Wilton, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Wilton is a city in Cedar
and Muscatine
Counties in the U.S. state
of Iowa
. The population was 2,839 at the 2010 census. The Muscatine County portion of Wilton is part of the Muscatine
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
The city is served by the Wilton Police Department and Wilton Fire Department. Historic sites include the Wilton Candy Kitchen, which is the oldest ice cream parlor in the world, and the former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad depot built in 1898. Both are in the downtown area and on the National Register of Historic Places
.
(1846) was Mr. Christian Marolf who came in July 1849, and erected of a small log house opposite the German Lutheran
church. When he built his home Mr. Marolf could only see one the home of Mr. Stearns just west of town on the south side of the Moscow road. Mr. Marolf was soon followed by Mr. Ben Maurer in 1850 who's land now comprises North Wilton and Peter Marolf in 1851, which is now known as Marolf's addition. North Wilton is at present (1947) not within the corporate limits of Wilton.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land. The city sits at an elevation of 679 feet.
of 2000, there were 2,842 people, 1,105 households, and 784 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,509.5 people per square mile (584.1/km²). There were 1,141 housing units at an average density of 608.8 per square mile (235.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.74% White, 0.21% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.60% from other races
, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% of the population.
There were 1,105 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,278, and the median income for a family was $49,615. Males had a median income of $37,146 versus $23,350 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,445. About 5.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
The Wilton Community School District, which is home to the Wilton Beavers who play in the Cedar Valley Conference
, serves Wilton, Moscow, and the surrounding rural areas. The school district includes an elementary school and a junior/senior high school.
Private schools
Zion Lutheran
School is a private elementary school that is also located in Wilton, and is a division of Zion Lutheran Church of Wilton.
and Quad-City Times
are available.
Wilton Jr./Sr. High School has a student-run school news website called This Just In, which is maintained during the school year by journalism students. The class also produces a student newspaper called "The Beaver Tale" which is printed monthly during the school year in the Advocate News.
, at the junction of County Highway F58 and Iowa Highway 38, within driving distance of Muscatine
, the Quad Cities
, Iowa City
, and Cedar Rapids
. The Iowa Interstate Railroad
passes through the city and provides service to local industries. Amtrak
is establishing a route from the Quad-Cities to Iowa City
which would pass through Wilton. Once this route is in service there will be stations within driving distance of Wilton. The Quad City International Airport
is 30 miles east of Wilton providing non-stop flights to destinations throughout the country.
Cedar County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,956 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,064 housing units, of which 7,511 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and Muscatine
Muscatine County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 42,745 in the county, with a population density of . There were 17,910 housing units, of which 16,412 were occupied.-2000 census:...
Counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The population was 2,839 at the 2010 census. The Muscatine County portion of Wilton is part of the Muscatine
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Muscatine micropolitan area
The Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in east central Iowa, anchored by the city of Muscatine....
.
The city is served by the Wilton Police Department and Wilton Fire Department. Historic sites include the Wilton Candy Kitchen, which is the oldest ice cream parlor in the world, and the former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad depot built in 1898. Both are in the downtown area and on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The first white settler to build a home the area that was to be known as Wilton in the new state of IowaIowa
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...
(1846) was Mr. Christian Marolf who came in July 1849, and erected of a small log house opposite the German Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
church. When he built his home Mr. Marolf could only see one the home of Mr. Stearns just west of town on the south side of the Moscow road. Mr. Marolf was soon followed by Mr. Ben Maurer in 1850 who's land now comprises North Wilton and Peter Marolf in 1851, which is now known as Marolf's addition. North Wilton is at present (1947) not within the corporate limits of Wilton.
Geography
Wilton is at 41°35′22"N 91°1′3"W (41.589350, -91.017487).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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land. The city sits at an elevation of 679 feet.
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 2,842 people, 1,105 households, and 784 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 1,509.5 people per square mile (584.1/km²). There were 1,141 housing units at an average density of 608.8 per square mile (235.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.74% White, 0.21% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.60% 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 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% of the population.
There were 1,105 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% 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, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,278, and the median income for a family was $49,615. Males had a median income of $37,146 versus $23,350 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 $18,445. About 5.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Witon has a library/community center building in the northeast section of the city, near the high school that provides numerous resources to residents.Parks and recreation
Wilton has four parks. The City Park in the heart of the town has an indoor swimming pool as well as a playground, shelter house, and baseball field. Westview Park is on the west side of town and has tennis courts, playground equipment, a walking path, and a ball field. Elder Park is in the downtown area and has a small picnic area. Cherrydale Park on the southside contains three baseball fields and a playground.Education
Public schoolsThe Wilton Community School District, which is home to the Wilton Beavers who play in the Cedar Valley Conference
Cedar Valley Conference
The Cedar Valley Conference is a high school athletic conference whose members are located in smaller communities in eastern Iowa. The conference roughly spans from the Iowa City metropolitan area area to the west, to Durant in southeastern Cedar County on the east.-Member schools:There are eight...
, serves Wilton, Moscow, and the surrounding rural areas. The school district includes an elementary school and a junior/senior high school.
Private schools
Zion Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
School is a private elementary school that is also located in Wilton, and is a division of Zion Lutheran Church of Wilton.
Media
Wilton-Durant Advocate News is a weekly newspaper in the area. Daily newspapers such as The Muscatine JournalMuscatine Journal
The Muscatine Journal serves 25,000 adult readers in Muscatine and Louisa counties and is delivered to nearly 8,200 homes Monday through Saturday. The Post, its sister shopper publication, is delivered every Tuesday to nearly 16,000 households. Both publications are part of the Quad-Cities Group of...
and Quad-City Times
Quad-City Times
The Quad-City Times is a daily morning newspaper based in Davenport, Iowa, and circulated throughout the Quad Cities metropolitan area ....
are available.
Wilton Jr./Sr. High School has a student-run school news website called This Just In, which is maintained during the school year by journalism students. The class also produces a student newspaper called "The Beaver Tale" which is printed monthly during the school year in the Advocate News.
Transportation
Wilton is three miles (5 km) south of Interstate 80Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
, at the junction of County Highway F58 and Iowa Highway 38, within driving distance of Muscatine
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
, the Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
, 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...
, and Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
. The Iowa Interstate Railroad
Iowa Interstate Railroad
The Iowa Interstate Railroad is a Class II railroad operating in the central United States. The railroad is owned by Railroad Development Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-History:...
passes through the city and provides service to local industries. Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
is establishing a route from the Quad-Cities to 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...
which would pass through Wilton. Once this route is in service there will be stations within driving distance of Wilton. The Quad City International Airport
Quad City International Airport
Quad City International Airport is a public airport located three miles south of the central business district of Moline, a city in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. It is owned by the Metropolitan Airport Authority...
is 30 miles east of Wilton providing non-stop flights to destinations throughout the country.
Utilities
Electricity is provided by Wilton Municipal Light and Power Company and water by the city water department, which operates its own water treatment plant. The city has a 500,000 gallon water tower on the west side of town near the industrial park, and another 300,000-gallon tower in the center of the city.Healthcare
Trinity Medical Center in Muscatine has a "physicians' clinic" located in Wilton. The closest hospitals are located in Muscatine (Trinity-Muscatine), the Quad Cities (Genesis West, Trinity-Bettendorf), and Iowa City (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Mercy Hospital).Notable people
- Wally HilgenbergWally HilgenbergWalter Hilgenberg was a professional American football player.Hilgenberg was born in Marshalltown, Iowa in 1942. His family moved to Wilton where he grew up and graduated from Wilton High School....
played in NFL for the Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and Super Bowls with Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
relationship to THIS city
External links
- Portal website to Wilton City of Wilton, Chamber of Commerce, Community events and development
- IaGenWeb Wilton History 1854–1947
- City Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Wilton, Iowa