Editing Altoona, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Altoona, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 =
|motto                    =
<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Altoona Tower 2 - panoramio.jpg
|image_caption            = Altoona water tower
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =
|image_blank_emblem       = AltoonaIAlogo.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|blank_emblem_size        = 130px
|image_map                = Polk_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Altoona_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within [[Polk County, Iowa|Polk County]] and [[Iowa]]
|image_map1               = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=250|frame-height=250|frame-align=center|stroke-width=2|zoom=10|type=shape-inverse|stroke-color=#808080|fill=#808080|title=Altoona|id=Q444186|fill-opacity=0.4|frame-coordinates={{Coord|41.65|-93.4725}}}}
|map_caption1             = Interactive map of Altoona
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = [[USA]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Iowa]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Polk County, Iowa|Polk]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Iowa|Townships]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Clay Township, Polk County, Iowa|Clay]], [[Delaware Township, Polk County, Iowa|Delaware]], [[Douglas Township, Polk County, Iowa|Douglas]]
<!-- Government -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         =
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        =
|named_for                =
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          =
|leader_title             =
|leader_name              =
<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_19.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 11.69
|area_land_sq_mi          = 11.68
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
|area_total_km2           = 30.28
|area_land_km2            = 30.25
|area_water_km2           = 0.03
|unit_pref                = Imperial
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_rank          = [[List of largest Iowa cities by population|26th]] in Iowa
|population_total         = 19565
|population_density_km2   = 646.76
|population_density_sq_mi = 1675.09
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 958
|coordinates              = {{Coord|41|39|0|N|93|28|21|W|region:US-IA_type:city(20,000)|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 50009
|area_code                = [[Area code 515|515]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-01630
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2393939<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393939}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.altoona-iowa.com/|altoona-iowa.com}}
}}

'''Altoona''' is a city in [[Polk County, Iowa|Polk County]], [[Iowa]], United States, and part of the [[Des Moines metropolitan area]]. The population was 19,565 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=cen2020>{{cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref>  It is home to the [[Adventureland (Iowa)|Adventureland]] amusement park and [[Prairie Meadows]] horse racing track and [[casino]].

==History==
Anthony Yant first settled in what is now Altoona in 1854, the same year Gilbert T. Taylor settled there. The land was originally surveyed in 1847 and put up for sale by the US government in 1848, but it took six years to sell. After many sales between different families, the Davis family ended up with the land on February 1, 1868.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

The Davises hired surveyor Julian B. Bausman to lay out the city. He is also credited for giving the city the current name. Altoona is named for the [[Latin]] word for "high," ''altus'', after surveyor Julian B. Bausman discovered Altoona was the highest point on the [[Des Moines Valley Railroad]] between [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] and [[Keokuk, Iowa|Keokuk]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Henning|first=Barbara Beving Long|author2=Patrice K. Beam|year=2003|title=Des Moines and Polk County: Flag on the Prairie|publisher=American Historical Press|location=Sun Valley, California|isbn=1-892724-34-0}}</ref>

The plot was recorded on July 30, 1868, and the Post office opened the next day. When the [[Rock Island Railroad]] came to Altoona in September of that year, they referred to Altoona as Yant, the city's original name.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Altoona was incorporated as a city on March 11, 1876.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pate |first1=Paul D. |title=List of Incorporated Cities |url=https://sos.iowa.gov/business/pdf/IncCities.pdf |publisher=Iowa Secretary of State |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>

In addition to serving as Altoona's first mayor, Francis English was the town doctor.<ref name="Payne 2018">{{cite book|last=Payne|first=Alex|year=2018|title=Rising to New Heights: 150 Years of Altoona History|publisher=Donning Company Publishers|location=Brookfield, Missouri|isbn=978-1-68184-191-5}}</ref> After the great train crash of 1877, English rushed to the scene.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mills |first1=George |title=1877 train crash worst in D.M. area |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-1877-train-wreck/28013054/ |access-date=20 September 2024 |work=The Des Moines Register}}</ref>

Altoona's second mayor was Thomas Haines, who operated the T.E. Haines tile and brick company. Haines donated land to the city of Altoona to be used as a park, now known as Haines Park.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Harrison and Carroll, Ohio |url=https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio00jhb/page/1088/mode/2up |publisher=J.H. Beers & Co |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>

The only other mayor of Altoona to have a park dedicated to him is Sam Wise, noted for paving the streets of Altoona, and building a sewer system that was advanced for its time and allowed for future expansion. His dedication to Altoona's parks led to the city's sports complex being named the "Sam Wise Youth Complex."<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Wise |url=https://altoonahistory.org/samwise/ |publisher=Altoona Area Historical Society |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>

By the turn of the 20th century, Altoona could almost be classified as a coal camp. [[United Mine Workers of America]] Local 407 was organized in Altoona in 1897, and by 1902, it had 61 members. This was close to 20 percent of the town's population at the time.<ref>Trade Unions in Iowa – Table No. 1, Mine Workers of America, United, [https://books.google.com/books?id=5dooAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA232 Tenth Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the State of Iowa, 1901–1902], Murphy, Des Moines, 1903; page 232.</ref>

On May 5, 2003, the Altoona City Council recognized the Altoona Area Historical Society as the city's official organization to collect, secure, and preserve the artifacts and records of the city of Altoona and surrounding areas.  In 2011 the Altoona Area Historical Society started major renovation work on the interior of Altoona's oldest building. The building is now a museum.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

In 2013, construction began for a new [[Facebook]] data center. Facebook asked local company RPM Access to build and operate a wind farm that will put more energy into the system than the data center will consume.<ref>{{cite web|last=Coldewey|first=Devin|title=www.nbcnews.com/technology/wind-farm-meets-server-farm-latest-facebook-data-center-2D11591372|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/wind-farm-meets-server-farm-latest-facebook-data-center-2D11591372|work=NBC News|access-date=November 14, 2013}}</ref>

In February 2016, the Cinemark Altoona theater was opened.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Patt |title=New theater opens Thursday in Altoona |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2016/02/09/new-theater-opens-thursday-altoona/80002742/ |publisher=The Des Moines Register |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>

In October 2017, the [[Outlets of Des Moines]] were opened.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Patt |title=Outlet mall fulfills decades-long dream for eastern Polk County |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/new-business/2017/10/16/outlet-mall-fulfills-decades-long-dream-eastern-polk-county/759440001/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=The Des Moines Register |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|9.35|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012  }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|align=right
|1880= 400
|1890= 326
|1900= 328
|1910= 438
|1920= 502
|1930= 514
|1940= 640
|1950= 763
|1960= 1458
|1970= 2883
|1980= 5764
|1990= 7242
|2000= 10345
|2010= 14541
|2020= 19565
|footnote=[http://data.iowadatacenter.org/datatables/PlacesAll/plpopulation18502000.pdf Iowa Data Center]
}}
[[File:AltoonaIowaPopPlot.png|thumb|right|alt=The population of Altoona, Iowa from US census data|The population of Altoona, Iowa from US census data]]

===2020 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="U.S. Census QuickFacts">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/altoonacityiowa|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 30, 2023}}</ref><ref name ="2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics">{{cite web|title=2020 Census Demographic Profile|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1901630&y=2020&d=DEC+Demographic+and+Housing+Characteristics|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 30, 2023}}</ref><ref name ="2020 Census Demographic Profile">{{cite web|title=2020 Census Demographic Profile|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1901630&y=2020&d=DEC+Demographic+Profile|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 30, 2023}}</ref> of 2020, there were 19,565 people, 7,575 households, and 5,166 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,675.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 8,007 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 86.5% [[White Americans|White]], 4.0% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.3% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.7% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.2% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.0% from other races, and 6.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 4.9% of the population.

There were 7,575 households, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 24.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, 15.5% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 6.7% were cohabitating couples. 31.8% of all households were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The median age in the city was 36.7 years. 28.2% of residents were under the age of 20; 5.8% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 27.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 14.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name ="www.census.gov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 11, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 14,541 people, 5,459 households, and 3,945 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1555.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,702 housing units at an average density of {{convert|609.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.9% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 5,459 households, of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 33.7 years. 30% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.4% were from 25 to 44; 23.1% were from 45 to 64; and 9.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website  }}</ref> of 2000, there were 10,345 people, 3,850 households, and 2,895 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,835.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,959 housing units at an average density of {{convert|557.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.11% White, 0.92% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.

There were 3,850 households, out of which 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.

Age spread: 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,162, and the median income for a family was $58,306. Males had a median income of $36,030 versus $28,205 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,336. About 4.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Altoona (along with nearby [[Runnells, Iowa|Runnells]], [[Mitchellville, Iowa|Mitchellville]], and parts of [[Pleasant Hill, Iowa|Pleasant Hill]] and [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]]) is part of the [[Southeast Polk Community School District]], and its students attend Southeast Polk High School. The town is home to four of the district's eight elementary schools: Altoona, Centennial, Clay, and Willowbrook. The Altoona Elementary building also was the town's high school until it joined the Southeast Polk consolidation in 1962.

==Transportation==
Transit in the city is provided by [[Des Moines Area Regional Transit]]. Routes 17 and 99 provide bus service connecting the city to the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ridedart.com/sites/default/files/System%20route%20map%20DART%20On%20Demand%20zoneArtboard%201-80.jpg|title=DART System Map|access-date=August 28, 2023}}</ref>

== Notable people ==

*[[John Falsey]] (1951–2019), writer, director, and producer of TV shows such as ''[[Northern Exposure]]''
* [[John Houbolt]] (1919–2014), [[Aerospace engineer]] promoted the lunar mission mode for going to the Moon and back
* [[Geri Huser]] (born 1963), [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Iowa House of Representatives|Iowa House representative]]
* [[Kyle Orton]] (born 1982), [[NFL]] [[quarterback]].
* [[Ed Skinner]] (1936–2015), Iowa lawyer and legislator
* [[Neal Edward Smith]] (1920–2021), former [[United States House of Representatives|US Representative]] from Iowa and an author
* [[Jamie Solinger]], [[Miss Iowa Teen USA]] 1992, [[Miss Teen USA 1992]], [[Miss Iowa USA]] 1998

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}<!--for current and future use if material is uploaded-->
{{Portal|Iowa}} 
*{{Official website|https://www.altoona-iowa.com/}}

{{Polk County, Iowa}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Polk County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1876]]
[[Category:Des Moines metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1876 establishments in Iowa]]