Wellman, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Wellman is a city in Washington County, Iowa
, United States
. It part of the Iowa City, Iowa
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 1,393 at the 2000 census.
on 12 May 1824, acquired his farm in 1859, and died in Wellman on 14 January 1901.
Original European settlement of the area occurred in 1839 on the north side of the English River
north of Wellman. A gristmill
began operation in 1842, and the community of Wassonville was surveyed and platted in 1848. The Wassonville ferry served a major territorial road from Iowa City
to Oskaloosa
and the western frontier. A roadhouse
had been constructed by 1850 and population grew to 300. Wassonville residents discouraged by frequent flood damage from the English River established the replacement village of Dayton on higher ground south of Wassonville in 1855. Dayton was the main trading point of the area from about 1860 to 1880, and the name was changed to Daytonville by the United States Post Office in 1878.
Construction of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway
depot shifted the focus of trade south to Wellman. The City of Wellman was incorporated in 1885, and a city water system was completed in 1896. The volunteer fire department established in 1893 was challenged by a fire which destroyed the east side of Main Street in February, 1902. The railway became part of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
in 1903. The first concrete sidewalk was built in front of the Wellman Savings Bank in 1904 and main street was paved in 1927. The first sewage treatment plant was built in 1940. The first fire truck went into service in August, 1946. Natural gas became available from the Wellman Municipal Gas System in 1963.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
The local weekly newspaper is the Wellman Advance. The city is served by its own volunteer ambulance service and volunteer fire department, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1978. Enhanced 911 service is available in the entire area. Two municipal parks are within the city limits - The North Park provides recreational facilities including lighted tennis courts, lighted baseball diamonds, playground facilities, a YMCA and a band shelter. The South Park is located along the "Smith Creek" waterway and is used extensively for horse shows and various entertainment programs. The English River winds its way just north of Wellman and provides for an abundance of sightseeing, hiking, canoeing and bird watching. The city has one of the few remaining golf courses with sand greens.
of 2000, there were 1,393 people, 549 households, and 372 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,419.6 people per square mile (548.8/km²). There were 570 housing units at an average density of 580.9 per square mile (224.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.71% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 549 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% 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 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,083, and the median income for a family was $40,568. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $23,807 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,430. About 5.8% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
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...
. It part of the Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Iowa City metropolitan area
The Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Iowa anchored by the city of Iowa City...
. The population was 1,393 at the 2000 census.
History
Wellman is named for Joseph Edward Wellman, who in July, 1879, provided 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of his farmland for railroad construction including lots for development near the depot. Mr. Wellman was born in Lawrence County, KentuckyLawrence County, Kentucky
Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 15,569. Its county seat is Louisa. The county is named for James Lawrence, and co-founded by Isaac Bolt, who served as a Lawrence County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. It is the home of...
on 12 May 1824, acquired his farm in 1859, and died in Wellman on 14 January 1901.
Original European settlement of the area occurred in 1839 on the north side of the English River
English River (Iowa)
The English River is a tributary of the Iowa River in southeastern Iowa in the United States. The main stem of the river is long. Including its longest headwaters tributary, the North English River, the total length increases to . Via the Iowa River, it is part of the Mississippi River...
north of Wellman. A gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
began operation in 1842, and the community of Wassonville was surveyed and platted in 1848. The Wassonville ferry served a major territorial road from Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
to Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...
and the western frontier. A roadhouse
Roadhouse (facility)
A roadhouse is a commercial establishment typically built on a major road or highway, to service passing travellers. Its meaning varies slightly by country.-USA:...
had been constructed by 1850 and population grew to 300. Wassonville residents discouraged by frequent flood damage from the English River established the replacement village of Dayton on higher ground south of Wassonville in 1855. Dayton was the main trading point of the area from about 1860 to 1880, and the name was changed to Daytonville by the United States Post Office in 1878.
Construction of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway is a railroad that operated from 1876 to 1903. It had operations in Iowa and in Minnesota. It was succeeded by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway.At least three of its stations apparently survive:...
depot shifted the focus of trade south to Wellman. The City of Wellman was incorporated in 1885, and a city water system was completed in 1896. The volunteer fire department established in 1893 was challenged by a fire which destroyed the east side of Main Street in February, 1902. The railway became part of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
in 1903. The first concrete sidewalk was built in front of the Wellman Savings Bank in 1904 and main street was paved in 1927. The first sewage treatment plant was built in 1940. The first fire truck went into service in August, 1946. Natural gas became available from the Wellman Municipal Gas System in 1963.
Geography
Wellman is located at 41°28′2"N 91°50′9"W (41.467118, -91.835956), in the northwestern corner of the county and in the southeastern part of the state.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 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
Overview
Wellman was founded in 1878 and had a centennial celebration in 1979. It holds an annual, family-oriented 4 July celebration. The city's motto is: "A Town That Cares"The local weekly newspaper is the Wellman Advance. The city is served by its own volunteer ambulance service and volunteer fire department, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1978. Enhanced 911 service is available in the entire area. Two municipal parks are within the city limits - The North Park provides recreational facilities including lighted tennis courts, lighted baseball diamonds, playground facilities, a YMCA and a band shelter. The South Park is located along the "Smith Creek" waterway and is used extensively for horse shows and various entertainment programs. The English River winds its way just north of Wellman and provides for an abundance of sightseeing, hiking, canoeing and bird watching. The city has one of the few remaining golf courses with sand greens.
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 1,393 people, 549 households, and 372 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 1,419.6 people per square mile (548.8/km²). There were 570 housing units at an average density of 580.9 per square mile (224.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.71% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.22% 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 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 549 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% 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 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,083, and the median income for a family was $40,568. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $23,807 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 $17,430. About 5.8% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.