Editing Early, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Early, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = "Crossroads Of The Nation"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.earlyia.com/|title= City of Early, Iowa|publisher= City of Early, Iowa|access-date= September 2, 2012}}</ref>
|image_skyline            = early iowa.jpg
|image_caption            = Street scene in Early
|image_map = Sac_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Early_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Early, Iowa
|pushpin_map              = USA Iowa#USA
|pushpin_label            = Early
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location within Iowa##Location within the United States
|pushpin_relief           = yes
<!-- 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        = [[Sac County, Iowa|Sac]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of Iowa townships|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Boyer Valley Township, Sac County, Iowa|Boyer Valley]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|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_km2           = 1.01
|area_land_km2            = 1.01
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.39
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.39
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 587
|population_density_km2   = 582.26
|population_density_sq_mi = 1509.00
<!-- 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             = 1339
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|27|40|N|95|09|09|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 50535
|area_code                = [[Area code 712|712]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-23475
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2394595<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394595}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.earlyia.com/ City of Early, Iowa]
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Early''' is a city in [[Sac County, Iowa|Sac County]], [[Iowa]], United States. The population was 587 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=12 August 2021}}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:EarlyIA Sign.jpg|thumb|Sign welcoming visitors to Early]]
Early was incorporated on May 22, 1883,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=7301|title= Early, Iowa
|publisher= City-Data.com|access-date= September 2, 2012}}</ref> and is named after D.C. Early, a local settler.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=7301|title= Profile for Early, Iowa, IA|publisher= ePodunk|access-date= September 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Chicago and North Western Railway Company|title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA66|year=1908|page=66}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.39|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=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= left
|1890|277
|1900|579
|1910|500
|1920|568
|1930|632
|1940|644
|1950|742
|1960|824
|1970|727
|1980|670
|1990|649
|2000|605
|2010|557
|2020|587
|source={{center|U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name=cen2020/>}}|footnote=Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|title=U.S. Census website|access-date=2020-03-29}} and [http://data.iowadatacenter.org/datatables/PlacesAll/plpopulation18502000.pdf Iowa Data Center]
}}
[[File:EarlyIowaPopPlot.png|thumb|left|alt=The population of Early, Iowa from US census data|The population of Early, Iowa from US census data]]

Early's "claim to fame" is that it is the Crossroads of the Nation, because [[U.S. Highway 71]] and [[U.S. Route 20 in Iowa|U.S. Route 20]] intersect there.

===2020 census===
As of the [[United States census|census]] of 2020,<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-census-main.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 587 people, 247 households, and 157 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,508.0 inhabitants per square mile (582.3/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 275 housing units at an average density of 706.5 per square mile (272.8/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 89.4% [[White Americans|White]], 1.9% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.7% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.0% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.9% from other races and 6.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 4.4% of the population.

Of the 247 households, 27.1% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.9% were cohabitating couples, 24.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 18.2% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 36.4% of all households were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 36.9 years. 25.9% of the residents were under the age of 20; 7.7% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 and 44; 28.3% were from 45 and 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-05-11}}</ref> of 2010, there were 557 people, 246 households, and 146 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1428.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 287 housing units at an average density of {{convert|735.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.5% of the population.

There were 246 households, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.7% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 40.9 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 605 people, 258 households, and 166 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,532.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 293 housing units at an average density of {{convert|742.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.03% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.66% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.17% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.31% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.83% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.13% of the population.

There were 258 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.97.

27.8% were under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,972, and the median income for a family was $40,521. Males had a median income of $27,778 versus $18,929 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,317. About 8.1% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Early is a part of the [[Schaller-Crestland Community School District]].<ref>"[https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_SCHALLER-CRESTLAND.pdf Schaller-Crestland]." [[Iowa Department of Education]]. Retrieved on November 3, 2018.</ref> The district formed on July 1, 1993, by the merger of the Schaller Community School District and the Crestland Community School District. Schaller-Crestland's nickname is the Wildcats, and their school colors are black, white, and gold.<ref name=Mergerlist>"[https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/District%20Reorganization%20History%20final.pdf REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66]." [[Iowa Department of Education]]. Retrieved on November 3, 2018.</ref>

Prior to consolidation with Nemaha, the Early Community School District had been known as the Cardinals, and their school colors were red and black. In 1958, the Early Community School and the Nemaha Community School merged to become the Crestland Community School District. The new district adopted the Cadets as their nickname, and their school colors were black and white. Nemaha had been known as the Bluejays; their school colors were blue and white.

In 2010, Schaller-Crestland began whole grade sharing with Galva-Holstein School district. The elementary schools stayed separated, with students going to Schaller, Galva and Holstein respectively. Grades 6-8 were moved from Galva and Schaller respectively to the Early high school. Grades 9-12 were moved to Holstein's High School. Their Mascot is now the Raptors and their School Colors are Black, Gold and Orange.

==Song==

The city is the topic of the song "Early", by folk musician [[Greg Brown (folk musician)|Greg Brown]].  It appears on his album ''44 & 66'', released in 1980.

==Murder of Dustin Wehde==
In August 2011, Tracey Ann Richter was charged with first-degree murder and was convicted by a jury in November 2011. On June 1, 2012, [[Dateline NBC]] aired a two-hour episode titled "Twisted", about the 2001 shooting death of Early resident Dustin Wehde. Tracey Richter, a neighbor of Wehde's, was convicted of first-degree murder on November 7, 2011, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole [Case No. FECR011900]. Richter appealed her conviction.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ktiv.com/story/18679350/dateline-nbc-ktiv | work=KTIV.com | title=In Dateline NBC interview Richter denies plot to murder Wehde | date=June 1, 2012 | access-date=June 1, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603190242/http://www.ktiv.com/story/18679350/dateline-nbc-ktiv | archive-date=June 3, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.messengernews.net/page/content.detail/id/548534/Murder-victim-s-mother-on--Today-.html?nav=5001 | work=KTIV.com | title=Murder victim's mother on 'Today' | date=June 1, 2012 | access-date=June 1, 2012}}</ref>  On January 9, 2013, the [[Iowa Court of Appeals]] upheld the conviction of Tracey Ann Richter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Ashley|title=Appeals court denies Richter's murder appeal|url=http://www.stormlakepilottribune.com/story/1930541.html|publisher=Pilot Tribune|access-date=3 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403153237/http://www.stormlakepilottribune.com/story/1930541.html|archive-date=3 April 2014|date=11 January 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.earlyia.com/ City of Early, Iowa Website] Portal style website, Government, Business, Library, Recreation and more
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Early-Iowa.html City-Data.com] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Early

{{Sac County, Iowa}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Sac County, Iowa]]