Editing Eldon, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Eldon, Iowa
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = EldonCollage.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = Clockwise from top left: Downtown viewing (Elm Street), [[Eldon Carnegie Public Library]], and the Dibble House otherwise known as the [[American Gothic House]]
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Wapello_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Eldon_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of Eldon, Iowa
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Iowa}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Wapello County, Iowa|Wapello]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| 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           = 2.85
| area_land_km2            = 2.83
| area_water_km2           = 0.02
| area_total_sq_mi         = 1.10
| area_land_sq_mi          = 1.09
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 783
| population_density_km2   = 276.36
| population_density_sq_mi = 715.72
| 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             = 630
| coordinates              = {{coord|40|55|05|N|92|13|05|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 52554
| area_code                = [[Area code 641|641]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 19-24420
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2394637<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394637}}</ref>
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
}}

'''Eldon''' is a city in [[Wapello County, Iowa]], United States. The population was 783 at the time of 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> It is the home of the small [[Carpenter Gothic]] style [[American Gothic House|house]] that served as the backdrop for Grant Wood's 1930 painting, [[American Gothic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Departments and Officials of Wapello County, Iowa |url=https://www.wapellocounty.org/departments/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.wapellocounty.org |language=en}}</ref>

Other historic sities include the Historic [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad|Rock Island Railway]] depot, the [[Eldon Public Library|Eldon Carnegie Public Library]] and the Historic [[McHaffey Opera House]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eldon, Iowa {{!}} South Central Iowa {{!}} Travel Iowa {{!}} #ThisIsIowa |url=https://www.traveliowa.com/cities/eldon-iowa/869/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=www.traveliowa.com}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:FI0013408.jpg|alt=Main Street, Eldon, Iowa|left|thumb|Main Street around 1910]]
Eldon got its start in the year 1870, following construction of the [[Keokuk and Des Moines Railway]] through the territory.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SHcUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA283 | title=History of Wapello County, Iowa, Volume 1 | publisher=S. J. Clarke Publishing Company | author=Waterman, Harrison Lyman | year=1914 | pages=283}}</ref> It was incorporated in 1872.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V1M0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA139 | title=History of Wapello County, Iowa, and Representative Citizens | publisher=Higginson Book Company | author=Evans, Samuel B. | year=1901 | pages=139}}</ref>

[[Roseanne Barr]] and [[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]], who was born in nearby [[Ottumwa, Iowa|Ottumwa]], operated Roseanne and Tom's Big Food Diner in Eldon from 1993 to 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=TV Acres |url=https://www.tvacres.com/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=TV Acres |language=en-US}}</ref>

Eldon is also the home of the Wapello County Fair which began in 1868.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wapello County Fair Eldon, Iowa |url=https://wapellocountyfair.com/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=wapellocountyfair.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Eldon, Iowa (11004357303).jpg|thumb|left|Aerial photo of Eldon (2013).]]
Eldon is located in the southeast corner of Wapello County eleven miles southeast of [[Ottumwa, Iowa|Ottumwa]] on the northeast bank of the [[Des Moines River]] across the river from the [[Soap Creek (Des Moines River tributary)|Soap creek]] confluence. [[Iowa Highway 16]] passes through the community. The Eldon Water Management Area is across the river in adjacent [[Davis County, Iowa|Davis County]] two miles to the southwest along Soap Creek.<ref>''Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer,'' DeLorme, 7th ed., 2021, pp. 59–60 {{isbn|1946494003}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.12|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.11|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm ha|2}} is water.<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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

== Education ==

Eldon is served by the [[Cardinal Community School District]] which has its campus 2.5 miles north of the town in rural [[Wapello County, Iowa|Wapello County]].

Eldon is consolidated with the towns of [[Agency, Iowa|Agency]], [[Batavia, Iowa|Batavia]], and the unincorporated communities of [[Selma, Iowa|Selma]] and [[Bladensburg, Iowa|Bladensburg]] within the Cardinal Community School District.

Cardinal Schools mascot is the "Comet". The Cardinal athletic teams participate in the [[South Central Conference (Iowa)|South Central Conference]].

==Demographics==
{{stack|
{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= right
|1880|729
|1890|1725
|1900|1850
|1910|2024
|1920|2091
|1930|1788
|1940|1676
|1950|1457
|1960|1386
|1970|1319
|1980|1255
|1990|1070
|2000|998
|2010|927
|2020|783
|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:EldonIowaPopPlot.png|thumb|right|upright=1.2|alt=The population of Eldon, Iowa from US census data|The population of Eldon, Iowa from US census data]]

===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 783 people, 361 households, and 210 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 715.8 inhabitants per square mile (276.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 404 housing units at an average density of 369.3 per square mile (142.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 94.4% [[White Americans|White]], 0.0% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.0% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 0.4% from other races and 5.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 3.1% of the population.

Of the 361 households, 26.3% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.2% were cohabitating couples, 30.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 21.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 41.8% of all households were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 45.3 years. 24.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.0% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 and 44; 27.8% were from 45 and 64; and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] 927 people, 406 households, and 260 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|835.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The 448 housing units had an average density of {{convert|403.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makup]] of the city was 98.4% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1%.<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 406 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 15% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28, and the average family size was 2.84.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

The median age was 42.3 years old. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 19.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] 998 people, 438 households, and 275 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|884.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 470 housing units had an average density of {{convert|416.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 98.20% White, 0.40% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50%.<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 the 438 households 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.7% of households were one person and 18.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

The age distribution was 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

The median household income was $26,950 and the median family income was $37,250. Males had a median income of $29,261 versus $20,573 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,495. About 11.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
[[File:Grant Wood - American Gothic - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[American Gothic]]'' by Grant Wood]]

==National Register of Historic Places==
In addition to the [[American Gothic House|''American Gothic'' House]], the following properties are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:

*[[Big 4 Fair Art Hall]]
*[[Eldon Public Library]]
*[[McHaffey Opera House]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{Portal|Iowa}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090618032007/http://www.wapellocounty.org/americangothic/index.htm American Gothic House Center site] Has links to area attractions
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Eldon-Iowa.html City Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Eldon
* [http://cardinalcomet.com/ Cardinal Community School District]

{{Wapello County, Iowa}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Wapello County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1870]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Iowa]]