Editing Iowa Falls, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Iowa Falls, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = The Scenic City
|image_skyline            = Iowa falls iowa.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Downtown Iowa Falls in 2009
|image_map                = Hardin_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Iowa_Falls_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Iowa Falls, Iowa
<!-- 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        = [[Hardin County, Iowa|Hardin]]
<!-- 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           = 14.15
|area_land_km2            = 13.95
|area_water_km2           = 0.20
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.46
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.39
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.08
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 5106
|population_density_km2   = 366.06
|population_density_sq_mi = 948.01
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 337
|elevation_ft             = 1106
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|31|N|93|16|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 50126
|area_code                = [[Area code 641|641]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-38640
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2395433<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395433}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.cityofiowafalls.com/ www.cityofiowafalls.com]
|footnotes                = 
}}
[[File:-FI0005979.jpg|alt=Main Street, Iowa Falls, Iowa, 1915|thumb|Main Street, Iowa Falls, Iowa, 1915]]
'''Iowa Falls''' is a city in [[Hardin County, Iowa|Hardin County]], [[Iowa]], United States. Iowa Falls is the home of [[Ellsworth Community College]]. It is also a regional transportation center, located along U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 20 in Iowa|20]] and [[U.S. Route 65 in Iowa|65]] and the [[Canadian National Railway|Canadian National]] and [[Union Pacific]] Railroads. The population was 5,106 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>

==History==
Iowa Falls was laid out and [[plat]]ted in 1856.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Mk40AQAAMAAJ | title=History of Hardin County, Iowa | publisher=Union Publishing Company | year=1883 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Mk40AQAAMAAJ/page/n713 732]}}</ref> Prior to being named Iowa Falls, the area had been known as Rocksylvania. However, due to the difficulty of pronunciation and spelling, it was then changed to Iowa Falls.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Settlement Era |url=http://www.iafalls.com/historic/settlement.html |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=www.iafalls.com}}</ref> It was named from the falls on the [[Iowa River]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n154 165]}}</ref>

The Illinois Central Railroad was built through Iowa Falls in 1866.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_mBw_AQAAMAAJ | title=Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa | publisher=Unigraphic | author=Moir, William J. | year=1911 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_mBw_AQAAMAAJ/page/n252 250]}}</ref>

The [[Metropolitan Opera House (Iowa Falls, Iowa)|Metropolitan Opera House]] was built in 1899, it presented plays, operas, and vaudeville in the town during the first half of the twentieth century, and is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

The Iowa Falls Popcorn Stand, located in Estes Park, is the oldest popcorn stand in Iowa that is still running.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Popcorn Stand {{!}} An Iowa Falls Tradition |url=http://www.thepopcornstand.com/#:~:text=Iowa's%20oldest%20running%20popcorn%20stand,in%20Iowa%20Falls%20since%201948. |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=www.thepopcornstand.com}}</ref> It was first opened on May 29, 1948 as "Louie's Korn Krib."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Popcorn Stand {{!}} A long standing tradition |url=http://www.thepopcornstand.com/history.html |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=www.thepopcornstand.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.44|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|5.36|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.08|sqmi|sqkm|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/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

Iowa Falls is located at the point where the [[Iowa River]] flows through a limestone gorge {{convert|70|ft|m|2}} deep between bluffs that rise another {{convert|50|ft|m|2}}.  The falls themselves were also known as the "rapids of the Iowa."<ref>Samuel Walker Beyer, [https://pubs.lib.uiowa.edu/igsar/article/id/1100/ Geology of Hardin County], Iowa Geological Annual Report 10(1) 1899; pages 241-314, see particularly 254-255.</ref>  The falls are now submerged by a [[dam]] built in 1926 that is {{convert|26|ft|m|2}} feet high and 200 feet long and serves a [[hydroelectric power station]] that currently generates 1.5MW.<ref>[https://www.iowawhitewater.org/lhd/LHDiowafalls.html Iowa Falls Hydro Dam], Iowa Whitewater Coalition, 23 Jan. 2018.</ref><ref>Dam data sheet, [http://renewableworldenergies.com/sites/default/files/Iowa%20Falls.pdf Iowa Falls, State ID #1304], Renewable World Energies, 10 Sep. 2015.</ref>

===Climate===

According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Iowa Falls has a [[hot-summer humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

{{Weather box
|location = Iowa Falls, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F = 68
|Feb record high F = 68
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 97
|May record high F = 107
|Jun record high F = 107
|Jul record high F = 111
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 70
|year record high =

|Jan avg record high F = 46.6
|Feb avg record high F = 51.7
|Mar avg record high F = 67.5
|Apr avg record high F = 81.4
|May avg record high F = 87.4
|Jun avg record high F = 91.8
|Jul avg record high F = 92.6
|Aug avg record high F = 90.6
|Sep avg record high F = 89.0
|Oct avg record high F = 82.5
|Nov avg record high F = 67.2
|Dec avg record high F = 51.1
|year avg record high F = 94.1

|Jan high F = 25.7
|Feb high F = 30.6
|Mar high F = 43.5
|Apr high F = 58.3
|May high F = 69.9
|Jun high F = 79.9
|Jul high F = 82.9
|Aug high F = 80.8
|Sep high F = 74.8
|Oct high F = 61.7
|Nov high F = 45.0
|Dec high F = 31.5
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 16.9
|Feb mean F = 21.3
|Mar mean F = 33.9
|Apr mean F = 46.8
|May mean F = 58.8
|Jun mean F = 69.1
|Jul mean F = 72.6
|Aug mean F = 70.2
|Sep mean F = 62.7
|Oct mean F = 50.0
|Nov mean F = 35.3
|Dec mean F = 23.2
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 8.1
|Feb low F = 12.1
|Mar low F = 24.4
|Apr low F = 35.3
|May low F = 47.7
|Jun low F = 58.4
|Jul low F = 62.2
|Aug low F = 59.7
|Sep low F = 50.6
|Oct low F = 38.3
|Nov low F = 25.6
|Dec low F = 14.9
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -14.2
|Feb avg record low F = -8.7
|Mar avg record low F = 3.1
|Apr avg record low F = 21.5
|May avg record low F = 33.5
|Jun avg record low F = 46.7
|Jul avg record low F = 51.9
|Aug avg record low F = 49.9
|Sep avg record low F = 36.0
|Oct avg record low F = 23.2
|Nov avg record low F = 8.9
|Dec avg record low F = -6.0
|year avg record low F = -17.2

|Jan record low F = -34
|Feb record low F = -32
|Mar record low F = -31
|Apr record low F = 3
|May record low F = 18
|Jun record low F = 34
|Jul record low F = 36
|Aug record low F = 31
|Sep record low F = 19
|Oct record low F = -5
|Nov record low F = -13
|Dec record low F = -31
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.92
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.16
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.08
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.80
|May precipitation inch = 5.57
|Jun precipitation inch = 6.13
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.54
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.37
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.49
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.56
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.97
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.54
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 7.1
|Feb snow inch = 7.1
|Mar snow inch = 4.5
|Apr snow inch = 1.3
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 1.6
|Dec snow inch = 6.1
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.7
|Feb precipitation days = 6.2
|Mar precipitation days = 7.5
|Apr precipitation days = 10.6
|May precipitation days = 12.8
|Jun precipitation days = 11.5
|Jul precipitation days = 8.8
|Aug precipitation days = 9.4
|Sep precipitation days = 8.3
|Oct precipitation days = 8.5
|Nov precipitation days = 6.6
|Dec precipitation days = 7.1

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 5.0
|Feb snow days = 4.4
|Mar snow days = 2.2
|Apr snow days = 0.7
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 1.3
|Dec snow days = 4.6

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&location=IA&station=USC00134142
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = July 27, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=dmx
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = July 27, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= left
|1880|955
|1890|1796
|1900|2840
|1910|2797
|1920|3954
|1930|4112
|1940|4425
|1950|4900
|1960|5565
|1970|6454
|1980|6174
|1990|5435
|2000|5193
|2010|5238
|2020|5106
|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]
}}

===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 5,106 people, 2,146 households, and 1,235 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 948.1 inhabitants per square mile (366.1/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 2,422 housing units at an average density of 449.7 per square mile (173.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 89.1% [[White Americans|White]], 1.1% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.4% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.9% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 3.4% from other races and 5.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 6.6% of the population.

Of the 2,146 households, 26.1% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.3% were cohabitating couples, 30.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 20.8% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 42.5% of all households were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 40.7 years. 24.1% of the residents were under the age of 20; 8.4% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 21.8% were from 25 and 44; 21.9% were from 45 and 64; and 23.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 5,238 people, 2,207 households, and 1,295 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|977.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,462 housing units at an average density of {{convert|459.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makup]] of the city was 94.0% White, 2.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9%.<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 the 2,207 households 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.3% were non-families. 37.1% of households were one person and 18.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age was 40.9 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 5,193 people, 2,215 households, and 1,331 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,043.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,412 housing units at an average density of {{convert|484.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makup]] of the city was 97.34% White, 1.21% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.42% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04%.<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 2,215 households 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 34.6% of households were one person and 18.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.81.

The age distribution was20.3% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% that were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median household income was $32,141 and the median family income  was $42,279. Males had a median income of $31,216 versus $21,004 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,330. About 7.1% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[Iowa Select Farms]], Iowa's largest hog producer, is headquartered in Iowa Falls.

==Education==
[[Iowa Falls Community School District]] operates public schools.

==Radio and Cable broadcasting==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2007}}

KIFG (Iowa River Radio) 95.3 FM, 1510 AM.
An over-the-air [[Cable television|cable]] system existed in Iowa Falls, similar to one in [[Iron Mountain, Michigan]]. A list of channels and what they rebroadcast:

{|
|----- valign="top"
|
* K19DX ([[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]])
* K33ED ([[Nickelodeon]])
* K35EG ([[TBS (TV network)|TBS]])
|
* K45EF ([[TLC (TV channel)|TLC]])
* K49DZ ([[Country Music Television|CMT]])
* K51EP ([[A&E Network|A&E]])
|
* K55EG ([[Turner Classic Movies|TCM]])
* K57GN
* K59FM ([[CNN Headline News|Headline News]])
|}

==Notable people==
* [[Nick Collison]], [[NBA]] basketball player
* [[Joseph Gomer (pilot)|Joseph Gomer]], Tuskegee airman
* [[Kurt Ploeger]], former NFL player
* [[Bill Riley Sr.]], television personality
* [[Randy Schultz]] former NFL player
* [[Jim Trickey]], football player
* [[Christopher Whitesell]], writer
* [[Jim Whitesell]], basketball coach
* [[John Whitesell]], Hollywood director
* [[Patrick Whitesell]], Hollywood agent and co-CEO of [[William Morris Agency|WME Entertainment]]
* [[Sean Whitesell]], actor, writer, producer

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Hardin County, Iowa]]
*[[St. Matthew's by the Bridge Episcopal Church]]
*[[Metropolitan Opera House (Iowa Falls, Iowa)]]

==References==

<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category|Iowa Falls, Iowa}}
* [http://www.cityofiowafalls.com City website]
{{Hardin County, Iowa}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Iowa Falls, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Hardin County, Iowa]]
[[Category:1856 establishments in Iowa]]