Remsen, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Remsen is a city in Plymouth County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 1,762 at the 2000 census.
Remsen was platted by the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Town Land and Lot Company August 28, 1876, and was incorporated in the spring of 1889. The population in 1885 was given at 650, of which 400 were American born.
Remsen was settled by mostly Luxembourg immigrants. Plagued by religious persecution, unwelcome Prussian military conscription and economic limitations, the early immigrants left their native land to start a new life in the land of opportunity now called Remsen.
Remsen citizens retained their Luxembourg traditions of deep religious faith, and loyal, energetic, hard working, and fun loving style. At the same time they contributed to their share in the building and development of America and were quick to respond whenever Uncle Sam called on his citizens for a service, always eager to do something for the land which gave them the opportunity to raise their families as free and independent American citizens.
These early independent settlers and their neighbors of German, Irish, and Scandinavian decent, developed this area into one of the most beautiful and prosperous areas in the state of Iowa.
or Pocahontas
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,762 people, 671 households, and 460 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,655.2 people per square mile (641.8/km²). There were 701 housing units at an average density of 658.5 per square mile (255.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.49% White, 0.06% Asian, 0.11% from other races
, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.34% of the population.
There were 671 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,950, and the median income for a family was $48,250. Males had a median income of $32,841 versus $21,094 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,465. About 3.3% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Plymouth County, Iowa
Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 24,986 in the 2010 census, an increase from 24,849 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Le Mars...
, 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 1,762 at the 2000 census.
History
Remsen was named for Dr. William Remsen Smith, a pioneer Sioux City physician who became an extensive landowner in the area. Dr. Smith had a good friend who suggested the name Smithville, but Dr. Smith thought that there were too many Smiths in the world, and instead chose to name the town after his middle name.Remsen was platted by the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Town Land and Lot Company August 28, 1876, and was incorporated in the spring of 1889. The population in 1885 was given at 650, of which 400 were American born.
Remsen was settled by mostly Luxembourg immigrants. Plagued by religious persecution, unwelcome Prussian military conscription and economic limitations, the early immigrants left their native land to start a new life in the land of opportunity now called Remsen.
Remsen citizens retained their Luxembourg traditions of deep religious faith, and loyal, energetic, hard working, and fun loving style. At the same time they contributed to their share in the building and development of America and were quick to respond whenever Uncle Sam called on his citizens for a service, always eager to do something for the land which gave them the opportunity to raise their families as free and independent American citizens.
These early independent settlers and their neighbors of German, Irish, and Scandinavian decent, developed this area into one of the most beautiful and prosperous areas in the state of Iowa.
Education
Remsen is very unusual for its small size having two K-12 school systems: Remsen-Union Public School and Remsen St. Mary's.Prohibition
During Prohibition, Remsen was a major player in the brewing, transporting, and sale of illegal alcohol. Its location adjacent to larger midwestern cities and the amount of farmland between homes made it a perfect area to make moonshine. Much of the moonshine produced ended up in one of two other Iowa cities: Sioux CitySioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
or Pocahontas
Pocahontas, Iowa
Pocahontas is a city in and the county seat of Pocahontas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,789 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 1,970 population in the 2000 census.-History:...
.
Geography
Remsen is located at 42°48′47"N 95°58′18"W (42.813118, -95.971673).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 1.1 square miles (2.8 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 1,762 people, 671 households, and 460 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 1,655.2 people per square mile (641.8/km²). There were 701 housing units at an average density of 658.5 per square mile (255.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.49% White, 0.06% Asian, 0.11% 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 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.34% of the population.
There were 671 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% 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, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,950, and the median income for a family was $48,250. Males had a median income of $32,841 versus $21,094 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 $17,465. About 3.3% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.