Editing Mount Pleasant, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Mount Pleasant, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = Pursuing excellence

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Mount pleasant iowa.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Main Street (2008)
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Henry_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Mount_Pleasant_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Mount Pleasant, Iowa
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- 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        = [[Henry County, Iowa|Henry]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Steve Brimhall
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = July 15, 1856 <ref name="cdMtpleasant"/>
<!-- 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_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 22.39
|area_land_km2            = 22.35
|area_water_km2           = 0.04
|area_total_sq_mi         = 8.64
|area_land_sq_mi          = 8.63
|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         = 9274
|population_density_km2   = 415.00
|population_density_sq_mi = 1074.87
|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             = 728
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|57|45|N|91|32|42|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 52641
|area_code                = [[Area code 319|319]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-54705
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 468416<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|468416}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://cityofmountpleasantiowa.org}}
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}

'''Mount Pleasant''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Henry County, Iowa|Henry County]] in the U.S. state of [[Iowa]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509170006/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2015-05-09 }}</ref> The population was 9,274 in the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], an increase from 8,668 in the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name="USCB">{{cite web|date=|title=U.S Census Quickfacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/mountpleasantcityiowa|access-date=2021-10-21|website=U.S. Census Bureau|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] Quickfacts}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=IADC>{{cite web|url= http://www.iowadatacenter.org/archive/2011/02/feb10|title= Data from the 2010 Census|publisher=State Data Center of Iowa|access-date=2011-07-08}}</ref> It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.

== History ==
[[Image:UnionBlockMtPleasant15.jpg|thumb|left|Historic [[Union Block (Mount Pleasant, Iowa)|Union Block]] building (2015)]]
The first permanent settlement at Mount Pleasant was made in 1833.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amtrak.com/stations/mtp.html | title=Mt. Pleasant, Iowa | publisher=Amtrak | access-date=12 March 2018}}</ref> Mount Pleasant was incorporated as a town in 1842, and again in 1851.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/historyhenrycou00cogoog | title=The History of Henry County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c | publisher=Western Historical Company | year=1879 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyhenrycou00cogoog/page/n498 504]}}</ref>

In 1869, Mount Pleasant was the site of a [[solar eclipse]] expedition, under the command of James Craig Watson and sponsored by ''National Almanac.'' The total [[Solar eclipse of August 7, 1869|solar eclipse occurred on August 7, 1869]].<ref>[[:Wikisource:''Popular Science Monthly''/Volume 19/September 1881/"Sketch of James Craig Watson"]]</ref>

In the [[Union Block (Mount Pleasant, Iowa)|Union Block]] building in 1869, [[Arabella A. Mansfield]] became the first woman in the United States to be awarded a license to practice law. She had passed the bar exam with high scores and won a court case for entry to the bar. The legislature changed its statute.

The third floor of the Union Block housed the Opera House or Union Hall, a gathering place for the community. It attracted national speakers on tour, including abolitionists [[Frederick Douglass]], [[Sojourner Truth]], and [[Anna Dickinson]]. [[James Harlan (senator)|James Harlan]] also spoke there, as he was president of [[Iowa Wesleyan College]] in the town, and later was elected several times to the [[United States Senate]]. This building had been considered one of the most endangered historic sites in Iowa.<ref>It reopened in August of 2014 housing businesses on the first and second floors.  The ballroom was restored and updated on the third floor making it a beautiful hall used for a variety of community gatherings, events, and private parties.

[http://www.preservationiowa.org/programs/endangeredArchive.php?endangered_year=2008 "2008 Most Endangered Properties"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105095015/http://www.preservationiowa.org/programs/endangeredArchive.php?endangered_year=2008 |date=2016-01-05 }}, [[Preservation Iowa]],</ref>

The [[Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute]] was built in 1861. However, in 1936, a fire did great damage to the original building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/mountpleasant/|title=Mount Pleasant State Hospital - Kirkbride Buildings}}</ref> Beginning in 1976, many of the hospital facilities were transferred to the [[Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility]], which still occupies the campus. The hospital itself was closed in 2015.

On December 10, 1986, Ralph Orin Davis, a resident, walked into a city council meeting and shot Mayor Edward King and two council members. Mayor King died of his wounds after being shot point blank in the head. The 69-year-old gunman had attended a couple of previous meetings, complaining about a backed-up sewer and wanting the city to pay for damages to his house. The two council members were seriously wounded.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=19861206&id=8hgsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y20FAAAAIBAJ&pg=881,5175947 "Mayor killed, 2 hurt in meeting gunfire"], ''Kentucky New Era'', 6 December 1986</ref> [[Tom Vilsack]] became the replacement mayor, later serving as [[List of Governors of Iowa|Governor of Iowa]] for 8 years, and then [[United States Secretary of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture]] under the [[Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet|Obama]] and [[Cabinet of Joe Biden|Biden]] administrations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/kyle-munson/2015/10/23/mount-pleasant-fountain-mayor-edd-king-shooting-tom-vilsack/74274030/|title = Tears flow as memorial fountain to slain mayor is removed| website=[[The Des Moines Register]] }}</ref>
[[File:MT PLEASANT CITY HALL-1.jpg|thumb|Mount Pleasant City Hall]]

== Geography ==
Mount Pleasant is in central Henry County at the intersection of US Routes [[US Route 218|218]] and 
[[US Route 34|34]].<ref name=atlas>''Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer,'' DeLorme, 7th Edition, 2021, p. 61 {{isbn|1946494003}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|8.53|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|8.51|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-02-20 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-05-11 }}</ref>

Mount Pleasant's [[Population density#Human population density|population density]] is estimated at 1,123 people per square mile, which is considered low for urban areas.<ref name="cdMtpleasant">{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Mount-Pleasant-Iowa.html|title=City Data|publisher=Hospers|access-date=2010-12-21}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1850= 758
|1860= 3530
|1870= 4245
|1880= 4410
|1890= 3997
|1900= 4109
|1910= 3874
|1920= 3987
|1930= 3743
|1940= 4610
|1950= 5843
|1960= 7339
|1970= 7007
|1980= 7322
|1990= 8027
|2000= 8751
|2010= 8668
|2020= 9274
|footnote=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>
}}

===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 9,274 people, 3,218 households, and 1,926 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,074.8 inhabitants per square mile (415.0/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 3,501 housing units at an average density of 405.8 per square mile (156.7/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 80.7% [[White Americans|White]], 4.9% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.5% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 4.2% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 3.8% from other races and 5.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 8.7% of the population.

Of the 3,218 households, 27.1% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.9% were cohabitating couples, 30.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 19.7% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 40.1% of all households were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 36.8 years. 22.7% of the residents were under the age of 20; 10.2% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 and 44; 22.7% were from 45 and 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 54.2% male and 45.8% 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 8,668 people, 3,127 households, and 1,935 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1018.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,365 housing units at an average density of {{convert|395.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.7% of the population.

There were 3,127 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 37.3 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.7% male and 47.3% 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 8,751 people, 3,119 households, and 1,940 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,137.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,355 housing units at an average density of {{convert|436.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.46% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.19% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.32% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.53% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.73% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.71% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.79% of the population.

There were 3,119 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% 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 3.01.

Age spread: 22.5% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,558, and the median income for a family was $46,063. Males had a median income of $31,524 versus $22,628 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,824. About 8.3% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

== Arts and culture ==
[[File:MW Old Threshers Reunion 2010.JPG|thumb|right|Steam tractor lineup at the 2010 [[Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion]]]]
Mount Pleasant is also home to the [[Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion]] which attracts a crowd numbering over 100,000 admissions annually during an extended five-day weekend which ends on Labor Day. The reunion dates back to 1950 and pays tribute to the agricultural heritage of the American Midwest in an extensive, highly interactive manner, with live-action exhibition-style displays centering on restored mechanical equipment, particularly steam engines, farm tractors, stationary gas engines, antique and classic cars, the narrow-gauge [[Midwest Central Railroad]], and electric trolleys.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

== Economy ==
Mount Pleasant is home to manufacturing, distribution and [[agribusiness]] companies. The more prominent businesses are Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Lomont Molding, Innovaire, Continental ContiTech, Ceco Building Systems and West Liberty Foods.  Henry County Health Center, the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility and Mount Pleasant Community School District are also larger employers for the city.

== Education ==
===Public schools===
The public school system in Mount Pleasant is administered by the [[Mount Pleasant Community School District]]. The district oversees the high school, middle school and four elementary schools, Harlan, Lincoln, Salem, and Van Allen. The WisdomQuest Education Center serves as an alternative high school for the district.<ref name="MTPCSD">{{cite web|url=http://www.mt-pleasant.k12.ia.us/|title=Mt. Pleasant Community School District|publisher=Homepage|access-date=2010-12-21}}</ref>

===Higher education===
The city was home to [[Iowa Wesleyan University]], which, founded in 1842, ranked as the oldest coeducational college/university west of the Mississippi River. The [[P.E.O. Sisterhood]], an international philanthropic organization for women, was founded on the campus in Mount Pleasant by seven Iowa Wesleyan students.

==Transportation==
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service to [[Mount Pleasant (Amtrak station)|Mount Pleasant]], operating its ''[[California Zephyr]]'' daily in both directions between [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]], Illinois, and [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]], California, across the bay from [[San Francisco]].

[[U.S. Route 34]] bypasses Mount Pleasant to the north, while [[U.S. Route 218]]/[[Iowa Highway 27]] bypass the city to the east.  These highways' former routes through the city are now designated as business routes.

The [[Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (Iowa)|Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport]] (FAA Identifier: MPZ) is at an elevation of 730&nbsp;ft (222.5 m) and is located {{convert|3|mi|km}} southeast of the city. The airport started operations in March 1945. {{As of|2014|May|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMPZ}} it has 2 runways: Runway 15/33 is hard surfaced (asphalt) and is 4001&nbsp;ft long × 75&nbsp;ft wide (1220&nbsp;m × 23&nbsp;m) with runway edge lights; Runway 03/21 is turf and is 1965&nbsp;ft long × 120&nbsp;ft wide (599&nbsp;m × 37&nbsp;m) marked by yellow cones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMPZ|title=KMPZ Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport|publisher= AirNav, LLC|access-date= 2011-07-08}}</ref>

== Notable people == <!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WikiProject Cities/US Guideline-->
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* [[Eric Allender]] (born 1956) Computer Scientist
* [[Warren Wallace Beckwith]] (1874–1955) - athlete, husband of [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s granddaughter
* [[Belle Coddington]] (1842-1920), American Civil War nurse, teacher in Mount Pleasant
* [[Susan F. Ferree]] (1844-1919), journalist, temperance worker, suffragist, and women's rights activist 
* [[James Harlan (senator)|James Harlan]] (1820–1899) – politician, president of [[Iowa Wesleyan College]]
* [[Mary Eunice Harlan]] (1846–1937) – daughter of James Harlan; wife of [[Robert Todd Lincoln]]
* [[Dana Holgorsen]] – head coach for the [[University of Houston]] football team
* [[Mike Leach (American football coach)]] (1961-2022) - American football coach, popularized the [[Air raid offense]] under [[Hal Mumme]] as the offensive coordinator at [[Iowa Wesleyan University]]
* [[Leigh S. J. Hunt]] (1855–1933) – Superintendent of Schools in the 1880s
* [[Rachelle Keck]] – president of [[Grand View University]] and [[Briar Cliff University]]
* [[Henry Krieger-Coble]] (born 1992)  – NFL tight end
* [[Jessie Wilson Manning]] (1855-?) - author, lecturer
* [[Arabella Mansfield]] (1846–1911) – first female lawyer in the United States
* [[Harry F. Olson]] (1901-1982) - acoustical engineer at RCA Victor 
* [[Carolyn Pendray]] (1881–1958) - first woman elected to the [[Iowa General Assembly]]
* [[Ricky Phillips]] (born 1952) - [[Rock music|rock]] [[bassist]] with [[Styx (band)|Styx]]; formerly with [[The Babys]] and [[Bad English]]
* [[Ab Saunders]] (1851–1883) - Wild west cowboy and outlaw
* [[Frederick A. Shannon]] (1921–1965) – herpetologist
* [[Newton J. Tharp]] (1867–1909) – architect, painter
* [[Fred Truck]] (born 1946) – painter, sculptor
* [[James Van Allen]] (1914–2006) – considered one of the country's foremost space scientists
* [[Christie Vilsack]] (born 1950) – former first lady of [[Iowa]]
* [[Tom Vilsack]] (born 1950) – former Mount Pleasant mayor, former [[governor]] of [[Iowa]], and US Secretary of Agriculture
* [[Chris Voss]] – FBI hostage negotiator, author of [[Never Split the Difference]]
* [[Peggy Whitson]] (born 1960) - retired [[NASA]] Chief Astronaut, holds the record for most cumulative days in space by an American, graduated from [[Iowa Wesleyan University]] in 1981

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Iowa}}
*{{Official website|https://cityofmountpleasantiowa.org/}}
* [http://www.mountpleasantiowa.org/alliance/default.aspx Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance]
{{Henry County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mount Pleasant, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Henry County, Iowa]]
[[Category:1842 establishments in Iowa Territory]]