Westfield, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Westfield is a city in Plymouth County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 189 at the 2000 census. It is the westernmost point in Iowa, this being due to a bend in the Big Sioux River
. A sign on the highway says "In Iowa, West Is The Best". The nearby Broken Kettle wildlife refuge is one of the few places in Iowa where rattlesnakes are commonly found.
Westfield is the purported home town of the central character, Jack Smurch, in James Thurber
's 1931 short story "The Greatest Man in the World." In the story, the fictional Smurch flies a second-hand, single-motored monoplane in July 1937 all the way around the world, without stopping.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 189 people, 74 households, and 54 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,438.3 people per square mile (561.3/km²). There were 85 housing units at an average density of 646.9 per square mile (252.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.42% White, 3.70% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.53% from other races
, and 5.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.12% of the population.
There were 74 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 110.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,929, and the median income for a family was $35,833. Males had a median income of $29,000 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,211. About 3.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five 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 189 at the 2000 census. It is the westernmost point in Iowa, this being due to a bend in the Big Sioux River
Big Sioux River
The Big Sioux River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long, in eastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa in the United States. The United States Board on Geographic Names settled on "Big Sioux River" as the stream's name in 1961....
. A sign on the highway says "In Iowa, West Is The Best". The nearby Broken Kettle wildlife refuge is one of the few places in Iowa where rattlesnakes are commonly found.
Westfield is the purported home town of the central character, Jack Smurch, in James Thurber
James Thurber
James Grover Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories published in The New Yorker magazine.-Life:...
's 1931 short story "The Greatest Man in the World." In the story, the fictional Smurch flies a second-hand, single-motored monoplane in July 1937 all the way around the world, without stopping.
Geography
Westfield is located at 42°45′21"N 96°36′15"W (42.755884, -96.604050).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 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 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 189 people, 74 households, and 54 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 1,438.3 people per square mile (561.3/km²). There were 85 housing units at an average density of 646.9 per square mile (252.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.42% White, 3.70% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.53% 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 5.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.12% of the population.
There were 74 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% 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, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 110.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,929, and the median income for a family was $35,833. Males had a median income of $29,000 versus $17,500 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 $15,211. About 3.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.