Sigourney, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Sigourney is a city in Keokuk County
Keokuk County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,511 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,931 housing units, of which 4,408 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 2,059 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
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 Keokuk County
Keokuk County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,511 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,931 housing units, of which 4,408 were occupied.-2000 census:...

.

History

Keokuk County was opened for white settlement in 1843, and the town got its start in 1844 when S.A. James built the first cabin there. Other families began to settle there as well, and in 1844, the town was named by county commissioner Dr. George H. Stone in honor of popular poet Lydia Sigourney
Lydia Sigourney
Lydia Huntley Sigourney , née Lydia Howard Huntley, was a popular American poet during the early and mid 19th century. She was commonly known as the "Sweet Singer of Hartford". Most of her works were published with just her married name Mrs. Sigourney.-Early life:Mrs...

. A large oil-painted portrait of Lydia still graces the foyer of the county courthouse.

Geography

Sigourney's longitude and latitude coordinates
in decimal form are 41.333244, -92.203220.

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 2.2 square miles (5.6 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census
Census
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 2,209 people, 903 households, and 567 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 1,016.3 people per square mile (361.2/km²). There were 992 housing units at an average density of 456.4 per square mile (176.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.09% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 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 0.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 903 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,803, and the median income for a family was $43,519. Males had a median income of $29,783 versus $21,078 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 $17,218. About 8.5% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Sigourney is represented by Rep. Leonard Boswell
Leonard Boswell
Leonard L. Boswell is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district is based in Des Moines.-Early life, education and career:...

 in the United States House of Representatives.

Education

The Sigourney Community School district encompasses nearly a 70 square miles (181.3 km²) radius, drawing students from smaller surrounding communities. Approximately 700 students are enrolled yearly, with an average of 350 attending elementary (K-6) and 350 students attending junior/senior high (7-12). The average graduating class is 50 students with 80% moving on to college. The school system's mascot is the Sigourney Savage.

Notable people

  • William Lawrence Adrian
    William Lawrence Adrian
    William Lawrence Adrian, STL, DD was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee from 1936 to 1969.-Biography:...

     (1883–1972), Roman Catholic bishop relationship to Sigourney
  • Ambrose Burke
    Ambrose Burke
    Monsignor Ambrose J. Burke was an English professor and Catholic priest who served as the eighth president of Saint Ambrose University from 1940 through 1956...

    , (1895–1998), Roman Catholic priest
    Priest
    A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...

     and educator relationship to Sigourney
  • John Burke (1859–1938) tenth Governor of North Dakota
    Governor of North Dakota
    The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...

    , United States Treasurer, North Dakota Supreme Court justice
  • S.J. Mathes
    S.J. Mathes
    Samuel Jay Mathes, known as S.J. Mathes, was a pioneer printer and newspaperman in Los Angeles, California, who in 1881 and 1882 directed the editorial policies of the newly established Los Angeles Daily Times, which later became the Los Angeles Times, until General Harrison Gray Otis took over...

     (1849?–1927), newspaperman relationship to Sigourney
  • Dan Peiffer
    Dan Peiffer
    Daniel William Peiffer is a former American football center in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Ellsworth Community College and Southeast Missouri State University and was drafted in the fourteenth round of the 1973 NFL...

     (born 1951) NFL
    National Football League
    The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

     football player
  • Ezekiel S. Sampson
    Ezekiel S. Sampson
    Ezekiel Silas Sampson was a lawyer, prosecutor, Civil War officer, judge, and two-term Republican Congressman from Iowa's 6th congressional district....

     (1831–1896), district judge
    United States federal judge
    In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....

     and U.S. Representative

External links




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