Editing Postville, Iowa

{{redirect|Postville}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Postville, Iowa
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = JewishMarketPostvilleIowa.jpg
| image_caption      = Jewish market and community center in Postville
| image_blank_emblem = PostvilleIAlogo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| motto              = "Hometown to the World"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofpostville.com/|title=City of Postville, Iowa - Hometown to the World|website=Cityofpostville.com|access-date=1 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/magazine/postville-iowa-is-up-for-grabs.html|title=Postville, Iowa, Is Up for Grabs|first=Maggie|last=Jones|date=11 July 2012|access-date=8 February 2022|website=Nytimes.com}}</ref>
| image_map          = Allamakee_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Postville_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Postville, 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|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Allamakee County, Iowa|Allamakee]], [[Clayton County, Iowa|Clayton]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Iowa|Townships]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Post Township, Allamakee County, Iowa|Post (Allamakee County)]], [[Grand Meadow Township, Clayton County, Iowa|Grand Meadow (Clayton County)]]
<!-- Government -->
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = June 1843
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = March 11, 1873
| named_for          = Joel Post
<!-- 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     = 5.38
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.08
| area_land_km2      = 5.38
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.08
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2503
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = 465.29
| population_density_sq_mi = 1205.10
<!-- 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       = 1175
| coordinates        = {{coord|43|05|03|N|91|34|04|W|region:US|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 52162
| area_code          = [[Area code 563|563]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 19-64290
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2396261<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396261}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.cityofpostville.com}}
}}
'''Postville''' is a city in [[Allamakee County, Iowa|Allamakee]] and [[Clayton County, Iowa|Clayton]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Iowa]]. It lies near the junction of four counties and at the intersection of U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 18 in Iowa|18]] and [[U.S. Route 52 in Iowa|52]] and [[Iowa Highway 51]], with airport facilities in the neighboring communities of [[Waukon, Iowa|Waukon]], [[Decorah, Iowa|Decorah]], [[Monona, Iowa|Monona]] and [[Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin|Prairie du Chien]]. The population was 2,503 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up from 2,273 in 2000.<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> The city is in Allamakee County's southwestern corner and Clayton County's northwestern corner in a quad county, or four-corner region, where four counties intersect. [[Winneshiek County, Iowa|Winneshiek County]] is just to the west and [[Fayette County, Iowa|Fayette County]] is just to the southwest of Postville.

==History==
The area of what is now Postville was first settled in 1843 by pioneer settler and mill worker Joel Post, hence the name of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Postville |url=https://www.cityofpostville.com/history |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=City of Postville, Iowa |language=en-US}}</ref> Postville was [[plat]]ted in 1853.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/historywinneshi00citygoog | title=History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa | publisher=Western Publishing Company | author=Alexander, W. E. | year=1882 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/historywinneshi00citygoog/page/n406 398]}}</ref>

On March 17, 1873, Postville was officially incorporated as a city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://sos.iowa.gov/business/pdf/inccities.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240719142726/https://sos.iowa.gov/business/pdf/IncCities.pdf |archive-date=2024-07-19 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=sos.iowa.gov}}</ref>

In 1987, a group of [[Hasidic Judaism|Hasidic]] Jews started [[Agriprocessors]], a [[Kosher]] slaughterhouse, in Postville.<ref>"Kosher slaughterhouse owners surrounded by scandal." ''Los Angeles Times'', August 4, 2008</ref> After numerous accusations of mistreatment of cattle, pollution, and violations of labor law, the federal government [[Postville Raid|raided]] the facility in May 2008, resulting in hundreds of arrests of undocumented workers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702474.html|title=Immigration Raid Jars a Small Town|last=Spencer S. Hsu|date=May 18, 2008|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> Agriprocessors filed for bankruptcy on November 5, 2008; SHF Industries bought the plant at auction in July 2009 and it has resumed production under the new name ''Agri Star''.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|2.11|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/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-07-02}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box 
| location = Postville, Iowa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1897–present)
| single line = Y
| collapsed = Y
| width = auto
| Jan record high F = 58
| Feb record high F = 66
| Mar record high F = 83
| Apr record high F = 88
| May record high F = 105
| Jun record high F = 104
| Jul record high F = 108
| Aug record high F = 102
| Sep record high F = 99
| Oct record high F = 89
| Nov record high F = 76
| Dec record high F = 64
| year record high F = 108
| Jan high F = 25.7
| Feb high F = 29.9
| Mar high F = 43.0
| Apr high F = 57.5
| May high F = 69.4
| Jun high F = 79.0
| Jul high F = 82.8
| Aug high F = 80.8
| Sep high F = 74.0
| Oct high F = 60.6
| Nov high F = 44.7
| Dec high F = 31.4
| year high F = 56.6
| Jan mean F = 16.6
| Feb mean F = 20.2
| Mar mean F = 32.7
| Apr mean F = 45.8
| May mean F = 58.2
| Jun mean F = 68.4
| Jul mean F = 71.9
| Aug mean F = 69.5
| Sep mean F = 61.6
| Oct mean F = 48.8
| Nov mean F = 35.1
| Dec mean F = 22.7
| year mean F = 46.0
| Jan low F = 7.4
| Feb low F = 10.5
| Mar low F = 22.4
| Apr low F = 34.0
| May low F = 46.9
| Jun low F = 57.8
| Jul low F = 60.9
| Aug low F = 58.2
| Sep low F = 49.2
| Oct low F = 37.0
| Nov low F = 25.5
| Dec low F = 14.0
| year low F = 35.3
| Jan record low F = −35
| Feb record low F = −29
| Mar record low F = −18
| Apr record low F = 6
| May record low F = 20
| Jun record low F = 34
| Jul record low F = 39
| Aug record low F = 35
| Sep record low F = 20
| Oct record low F = -7
| Nov record low F = −12
| Dec record low F = −27
| year record low F = −35
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.12
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.21
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.09
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.14
| May precipitation inch = 4.99
| Jun precipitation inch = 5.88
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.52
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.36
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.96
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.00
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.10
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.57
| year precipitation inch = 38.94
| Jan snow inch = 12.0
| Feb snow inch = 10.4
| Mar snow inch = 5.0
| Apr snow inch = 1.6
| 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 = 0.1
| Nov snow inch = 2.7
| Dec snow inch = 8.0
| year snow inch = 39.8
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 5.8
| Feb precipitation days = 5.4
| Mar precipitation days = 6.7
| Apr precipitation days = 10.1
| May precipitation days = 12.2
| Jun precipitation days = 11.2
| Jul precipitation days = 8.8
| Aug precipitation days = 9.0
| Sep precipitation days = 8.5
| Oct precipitation days = 7.7
| Nov precipitation days = 5.9
| Dec precipitation days = 6.1
| year precipitation days = 97.4
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 5.2
| Feb snow days = 4.5
| Mar snow days = 2.6
| Apr snow days = 0.9
| 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 = 0.2
| Nov snow days = 1.6
| Dec snow days = 4.5
| year snow days = 19.5
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=arx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 25, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00136766&format=pdf
| title = Station: Postville, IA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 25, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= right
|1880|732
|1890|884
|1900|984
|1910|952
|1920|1039
|1930|1060
|1940|1194
|1950|1343
|1960|1554
|1970|1546
|1980|1475
|1990|1472
|2000|2273
|2010|2227
|2020|2503
|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 [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-1964290">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Postville city, Iowa |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1964290&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> the population was 2,503. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,205.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 859 housing units at an average density of {{convert|413.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 52.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.7% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 26.8% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 8.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 43.0% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===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 2,227 people, 744 households, and 497 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1055.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 902 housing units at an average density of {{convert|427.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 77.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.7% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 14.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 32.0% of the population.

There were 744 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.2% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.54.

The median age in the city was 30.2 years. 32.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 18.4% were from 45 to 64; and 14.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

===Ethnic groups===
In 2017 about one quarter of Postville's population were recent immigrants from Latin America and Somalia; Greg Flakus of ''[[Voice of America]]'' stated that this was ethnically diverse compared to most Iowa towns, which are almost uniformly non-Hispanic white, even though "Postville is not all that diverse" compared to major American metropolitan areas.<ref name=Flakus>{{cite web|author=Flakus, Greg|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/small-iowa-town-celebrates-diversity/3884931.html|title=Small Iowa Town Celebrates Its Diversity |publisher=[[Voice of America]]|date=2017-06-02|access-date=2017-10-24}}</ref> The earliest immigrants were from England, Germany, and Scandinavia.<ref name=Flakus/>

Orthodox Jews established Agriprocessors circa 1987; its founders came from New York City.<ref name=Flakus/> At its peak, there were about 100 Orthodox Jewish families in Postville. After the 2008 raid, the number declined, and in 2017 there were about 50.<ref name=Tapper>{{cite news|author=Tapper, Josh|url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/features/1.701107|title=Postville, Iowa's Jewish Community Bounces Back After Immigration Raid |newspaper=[[Haaretz]]|date=2016-02-03|access-date=2017-10-24}}</ref> Postville has services for Jewish families typically seen in larger communities.<ref name=Flakus/> It also has a Jewish elementary school and a [[yeshiva]]. A Judaic library opened in 2005, but closed after the raid.<ref name=Tapper/>

The 2008 raid led to the arrests of Hispanics; the resulting lack of labor drew Somalis to Postville from Minnesota and Wisconsin to work in the area kosher factory.<ref name=Tapper/> ''[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]'' said this caused a "cultural shift".<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Michaels, Samantha|url=https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2017/08/a-federal-judge-put-hundreds-of-immigrants-behind-bars-while-her-husband-invested-in-private-prisons/|title=A Federal Judge Put Hundreds of Immigrants Behind Bars While Her Husband Invested in Private Prisons|magazine=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]|date=2017-08-24|access-date=2017-10-24}}</ref>

''[[Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America]]'' discusses the arrival of the Orthodox Jews.

==Economy==
Postville's growth was due to the presence of two large meat processing plants, [[Agriprocessors]] and Iowa Turkey Products. The Iowa Turkey Products plant burned in December 2003; it was rebuilt in [[Marshall, Minnesota|Marshall]], [[Minnesota]].

Agriprocessors, a [[kosher]] meat plant, was the largest of its type in the world. As of February 2008 it employed about 900 people and purchased $100 million worth of livestock annually. In May 2008, it was the target of a federal [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] raid.<ref>[[Postville Raid]]</ref> Subsequently, a criminal complaint was filed against Agriprocessors and its principal for alleged violations of [[child labor]] laws.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/14/postville.raid/index.html|title=Mayor: Feds turned my town 'topsy turvy'|work=cnn.com|access-date=1 December 2015}}</ref> As a result of its legal problems, Agriprocessors became insolvent and was run by a Chapter 11 bankruptcy trustee until SHF Industries bought it at auction in July 2009. It resumed business as Agri Star Meat & Poultry, LLC under the new ownership.

{{As of|2017}}, 700 people, more than 30% of the total population, work at Agri Star; about 100 are of Somali origin.<ref name="Tapper" />

Postville is also the home of a composites factory, [[Norplex-Micarta]], started in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norplex-micarta.com/company-profile/|title=About Norplex-Micarta: history, technology, and capabilities|website=Norplex-Micarta|language=en-US|access-date=August 16, 2019}}</ref> The Norplex factory produces laminated plastics plate, sheet, and profile shapes. As of 2007 it employed between 150 and 200 workers.<ref name="NOI">{{cite web|url=http://start.cortera.com/company/research/k2j6jys1p/norplex-oak-inc|title=CORTERA-NORPLEX OAK INC.|publisher=Cortera, Inc.|access-date= April 22, 2011}}</ref>

==Education==
[[Postville Community School District]] operates public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_POSTVILLE.pdf|title=Postville Community School District Map|publisher=[[Iowa Department of Education]]|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> [[John R. Mott High School]] is the local high school.

[[Mesivta of Postville]] is the area [[yeshiva]].<ref>[https://www.mesivtapostville.org/ Home]. Mesivtapostville.org, Retrieved on October 24, 2017.</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[William Michael McKinley|William McKinley]] (1879–1964), 44th speaker of the [[Illinois House of Representatives]], raised in Postville<ref>{{cite book |last=Wixon |first=Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/americanlegislat0000unse_j1x4 |title=American Legislative Leaders in the Midwest, 1911-1994 |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=1997 |editor-last1=Weatherly Sharp |editor-first1=Nancy |location=Westport, Connecticut |page=171 |chapter=Biographical Sketch of William McMinkey |access-date=September 12, 2022 |editor-last2=Sharp |editor-first2=James Roger |url-access=registration}}</ref>
* [[John R. Mott]] (1865–1955), recipient of the 1946 [[Nobel Peace Prize]], childhood resident of Postville<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postville.k12.ia.us/high/|title=High School|publisher=[[Postville Community School District]]|date=2001-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010303075142/http://www.postville.k12.ia.us/high/|access-date=2020-04-07|archive-date=2001-03-03}} - The link for Mott [https://web.archive.org/web/20000620121115/http://www.nobel.se/laureates/peace-1946-2-bio.html goes to this page]</ref>
* [[Brett Szabo]] (born 1968), [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player, childhood resident of Postville<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-06-20|title=Brett Szabo is Awarded Membership Into Postville's Hall of Fame|url=https://www.postvilleschools.com/brett-szabo|access-date=2021-07-21|website=Postville Community School District|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Books on Postville ==
* The interaction of long-time Postville residents with newcomers was the subject of a book about the town, ''[[Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America]]'', by [[Stephen G. Bloom]], a professor at [[University of Iowa]].
* A more recent book about the community and its experience with diversity before and after the May 2008 federal immigration raid is ''Postville USA: Surviving Diversity in Small-Town America'' by Mark Grey, Michele Devlin, and Aaron Goldsmith.

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{Portal|Iowa}} 
*[http://www.cityofpostville.com/ Official City Website]
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/Postville-Iowa.html City-Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Postville

{{Allamakee County, Iowa}}
{{Clayton County, Iowa}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Allamakee County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Clayton County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Jews and Judaism in Iowa]]
[[Category:Orthodox Jewish communities]]
[[Category:Orthodox Judaism in the United States]]
[[Category:Ukrainian communities in the United States]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1853]]