recreation
The Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, located adjacent to the city, includes 5500 acres (22 km²) of land that has been restored to Iowa's original rolling hills and tall grass prairies, plus several miles of surfaced trails, an auto tour, and the Prairie Learning Center.Prairie City has is also building a recreational park. When complete, the park will include sports facilities, playgrounds, and open areas.
Transportation
Prairie City is accessible from the east and west via Highway 163. Highway 117Iowa Highway 117
Iowa Highway 117 is a north–south route in Jasper County. The length of the highway is . In addition to serving several communities directly, Highway 117 also provides a shortcut between U.S. Route 65 and Interstate 80 east of Des Moines....
and County Route S6G allow access from the north and south respectively.