Jump to content
Main menu
Main menu
move to sidebar
hide
Navigation
Main page
Recent changes
Random page
Help about MediaWiki
Special pages
Niidae Wiki
Search
Search
Appearance
Create account
Log in
Personal tools
Create account
Log in
Pages for logged out editors
learn more
Contributions
Talk
Editing
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Page
Discussion
English
Read
Edit
View history
Tools
Tools
move to sidebar
hide
Actions
Read
Edit
View history
General
What links here
Related changes
Page information
Appearance
move to sidebar
hide
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
{{Short description|City in the United States}} {{redirect|Osky|the Guinean footballer|2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations squads|a similar spelling|Oskie (disambiguation){{!}}Oskie}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Oskaloosa, Iowa | settlement_type = [[List of cities in Iowa|City]] | nickname = Osky | motto = "Note the Difference" <!-- Images -->| image_skyline = Mahaska County, Iowa Courthouse.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = The [[Mahaska County Courthouse]] | image_flag = | image_seal = <!-- Maps --> | image_map = Mahaska_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Oskaloosa_Highlighted.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location of Oskaloosa, Iowa | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | pushpin_map = Iowa#USA | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_label = Oskaloosa | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States <!-- Location -->| subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{USA}} | subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Iowa}} | subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Mahaska County, Iowa|Mahaska]] | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]] | established_date = February 4, 1875<ref name="CDOskaloosa">{{cite web | url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Oskaloosa-Iowa.html | title= Oskaloosa, Iowa | publisher=City-Data | access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref> <!-- 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 = 20.81 | area_land_km2 = 20.77 | area_water_km2 = 0.04 | area_total_sq_mi = 8.04 | area_land_sq_mi = 8.02 | 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 = 11558 | population_density_km2 = 556.38 | population_density_sq_mi = 1440.97 | 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 = 846 | coordinates = {{coord|41|17|31|N|92|38|25|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]] | postal_code = 52577 | area_code = [[Area code 641|641]] | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | blank_info = 19-59925 | blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | blank1_info = 468480<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|468480}}</ref> | website = {{URL|http://www.oskaloosaiowa.org}} | footnotes = | pop_est_footnotes = }} '''Oskaloosa''' is a [[List of cities in Iowa|city]] in, and the [[county seat]] of, [[Mahaska County, 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}}</ref> In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Oskaloosa was a national center of [[bituminous coal]] mining. The population was 11,558 in the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. 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== [[File:Oskaloosa, Iowa (1864).jpg|thumb|left|East side of public square, 1864]] [[Image:samsmithcoal.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Oskaloosa coal mine.|The Sam Smith coal mine in 1895, located in what is now the 1300 block of High Avenue West.]] [[Image:rooseveltoskaloosa.jpeg|thumb|left|alt=Theodore Roosevelt campaigns in Oskaloosa.|[[Theodore Roosevelt]] campaigns in the Oskaloosa city square in the fall of 1912.]] Oskaloosa derives its name from Ouscaloosa who, according to town lore, was a [[Creek (people)|Creek]] princess who married [[Seminole]] chief [[Osceola]]. A local tradition was that her name meant "last of the beautiful". (This interpretation of "last of the beautiful" is not correct. "{{lang|mus|Oskaloosa}}" in the Mvskoke-Creek language means "black rain", from the Mvskoke words "{{lang|mus|oske}}" (rain) and "{{lang|mus|lvste}}" (black). "loosa" is an English corruption of the Mvskoke word "{{lang|mus|lvste}}". For example, see the Wikipedia entry for [[Tuskaloosa]], [[eponym]] of the town of [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]. In addition the Mvskoke word "{{lang|mus|Ouscaloosa}}" means "Black Water").<ref name="villageprofile.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.villageprofile.com/iowa/oskaloosa/03his/main.html|title=Oskaloosa History|publisher=Community Profile Network, Inc|access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref> The first European-American settlers arrived in 1835, led by Nathan Boone, youngest son of frontiersman [[Daniel Boone]]. Acting on instructions from [[Stephen W. Kearny]], he selected this as the first site of [[Montrose, Iowa|Fort Des Moines]], located on a high ridge between the [[Skunk River (Iowa)|Skunk]] and [[Des Moines River|Des Moines]] rivers. The ridge was originally called the Narrows. The town was formally platted in 1844 when William Canfield moved his trading post from the [[Des Moines River]] to Oskaloosa. The town was designated by the legislature as the county seat in the same year.<ref name="villageprofile.com"/> The Des Moines Valley Railroad built north from [[Eddyville, Iowa]] through Oskaloosa to [[Pella, Iowa]] in 1864. In 1873, this became the Keokuk and Des Moines Railroad, and in 1887, it was leased by the [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad]].<ref>Bruce Boertje, [https://historicpellatrust.org/2019/04/08/des-moines-valley-railroad/ Des Moines Valley Railroad], Historic Pella Trust, April 8, 2019.</ref> The Central Iowa Railway followed, which became the [[Iowa Central Railway]] in 1888 and was absorbed by the [[Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway]] in 1901. In 1883, the [[Burlington and Western Railway]] reached Oskaloosa; this was a [[narrow gauge]] line that was widened to [[Standard Gauge]] in 1902 and then merged with the [[Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad]].<ref>David Lotz and Charles Franzen, 'Rails to a County Seat', The Print Shop, Washington Iowa, 1989; pages 37, 47-52.</ref> On January 6, 1882, most of the buildings in the north half of Oskaloosa were severely damaged and most of the plate glass windows in the area were broken by an explosion. Three boys were killed in the explosion. The boys had been seen shooting at the A. L. Spencer gunpowder magazine half a mile north of the town center.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=980CE1D7153BE033A25754C0A9679C94639FD7CF "The Explosion at Oskaloosa"], ''New York Times,'' 7 January 1882</ref> The first [[bituminous coal]] mine in the area was opened shortly after 1853 by Robert Seevers, who drove a [[Drift mining|drift]] into a four-foot coalbed in an exposed creek bank east of town.<ref>{{cite book|title=Iowa Geological Survey Annual Report for 1908|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=1BUMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA556 556]|year=1909|publisher=Published for the Iowa Geological Survey}}</ref> Initially, coal was mined entirely for local consumption, but with the arrival of the railroads, coal from the region was shipped widely. In the 1880s, more than one million tons of coal was mined in the county from 38 mines. By 1887, the report of the state mine inspector listed 11 coal mines in or very close to Oskaloosa.<ref>{{cite book |first=Roberts |last=George E. |year=1888 |title=Third Biennial Report of the State Mine Inspectors to the Governor of Iowa for the years 1886 and 1887 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=PRAAAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA87 87]}}</ref> By 1895, the coal output of Mahaska County surpassed that of all other Iowa counties, and production had reached more than one million tons per year.<ref>Conaway, Des Moines, 1895, [https://books.google.com/books?id=PRAAAAAAMAAJ&lpg=RA4-PA50&pg=RA5-PA50 ''Seventh Biennial Report of the State Mine Inspectors to the Governor of the State of Iowa for the two years ending June 30, 1895''], page 50.</ref> In 1911, coal mining was reported to be the primary industry in the region.<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Oskaloosa |volume=20 |page=351}}</ref> In 1914, the Carbon Block Coal Company of Centerville produced more than 100,000 tons of coal, ranking among the top 24 coal producers in the state.<ref>{{cite book |first=Frederick E. |last=Saward |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=NO8oAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA65 65] |title=The Coal Trade |year=1915}}</ref> Several major coal-mining camps were located in the Oskaloosa area. [[Consolidation Coal Company (Iowa)#Muchakinock|Muchakinock]] was approximately five miles south of town, on the banks of the Muchakinock Creek. Lost Creek was a [[company town]] and post office with a population of about 500 in 1905, located about 10 miles south of town.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9sxOAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA893 Iowa State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1905-1906, Vol XIII], R. L. Polk & Co., 1905; page 893, column 2 center.</ref> On January 24, 1902, there was a mine explosion in the Lost Creek No. 2 mine. This was one of only two major mine disasters in Iowa between 1888 and 1913. A miner setting shots to [[Rock blasting|blast]] coal from the coal face re-used a hole left over from a previous failed shot, and the result was a coal [[dust explosion]] that detonated barrels of [[gunpowder]] stored in the mine. Twenty men died on the site and 14 more were badly injured. The explosion sparked a statewide miner's [[Strike action|strike]]. As a result, in April 1903, the legislature enacted a law to regulate blasting in coal mines.<ref>Albert H. Fay, [https://books.google.com/books?id=R38fAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA20&pg=RA1-PA190 ''Coal-Mine Fatalities in the United States 1870β1914''], Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Washington DC, 1916, page 190.</ref><ref>Paul Garvin, [https://books.google.com/books?id=3a1XkpBGdAcC&lpg=PA199&pg=PA198 ''Iowa's Minerals''], Burr Oak Books, 1998, pages 198β199.</ref> ==Geography== According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|7.45|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.43|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|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-05-11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 12, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ===Climate=== According to the [[KΓΆppen Climate Classification]] system, Oskaloosa has a [[hot-summer humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps. {{Weather box |location = Oskaloosa, Iowa, 1991β2020 normals, extremes 1893βpresent |single line = Yes |Jan record high F = 69 |Feb record high F = 78 |Mar record high F = 88 |Apr record high F = 92 |May record high F = 106 |Jun record high F = 104 |Jul record high F = 112 |Aug record high F = 112 |Sep record high F = 101 |Oct record high F = 96 |Nov record high F = 82 |Dec record high F = 75 |year record high = |Jan avg record high F = 53.1 |Feb avg record high F = 58.3 |Mar avg record high F = 73.1 |Apr avg record high F = 81.5 |May avg record high F = 86.9 |Jun avg record high F = 90.9 |Jul avg record high F = 94.5 |Aug avg record high F = 93.4 |Sep avg record high F = 90.1 |Oct avg record high F = 83.6 |Nov avg record high F = 69.2 |Dec avg record high F = 57.7 |year avg record high F = 96.4 |Jan high F = 30.7 |Feb high F = 35.9 |Mar high F = 49.3 |Apr high F = 62.2 |May high F = 72.2 |Jun high F = 81.5 |Jul high F = 85.5 |Aug high F = 83.8 |Sep high F = 77.4 |Oct high F = 64.5 |Nov high F = 49.3 |Dec high F = 36.2 |year high F = |Jan mean F = 21.5 |Feb mean F = 25.9 |Mar mean F = 38.3 |Apr mean F = 50.1 |May mean F = 61.5 |Jun mean F = 71.2 |Jul mean F = 75.2 |Aug mean F = 72.9 |Sep mean F = 65.2 |Oct mean F = 52.8 |Nov mean F = 38.9 |Dec mean F = 27.2 |year mean F = |Jan low F = 12.2 |Feb low F = 15.9 |Mar low F = 27.3 |Apr low F = 38.1 |May low F = 50.8 |Jun low F = 60.8 |Jul low F = 64.8 |Aug low F = 62.0 |Sep low F = 53.0 |Oct low F = 41.2 |Nov low F = 28.5 |Dec low F = 18.2 |year low F = |Jan avg record low F = -10.0 |Feb avg record low F = -4.4 |Mar avg record low F = 6.7 |Apr avg record low F = 23.0 |May avg record low F = 36.0 |Jun avg record low F = 48.0 |Jul avg record low F = 54.1 |Aug avg record low F = 51.5 |Sep avg record low F = 38.0 |Oct avg record low F = 25.6 |Nov avg record low F = 11.5 |Dec avg record low F = -2.4 |year avg record low F = -13.7 |Jan record low F = -31 |Feb record low F = -31 |Mar record low F = -30 |Apr record low F = 6 |May record low F = 24 |Jun record low F = 36 |Jul record low F = 44 |Aug record low F = 36 |Sep record low F = 20 |Oct record low F = 3 |Nov record low F = -7 |Dec record low F = -30 |year record low F = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 1.75 |Feb precipitation inch = 1.74 |Mar precipitation inch = 2.15 |Apr precipitation inch = 3.92 |May precipitation inch = 4.71 |Jun precipitation inch = 5.18 |Jul precipitation inch = 4.40 |Aug precipitation inch = 5.08 |Sep precipitation inch = 3.56 |Oct precipitation inch = 2.68 |Nov precipitation inch = 2.20 |Dec precipitation inch = 1.35 |year precipitation inch = |Jan snow inch = 5.6 |Feb snow inch = 8.6 |Mar snow inch = 3.8 |Apr snow inch = 0.6 |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 = 0.8 |Dec snow inch = 5.7 |year snow inch = |unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 5.6 |Feb precipitation days = 6.0 |Mar precipitation days = 7.0 |Apr precipitation days = 10.0 |May precipitation days = 11.5 |Jun precipitation days = 10.2 |Jul precipitation days = 8.5 |Aug precipitation days = 8.8 |Sep precipitation days = 7.2 |Oct precipitation days = 7.4 |Nov precipitation days = 6.3 |Dec precipitation days = 6.1 |unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 3.3 |Feb snow days = 3.5 |Mar snow days = 1.4 |Apr snow days = 0.3 |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 = 0.5 |Dec snow days = 2.8 |source 1 = NOAA (average snowfall/snow days 1981–2010)<ref name=NOAA> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00136327&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access (1991–2020) |access-date = August 3, 2022 }} </ref><ref> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00136327&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access (1981–2010) |access-date = August 31, 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 = August 3, 2022 }} </ref> }} ==Demographics== {{US Census population |1850= 625 |1860= 4393 |1870= 3204 |1880= 4598 |1890= 6558 |1900= 9212 |1910= 9466 |1920= 9427 |1930= 10123 |1940= 11024 |1950= 11124 |1960= 11053 |1970= 11224 |1980= 10989 |1990= 10632 |2000= 10938 |2010= 11463 |2020= 11558 |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><ref name=cen2020/> }} ===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 11,558 people, 4,664 households, and 2,738 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,441.0 inhabitants per square mile (556.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 5,181 housing units at an average density of 646.0 per square mile (249.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 88.9% [[White Americans|White]], 3.1% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.8% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.0% from other races and 4.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 3.0% of the population. Of the 4,664 households, 27.9% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.1% were cohabitating couples, 29.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 19.9% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 41.3% of all households were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The median age in the city was 37.3 years. 25.4% of the residents were under the age of 20; 9.2% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 and 44; 22.5% were from 45 and 64; and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% 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 11,463 people, 4,715 households, and 2,842 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1542.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,144 housing units at an average density of {{convert|692.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94% [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 1.5% [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 1.5% [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.9% from [[Race (U.S. census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.4% of the population. There were 4,715 households, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.7% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age in the city was 35.8 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.2% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% 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 10,938 people, 4,603 households, and 2,863 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,593.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,945 housing units at an average density of {{convert|720.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.00% [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 1.04% [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 0.25% [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 1.32% [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.41% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 0.94% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.26% of the population. There were 4,603 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89. Population spread: 24.1% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,490, and the median income for a family was $42,138. Males had a median income of $33,830 versus $23,698 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,721. About 10.6% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over. ==Economy== The city's top ten companies (by number of employees) are as follows: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Employer ! Date Founded ! Type of Business ! Approximate Number of Employees ! Description of Services |- | [[Musco Lighting]] | 1976 | Sports Lighting | 450 | Provides permanent and temporary lighting for major sports venues around the world. |- | Oskaloosa Community Schools | | Education | 375 | Includes a [[Oskaloosa High School (Iowa)|high school]], middle school, elementary school, preschool and alternative school. |- | Mahaska Health Partnership | 1907 | Healthcare Services | 450 | Offers surgical services, inpatient services, a birthing Center, and emergency services. |- | [[Clow Valve Company]] | 1878 | Manufacturing | 350 | The Oskaloosa plants include iron and brass foundries, a machine shop, assembly, finished goods warehousing, shipping and administrative offices. Their primary products include fire hydrants and a variety of valves. |- | [[Wal-Mart]] | 1962 | Retail Department Store | 265 | |- | [[William Penn University]] | 1873 | Education | 300 | A private, [[liberal arts]] university. |- | City of Oskaloosa | 1844 | Municipal Government | 199 | |- | [[Hy-Vee]] | 1930 | Retail Food Store | 155 | An [[employee-owned]] chain of supermarkets located in the [[Midwestern]] United States. |- | Cunningham Incorporated | 1969 | Mechanical Contractor-Commercial, Industrial | 100 | Sheetmetal manufacturing, HVAC, geo-thermal, plumbing-piping, architectural metal-roofing, industrial services, and duct cleaning. |- | Mahaska Bottling Company | | Soft Drinks | 97 | [[Pepsi-Cola]] bottling company. |} *Source: LocationOne Information Systems website and telephone survey conducted February 2010{{Better source needed|date=December 2016}} Oskaloosa is also the headquarters of the music publisher [[C.L. Barnhouse Company]]. ==Arts and culture== [[File:Rocket Slide in Edmundson Park, Oskaloosa, Iowa.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A rare example of [[Cold War playground equipment]] at Edmundson Park in Oskaloosa]] {{unsourced|section|date=June 2023}} ===Annual events=== The Southern Iowa Fair is one of the largest traditional county fairs in Iowa and is held each July. Art on the Square is held each June on the city square. This event features local and regional artists. Sweet Corn Serenade is held each July on the city square. A concert by the municipal band is the highlight of the corn-on-the-cob and pork burger feast. Each December, the Lighted Christmas Parade travels through the downtown area on two consecutive nights. The floats in the parade are adorned with lights for the after-dark event. ==Government and politics== [[File:The Oskaloosa City Hall.jpeg|thumb|[[Oskaloosa City Hall]]]] The City of Oskaloosa has a mayor-city council-city manager form of government under a home rule charter. The mayor and city council are elected. The city council is composed of seven members who make decisions regarding rules and regulations pertaining to Oskaloosa. The mayor is elected for a two-year term and council members are elected to serve for four years. The city manager is appointed by the city council.{{cn|date=June 2023}} Oskaloosa is a sister city with [[Shpola]], [[Ukraine]]. In July 2015, presidential candidate [[Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016|Donald Trump]] held a campaign event, a family picnic, at Oskaloosa's George Daily Community Auditorium. He did not give press credentials to the ''[[Des Moines Register]]'' for the event, due to its having had an editorial urging him to drop out of the race.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Trump barring Des Moines Register from campaign event|url = http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/07/24/trump-barring-des-moines-register-campaign-event/30645343/|access-date = 2015-09-27|date = July 24, 2015|website = [[Des Moines Register]]|last = Noble|first = Jason}}</ref> In November 2019, presidential candidate [[Joe Biden]] held a campaign event at [[William Penn University]].{{cn|date=June 2023}} ==Education== Oskaloosa is the home of [[William Penn University]], a private, liberal arts college. It was founded by members of the [[Religious Society of Friends]] (Quakers) in 1873 as '''Penn College'''. In 1933, the name was changed to '''William Penn College''', and finally to William Penn University in 2000. [[File:The Spencer Chapel.jpeg|thumb|191x191px|[[William Penn University]]: Spencer Memorial Chapel]] Oskaloosa was the home of the now-defunct [[Oskaloosa College]]. The city's public system, [[Oskaloosa Community School District]], operates a [[Oskaloosa High School (Iowa)|high school]], middle school, elementary school, and an alternative school. Oskaloosa Elementary opened in January 2005, merging five smaller buildings scattered across the city. The building is the largest elementary school in Iowa. Also in Oskaloosa is Oskaloosa Christian Grade School, which was founded in 1946. SonShine Preschool started later, and is in the same building. ==Transportation== Transit services in the city are provided by Oskaloosa Rides. Free bus service is provided along one fixed-route loop in the city, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Paratransit services operated by 10-15 Transit are provided daily.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oskaloosaiowa.org/405/Oskaloosa-Rides|title=Oskaloosa Rides|access-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref> ==Distinctions== In the city's town square is a bronze statue of [[Chief Mahaska]], the 19th-century leader of a Native American tribe called the Ioway; he was memorialized by the name of Mahaska County. Restored in the 21st century, the statue was completed in 1907 by an Iowa-born sculptor named [[Sherry Edmundson Fry]] (1879β1966). At the time it was commissioned, Fry was living in Paris. He returned to Iowa the following summer to make preparatory drawings of [[Meskwaki]] at the nearby [[Meskwaki Settlement|Settlement]] at Tama, Iowa, and to collect Indian artifacts and other reference materials. Returning to Paris, he began on a clay scale model, which he first showed at the [[Paris Salon]] in 1907. A year later, Fry exhibited the final full-sized sculpture, for which he won the ''[[Prix de Rome]].'' Soon after, it was shipped to the United States, and arrived in Oskaloosa by railroad in September. The formal dedication of the statue was held on May 12, 1909, and attended by a crowd of about 12,000 people. Oskaloosa boasts two private homes designed in 1948β51 by American architect [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]. Typical of his [[Usonian]] homes, these are the [[Carroll Alsop House]] at 1907 A Ave E and the [[Jack Lamberson House]] at 511 North Park Avenue. Oskaloosa hosted the [[Iowa State Fair]] in 1858 and 1859, prior to the Civil War. In 1934, Oskaloosa became the first city in the United States to fingerprint all of its citizens, including children.<!-- Why? --> ==Municipal Band and historic bandstand== {{unsourced|section|date=June 2023}} The first settlers in the area brought along their instruments and a deep love of music. Residents organized a town band in 1864. In 1880, the band was called the K. T. Band (for [[Knight Templars]]). In approximately 1882, the city erected a double-deck bandstand in the center of the city park. The band had started playing in the city park when it was just a field. A brick walk through the park was constructed with money raised from a local talent minstrel show. In 1886, the Knee Gahh Band went to St. Louis for their national conclave and was a tremendous hit. That marked the beginning of the band's prominence in the Midwest. [[Charles L. Barnhouse]] developed the band "atmosphere" from the time he came to Oskaloosa in 1891. He exerted a creative influence to build up a musical organization that would become the pride of the city. His band garnered statewide acclaim, becoming the official band of the Iowa State Fair for four years. In 1904, the band played at the annual National Encampment of the [[Grand Army of the Republic]] in [[Louisville, Kentucky]]. En route, it played by invitation at the [[1904 World's Fair|World's Fair]] in [[Saint Louis, Missouri]]. In the ensuing years the band became popular throughout Iowa and other states. In 1907 and 1908, Oskaloosa had two bands playing concerts β the Iowa Brigade Band and LaRue's Band. The merchants on High Avenue West employed their own band to compete with the Iowa Brigade Band in the park on Saturday evenings. In 1911, the citizens decided to beautify the city and voted to fund improvements for the city park. The citizens recommended a new bandstand be erected in the center of the park. The old double-deck frame bandstand was moved to one side to be used while the new bandstand was being built. The first concert in the new bandstand was played on June 1, 1912, and the bandstand was dedicated on July 25, 1912.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} ==Notable people== <!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline --> <!-- NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here as Notable people. This establishes notability. The biographical article should say how they are associated with THIS CITY examples = born, raised, residing etc. An external reliable source of their association with THIS CITY should be cited in their Article and MUST be cited HERE. All others will be deleted without further explanation. Alphabetical by last name please. Use a short one line description of Notability. If the person you think is Notable and does not have a Wikipedia Article for themselves create one. Guidelines for the Notability of a person can be found by entering WP:PEOPLE in the wiki search. Guidelines on what is needed and how to write the Article can be found by entering WP:MOSBIO in the wiki search. END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *END OF NOTICE --> * [[Eddie Anderson (American football coach)|Eddie Anderson]], football head coach at [[University of Iowa]] 1939β42, 1946β49 * [[Alfred Balk]], magazine editor * [[Bill S. Ballinger]], author and screenwriter * [[Steve Bell (news anchor)|Steve Bell]], former [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] anchor * [[Natalia Maree Belting]], author * [[Max Bennett (musician)|Max Bennett]], [[jazz]] musician * [[Charles Brookins]], [[track and field]] athlete * [[Elaine Christy]], harpist * [[Bernard A. Clarey]], Admiral, among most decorated U.S. Navy officers; [[Admiral Clarey Bridge]] in [[Pearl Harbor]] named after him * [[Chester Conklin]], comedian and actor * [[Marsena E. Cutts]], politician * [[Lisa Eagen]], athlete, 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, team handball<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oskaloosa.com/sports/x681413121/Eagen-A-humble-hero | title=Eagen A Humble Hero | publisher=Oskaloosa Herald | date=June 29, 2009 | access-date=February 11, 2014}}</ref> * [[Dulah Marie Evans]], painter, photographer, [[etcher]] * [[Frank Friday Fletcher]], Admiral, [[Medal of Honor]] recipient and namesake of the {{Sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}} * [[Cliff Knox]], [[Major League Baseball]] player * [[John F. Lacey]], U.S. Representative * [[Tip Lamberson]], flute maker * [[Harry Hamilton Laughlin]], eugenicist * [[Lillian Miles]], actress best known for her performance in the anti-marijuana film ''[[Reefer Madness]]'' * [[Patrick O'Bryant]], [[National Basketball Association]] player * [[Arthur Russell (musician)|Arthur Russell]], modern music composer * [[Tyler Sash]], [[defensive back]] for [[Iowa Hawkeyes]] and Super Bowl champion with the NFL's [[New York Giants]] * [[Emma Steghagen]], labor organizer and suffragist * [[John H. Stek]], translator of [[New International Version]] Bible * [[Cecil W. Stoughton]], [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] presidential photographer * [[Al Swearengen]], proprietor of Gem Saloon in [[Deadwood, South Dakota]], 1877β1899 (featured in [[HBO]] series ''Deadwood'') * [[Ed Thomas]], football coach<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090630/NEWS/102100008/1001/%22/apps/pbcs.dll/%22/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=D2&Date=20090624&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=906240801&Ref=PH%22 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140115010246/http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090630/NEWS/102100008/1001/%22/apps/pbcs.dll/%22/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=D2&Date=20090624&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=906240801&Ref=PH%22 | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 15, 2014 | title=2,500 give final salute to coach Ed Thomas | publisher=Des Moines Register | date=February 10, 2010 | access-date=January 14, 2014 }}</ref> * [[Guy Vander Linden]], Iowa state representative, U.S. Marines Brigadier General * [[Thomas Eugene Watson]], U.S. Marines lieutenant general * [[Clarence C. Wiley]], ragtime music composer * [[Roscoe B. Woodruff]], U.S. Army general of World War II ==See also== * [[Oskaloosa Public Library]] {{Portal bar|Iowa}} ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded --> *[http://www.oskaloosaiowa.org/ Official City of Oskaloosa website] {{Mahaska County, Iowa}} {{Iowa county seats}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Oskaloosa, Iowa| ]] [[Category:1835 establishments in Michigan Territory]] [[Category:Cities in Iowa]] [[Category:Cities in Mahaska County, Iowa]] [[Category:County seats in Iowa]] [[Category:Micropolitan areas of Iowa]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1835]]
Summary:
Please note that all contributions to Niidae Wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see
Encyclopedia:Copyrights
for details).
Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Templates used on this page:
Template:Authority control
(
edit
)
Template:Better source needed
(
edit
)
Template:Citation needed
(
edit
)
Template:Cite EB1911
(
edit
)
Template:Cite book
(
edit
)
Template:Cite web
(
edit
)
Template:Cn
(
edit
)
Template:Commons category
(
edit
)
Template:Convert
(
edit
)
Template:Infobox settlement
(
edit
)
Template:Iowa county seats
(
edit
)
Template:Lang
(
edit
)
Template:Mahaska County, Iowa
(
edit
)
Template:Portal bar
(
edit
)
Template:Redirect
(
edit
)
Template:Reflist
(
edit
)
Template:Sclass
(
edit
)
Template:Short description
(
edit
)
Template:US Census population
(
edit
)
Template:Unsourced
(
edit
)
Template:Use mdy dates
(
edit
)
Template:Weather box
(
edit
)
Search
Search
Editing
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Add topic