Editing Elgin, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Elgin, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = The Little Switzerland of Iowa
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_map = Fayette_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Elgin_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Elgin, Iowa
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Iowa]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Fayette County, Iowa|Fayette]]
<!-- 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           = 1.76
|area_land_km2            = 1.76
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.68
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.68
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 685
|population_density_km2   = 389.88
|population_density_sq_mi = 1010.32
<!-- 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             = 820
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|57|18|N|91|37|51|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 52141
|area_code                = [[Area code 563|563]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-24645
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2394643<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394643}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Elgin''' is a city in [[Fayette County, Iowa|Fayette County]], [[Iowa]], United States. The population was 685 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>

==Geography==
Elgin is located at the confluence of Otter Creek with the [[Turkey River (Iowa)|Turkey River]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.66|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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

Elgin and the neighboring towns of [[Clermont, Iowa|Clermont]] and [[Wadena, Iowa|Wadena]] made up the Valley Community School district. Due to diminishing class sizes and less aid from the state of Iowa, Valley combined services in 2013 with the nearby North Fayette School district, which comprises the towns of [[West Union, Iowa|West Union]], [[Hawkeye, Iowa|Hawkeye]] and [[Fayette, Iowa|Fayette]] and the combined district is now called North Fayette Valley, with the middle school being in Elgin and the high school located in West Union. The school's mascot is now called the Tigerhawks (from a combination of the two schools' mascots, the Tigers and the Hawks, respectively).

{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= left
|1880|428
|1890|369
|1900|635
|1910|564
|1920|623
|1930|610
|1940|638
|1950|642
|1960|644
|1970|613
|1980|702
|1990|637
|2000|676
|2010|683
|2020|685
|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:ElginIowaPopPlot.png|thumb|left|alt=The population of Elgin, Iowa from US census data|The population of Elgin, Iowa from US census data]]

==History==
The area had previously been the home of [[Sioux]] and [[Ho-Chunk|Winnebago Indians]]. After the 1846 Winnebago Treaty, Indians were forcibly removed from the area by the [[United States Armed Forces|US military]] and moved to [[Minnesota]]. In the summer of 1848, a flood of white settlers arrived. Matthew Conner built a log cabin and general store and the settlement was first called "Shin Bone Valley." Surveyor K. M. Marcks renamed the town "Elgin" in 1851 in honor of his hometown, [[Elgin, Illinois]]. Benjamin Dimond became the postmaster at Elgin in 1852, the [[Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway|Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railway]] came through in 1872, and the ''Elgin Times'' newspaper was established in 1875. The town subsequently became a major destination for Swiss immigrants.<ref>"[https://archive.org/details/cu31924028913980/page/n5/mode/2up The History of Fayette County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c.]." Western Historical Publishing Company. Retrieved on January 24, 2021.</ref>

==Demographics==

===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 685 people, 310 households, and 181 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,009.8 inhabitants per square mile (389.9/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 341 housing units at an average density of 502.7 per square mile (194.1/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 95.8% [[White Americans|White]], 0.3% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 0.6% from other races and 2.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 2.0% of the population.

Of the 310 households, 22.9% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.1% were cohabitating couples, 25.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 22.3% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 41.6% of all households were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 41.3 years. 26.4% of the residents were under the age of 20; 6.0% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 and 44; 22.3% were from 45 and 64; and 23.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% 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 683 people, 318 households, and 191 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1034.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 343 housing units at an average density of {{convert|519.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 318 households, of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.9% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.75.

The median age in the city was 43.8 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% 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 676 people, 327 households, and 182 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,011.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 349 housing units at an average density of {{convert|522.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 99.85% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.15% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.30% of the population.

There were 327 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 29.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,833, and the median income for a family was $38,571. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $21,979 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,225. About 6.9% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Elgin is a part of the [[North Fayette Valley Community School District]]. It was previously a part of the [[Valley Community School District]],<ref>"[https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_VALLEY.pdf Valley]." [[Iowa Department of Education]]. Retrieved on July 29, 2018.</ref> which merged into the North Fayette Valley district on July 1, 2018.<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 July 29, 2018.</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Iowa}}
* [[List of cities in Iowa]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Elgin, Iowa}}
* {{official website|http://www.elginiowa.org}}

{{Fayette County, Iowa}}

{{authority control}}

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