Waukon, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Waukon is a city in Makee Township
,
Allamakee County
, Iowa
, United States
, and the county seat
of Allamakee County. The population was 4,131 at the 2000 census
. It is home to the annual Allamakee County Fair.
, although the city is also said to be named for his son Chief John Waukon. Winnebagos lived in this area of Iowa in the 1840s, before being forced to relocate to Minnesota.
The terrain between Waukon and the Mississippi River is the steepest along the Iowa bank of the Mississippi, and while the more gradual slopes of counties to the South attracted early, major railroad development, Waukon struggled to be served by a branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
(The Milwaukee Road) starting in 1877. It ran as a branch line from Waukon Junction on the Mississippi River NW to termination in Waukon. It was originally built as a narrow gauge railroad but was converted to standard gauge after purchase by the Milwaukee Road. Its only marginal traffic through its existence led to the road's abandonment in the late 1960s.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 4,131 people, 1,790 households, and 1,068 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,404.3 people per square mile (542.5/km²). There were 1,909 housing units at an average density of 649.0 per square mile (250.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.74% White, 0.10% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races
, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 1,790 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 36.5% 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 2.21 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,325, and the median income for a family was $41,068. Males had a median income of $27,532 versus $18,833 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,047. About 8.3% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
, which is headquartered in the city.
Makee Township, Allamakee County, Iowa
Makee Township is one of eighteen townships in Allamakee County, Iowa, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4380.-Geography:Makee Township covers an area of and contains one incorporated settlement, Waukon...
,
Allamakee County
Allamakee County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,330 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,617 housing units, of which 5,845 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...
, and 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 Allamakee County. The population was 4,131 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is home to the annual Allamakee County Fair.
History
Waukon is often said to be named for Waukon Decorah, a Ho Chunk (Winnebago) leader who was a U.S. ally during the 1832 Black Hawk WarBlack Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
, although the city is also said to be named for his son Chief John Waukon. Winnebagos lived in this area of Iowa in the 1840s, before being forced to relocate to Minnesota.
The terrain between Waukon and the Mississippi River is the steepest along the Iowa bank of the Mississippi, and while the more gradual slopes of counties to the South attracted early, major railroad development, Waukon struggled to be served by a branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
(The Milwaukee Road) starting in 1877. It ran as a branch line from Waukon Junction on the Mississippi River NW to termination in Waukon. It was originally built as a narrow gauge railroad but was converted to standard gauge after purchase by the Milwaukee Road. Its only marginal traffic through its existence led to the road's abandonment in the late 1960s.
Geography
Waukon is located at 43°16′8"N 91°28′45"W (43.268889, -91.479212).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 2.9 square miles (7.5 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 4,131 people, 1,790 households, and 1,068 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 1,404.3 people per square mile (542.5/km²). There were 1,909 housing units at an average density of 649.0 per square mile (250.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.74% White, 0.10% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% 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 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 1,790 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 36.5% 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 2.21 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,325, and the median income for a family was $41,068. Males had a median income of $27,532 versus $18,833 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 $17,047. About 8.3% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation
Waukon Family Aquatic Area: The aquatic pool is the main attraction in Waukon's park. Also in the park is a small area with a lake, as well as some playgrounds. The park also includes some softball/athletic fields.Education
Children in Waukon attend the schools of the Allamakee Community School DistrictAllamakee Community School District
The Allamakee Community School District is a school district based in the city of Waukon in Allamakee County, United States. The district operates East and West Elementary Schools, Waterville Elementary School, and Waukon Junior and Senior High Schools...
, which is headquartered in the city.
Notable people
- Dudley W. AdamsDudley W. AdamsDudley Whitney Adams was a noted horticulturalist who led the granger movement.-Background and Career Development:...
, horticulturalist who led the granger movement - Mark FarleyMark Farley-External links:*...
, head football coach of the University of Northern IowaUniversity of Northern IowaThe University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has... - Hugh KidderHugh KidderHugh P. Kidder was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during World War I.-Biography:Born in Waukon, Iowa, Kidder was awarded the Croix de Guerre with palm and star during World War I for courage and endurance while carrying orders to advanced positions under violent machine gun fire...
, officer in the United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... - Cletus F. O'DonnellCletus F. O'DonnellCletus Francis O'Donnell was the second bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison, in Madison, Wisconsin.Born in Waukon, Iowa, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 1941, for the Archdiocese of Chicago...
, second Roman Catholic bishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of MadisonRoman Catholic Diocese of MadisonThe Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, is the Roman Catholic Diocese for the southwest corner of Wisconsin. It comprises Columbia, Dane, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, LaFayette, Marquette, Rock and Sauk counties. The area of the diocese is approximately... - Joseph TaggartJoseph TaggartJoseph Taggart was a lawyer and a Democrat member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 2nd Congressional District of Kansas from November 7, 1911, to March 3, 1917....
, member of the U.S House of Representatives - Matt Breitbach, head baseball coach and AD at Waukon High SchoolWaukon High SchoolWaukon High School is a high school located in the city of Waukon, Iowa. Waukon High School is the high school of the surrounding area. Some of these towns include: Harpers Ferry, Waterville, and Dorchester. WHS is also the only high school in the Allamakee Community School District.-Athletics:The...
External links
- Waukon, Iowa
- Waukon Chamber of Commerce
- KNEI/KHPP Radio
- City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Waukon
- Allamakee History