Editing Red Oak, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Red Oak, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Red Oak, IA.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = Flag of Red Oak, Iowa.svg
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Montgomery_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Red_Oak_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Red Oak, 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        = [[Montgomery County, Iowa|Montgomery]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|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_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 10.31
|area_land_km2            = 10.17
|area_water_km2           = 0.15
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.98
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.93
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.06

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 5596
|population_density_km2   = 550.37
|population_density_sq_mi = 1425.37
|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             = 1056
|coordinates              = {{coord|41|0|51|N|95|13|30|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 51566, 51591
|area_code                = [[Area code 712|712]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-66135
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2396337<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396337}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://city.redoakiowa.com/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}
'''Red Oak''' is a city in, and the [[county seat]] of, [[Montgomery County, Iowa|Montgomery County]], [[Iowa]], United States,<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> located along the [[Nishnabotna River|East Nishnabotna River]]. The population was 5,596 in the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], a decline from the 6,197 population in [[2000 United States Census|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>

==History==
[[File:BNDepot Night 3 8511sig Cropped.jpg|thumb|Restored BN Depot and World War II Museum at night]]
Red Oak derives its name from Red Oak Creek which flows through the community and was noted for the [[Quercus rubra|red oak]]s on its banks.  The first settlers arrived there in the 1850s.  In 1865 it became the official county seat of Montgomery County and the courthouse which had been in the middle of the county seven miles northeast in [[Frankfort, Iowa]] was towed to the community during a snow storm.  That courthouse remained in place until the current [[Montgomery County Courthouse (Iowa)|Montgomery County Courthouse]] was built in 1891.  It is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="communitylink.com">{{Cite web |url=http://communitylink.com/us/ia/redoak/profile/pages/history.php |title=CommunityLink :: Red Oak, Iowa Community Profile |access-date=2012-08-02 |archive-date=2012-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814014502/http://communitylink.com/us/ia/redoak/profile/pages/history.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1869 the community was officially founded when the [[Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad]] (called the [[Burlington and Missouri River Railroad]] at the time) arrived.  The community was named Red Oak Junction by the railroad on March 20, 1876. The junction was a line off the main [[Chicago]] to [[Council Bluffs, Iowa]] line that went to [[Nebraska City, Nebraska]] and on to [[Lincoln, Nebraska]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://depothill.net/depot05.html|title=Andreas' History, 1882, and the Red Oak Iowa area|website=depothill.net|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="redoakiowa.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.redoakiowa.com/ashadebetter/Content.aspx?ContentId=97 |title=Welcome to Red Oak |website=www.redoakiowa.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430113354/http://www.redoakiowa.com/ashadebetter/Content.aspx?ContentId=97 |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  The Junction name was dropped in 1901 although the community continues to celebrate its history each summer in Junction Days. In 1903 a depot was opened by the railroad. Preservation efforts for the depot have been enacted since 1993. Today it is the Restored BN and World War II Museum celebrating the community's disproportionate casualties during World War II and other wars, significant military heritage and community pride in service to country.<ref name="communitylink.com"/>  The depot is one of nine places in Montgomery County on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Montgomery County, Iowa]].

Darwin R. Merritt, born in Red Oak on April 12, 1872, graduated third in his class from the [[United States Naval Academy]] in [[Annapolis, Maryland]] on July 1, 1897. On February 15, 1898, he perished in the explosion that sank the {{USS|Maine|ACR-1}} in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. His body was later recovered and interred in Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak.

The community suffered, in a national per capita comparison, a disproportionate number of casualties in the Civil War and World War II.

In the [[American Civil War]], the area provided more Union troops per capita than any other in the state.<ref name=TIME>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20090712053403/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,899073,00.html Victory at Sea]," TIME, 1966-3-11.</ref>  Company M (which also included residents from Montgomery County) had 160 casualties among its 250 members; 52 men were killed in action.<ref name="communitylink.com"/>

[[File:Red Oak Montgomery Co Treasury.jpg|thumb|left|Montgomery County Court House]]

[[Battle of Kasserine Pass|Early World War II battles]] claimed a disproportionate number of soldiers from Red Oak, although the final casualty statistics tend to disprove the oft-repeated statement that Red Oak suffered more losses per capita than any other American community.<ref name=TIME/><ref>[http://www.qsl.net/redoakarc/index.htm Red Oak Home Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824150259/http://www.qsl.net/redoakarc/index.htm |date=2007-08-24 }}, Red Oak Victory Amateur Radio Club.  Accessed 2007-09-02.</ref><ref>"Emmet County Leads in War Dead Ratio," ''Council Bluffs Nonpareil'', p. 2, 1946-01-03 (Montgomery County ranked third among Iowa counties in World War II casualties per capital).</ref> In the Battle of Kasserine Pass in February 1943, forty-five soldiers from Red Oak alone were captured or killed;<ref>Rick Atkinson, [https://books.google.com/books?id=imz1pPtkq_gC An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943], p. 397 (Macmillan 2003) {{ISBN|0-8050-7448-1}}.</ref> more than 100 telegrams arrived in Red Oak saying that its soldiers were missing in action.<ref name="redoakiowa.com"/>  In recognition of Red Oak's casualties, the city's name was given to a "[[victory ship]]".<ref name=ROShip>[http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea/red.htm SS Red Oak Victory (Victory Ship)], [[National Park Service]].  Accessed 2007-09-02.</ref> The [[SS Red Oak Victory (AK-235)|SS ''Red Oak Victory'']] has become a floating museum in the shipyard where it was built, in [[Richmond, California]].<ref name=ROShip />

The old Burlington Northern depot has been transformed into the Restored BN Depot and World War II Museum telling this history.

The Red Oak School District was established in 1870, while Webster Eaton first published the Red Oak Express newspaper in 1868.

[[File:M. E. Church, Red Oak, Iowa.jpg|thumb|First Methodist Church, Red Oak, Iowa 1920s]]

==Geography==
Red Oak is located at {{coord|41|0|42|N|95|13|38|W|type:city}} (41.011681, -95.227227).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|3.95|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.06|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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Red Oak, Iowa (1991–2020, extremes 1897–present)
|single line = Y
|width = auto
|Jan record high F = 69
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 91
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 104
|Jul record high F = 109
|Aug record high F = 106
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 94
|Nov record high F = 82
|Dec record high F = 73
|year record high F = 109

|Jan avg record high F = 55.6
|Feb avg record high F = 61.1
|Mar avg record high F = 75.4
|Apr avg record high F = 85.3
|May avg record high F = 90.3
|Jun avg record high F = 93.1
|Jul avg record high F = 95.4
|Aug avg record high F = 94.4
|Sep avg record high F = 91.8
|Oct avg record high F = 85.8
|Nov avg record high F = 70.7
|Dec avg record high F = 59.2
|year avg record high F = 97.2

|Jan high F = 32.8
|Feb high F = 37.8
|Mar high F = 50.9
|Apr high F = 63.2
|May high F = 73.4
|Jun high F = 82.8
|Jul high F = 86.3
|Aug high F = 84.7
|Sep high F = 78.4
|Oct high F = 65.7
|Nov high F = 50.3
|Dec high F = 37.4
|year high F = 62.0
|Jan mean F = 22.7
|Feb mean F = 27.1
|Mar mean F = 39.3
|Apr mean F = 50.7
|May mean F = 62.1
|Jun mean F = 72.1
|Jul mean F = 75.9
|Aug mean F = 73.7
|Sep mean F = 65.8
|Oct mean F = 53.2
|Nov mean F = 39.1
|Dec mean F = 27.6
|year mean F = 50.8
|Jan low F = 12.5
|Feb low F = 16.4
|Mar low F = 27.7
|Apr low F = 38.3
|May low F = 50.8
|Jun low F = 61.4
|Jul low F = 65.5
|Aug low F = 62.7
|Sep low F = 53.2
|Oct low F = 40.6
|Nov low F = 27.8
|Dec low F = 17.9
|year low F = 39.6

|Jan avg record low F = -10.1
|Feb avg record low F = -3.6
|Mar avg record low F = 7.8
|Apr avg record low F = 22.6
|May avg record low F = 35.9
|Jun avg record low F = 47.8
|Jul avg record low F = 54.2
|Aug avg record low F = 52.0
|Sep avg record low F = 37.4
|Oct avg record low F = 24.9
|Nov avg record low F = 12.2
|Dec avg record low F = -3.0
|year avg record low F = -14.0

|Jan record low F = −27
|Feb record low F = −28
|Mar record low F = −22
|Apr record low F = 2
|May record low F = 26
|Jun record low F = 34
|Jul record low F = 39
|Aug record low F = 34
|Sep record low F = 23
|Oct record low F = 13
|Nov record low F = −14
|Dec record low F = −26
|year record low F = -28
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.88
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.11
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.03
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.83
|May precipitation inch = 5.95
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.44
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.96
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.89
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.58
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.31
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.88
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.38
|year precipitation inch = 37.24
|Jan snow inch = 7.3
|Feb snow inch = 8.1
|Mar snow inch = 2.6
|Apr snow inch = 1.2
|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 = 0.5
|Nov snow inch = 1.2
|Dec snow inch = 6.5
|year snow inch = 27.4
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.4
|Feb precipitation days = 6.6
|Mar precipitation days = 8.0
|Apr precipitation days = 10.9
|May precipitation days = 13.5
|Jun precipitation days = 11.0
|Jul precipitation days = 9.5
|Aug precipitation days = 8.9
|Sep precipitation days = 8.0
|Oct precipitation days = 8.0
|Nov precipitation days = 6.3
|Dec precipitation days = 6.3
|year precipitation days = 102.4
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.7
|Feb snow days = 4.2
|Mar snow days = 1.4
|Apr snow days = 0.5
|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 = 0.3
|Nov snow days = 1.1
|Dec snow days = 3.7
|year snow days = 14.9
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=oax
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 14, 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=USC00136940&format=pdf
| title = Station: Red Oak, IA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = November 14, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 1315
|1880= 3755
|1890= 3321
|1900= 4355
|1910= 4830
|1920= 5578
|1930= 5778
|1940= 5763
|1950= 6526
|1960= 6421
|1970= 6210
|1980= 6810
|1990= 6264
|2000= 6197
|2010= 5742
|2020= 5596
|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 5,596 people, 2,454 households, and 1,407 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,425.5 inhabitants per square mile (550.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 2,795 housing units at an average density of 712.0 per square mile (274.9/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 91.7% [[White Americans|White]], 0.3% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.5% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 2.7% from other races and 4.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 5.5% of the population.

Of the 2,454 households, 25.6% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.6% were cohabitating couples, 31.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 20.3% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 42.7% of all households were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 42.6 years. 25.8% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.1% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 21.6% were from 25 and 44; 25.3% were from 45 and 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 5,742 people in 2,481 households, including 1,475 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|1453.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,887 housing units at an average density of {{convert|730.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 96.3% White, 0.3% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2%.<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 2,481 households 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.5% were non-families. 34.9% of households were one person and 16.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age was 42.2 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 20.1% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 6,197 people in 2,670 households, including 1,650 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,684.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,985 housing units at an average density of {{convert|811.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 97.42% Caucasian, ??? [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.50% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15%.<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 2,670 households 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 33.8% of households were one person and 16.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89.

Age spread:  24.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median household income was $30,098 and the median family income  was $37,007. Males had a median income of $28,942 versus $20,047 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,793. About 7.9% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

== Hospital ==
The Montgomery County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) is located in Red Oak. MCMH is a modern 25-bed facility with birth to hospice capabilities. MCMH management puts an emphasis on health care for the local community inside the hospital and with programs outside of the hospital.<ref name="mcmh">{{cite web|url=http://www.mcmh.org/index.html|title=Montgomery County Memorial Hospital|publisher=Home website|access-date=2010-12-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103115920/http://www.mcmh.org/index.html|archive-date=2011-01-03}}</ref>

It began as Red Oak Hospital when Dr. B.F. Gillmor opened a 15-bed hospital in 1920. In 1931 it was renamed the Murphy Memorial Hospital in honor of a bequest of $40,000 from Thomas D. and Ina C. Murphy. In 1941 a 26-bed hospital was built in a new location, with an addition in 1951. In 1961 a long-term care unit, named Highland Acres, was constructed. In 1978 in a special election voters approved of Montgomery County taking ownership of Murphy Memorial Hospital. The facility then became known as Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. In 1989 a new hospital was built and in 1993 a Physicians Center was added.<ref name="mcmh"/>

==Education==
The [[Red Oak Community School District]] operates local public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_RED%20OAK_0.pdf|title=FY20_RED OAK|publisher=Iowa Department of Education|access-date=2020-07-23|archive-date=2020-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723190721/https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_RED%20OAK_0.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Points of interest==
* Red Oak had a horse-drawn [[streetcar]] system from 1882 to 1901.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thompson|first1=William|title=Transportation in Iowa: A Historical Summary|url=https://www.iowadot.gov/history/pdfs/TransInIowa/Chapter6.pdf}}</ref>
* It has a transmitter for the Iowa Public television system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iptv.org/about.cfm |title=IPTV Online » About Us |website=www.iptv.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020918050505/http://www.iptv.org/about.cfm |archive-date=18 September 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Notable people == <!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WikiProject Cities/US Guideline-->

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*[[Dennis Ashbaugh]], [[Painting|painter]]
*[[James R. Bennett]], [[Secretary of State of Alabama]] 1993–2003, 2013-2015
*[[Lou Blonger]] (1849–1924), [[Wild West]] saloonkeeper
*[[Johnny Carson]] (1925–2005), [[Entertainment|entertainer]], host of ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Garrison|first= Webb B.|author2=Janice Beck Stock |title=A treasury of Iowa tales|publisher= Rutledge Hill Press|year=2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TluzWxUQIccC&q=Johnny+Carson+%22red+oak%22&pg=PT178|isbn=1-55853-751-1 |access-date=2010-12-25}}</ref>
*[[Clyde Cessna]] (1879–1954), founder of [[Cessna]] Aircraft Company
*[[Horace E. Deemer]] (1858–1917), Chief Justice of [[Iowa Supreme Court]] 
*[[Thomas Harlan Ellett]] (1880–1951), [[New York City]] [[architect]]
*[[Joni Ernst]], Republican member of [[Iowa Senate]], junior member of the [[United States Senate]]
*[[Ida M. Evans]], short story writer
*[[Kenneth A. Evans]] (1898–1970), Republican member of [[Iowa Senate]] 1937-45 and [[Lieutenant Governor of Iowa]] from 1945 to 1951
*[[Kurt Griffey]] (1968), Guitarist for [[Creedence Clearwater Revisited]].
*[[Raymond Hatton]] (1887–1971), actor
*[[Elvin Hutchison]] (1912–2001), running back for the [[Detroit Lions]] and [[National Football League]] official
*[[James E. Kearney]] (1884–1977), [[Roman Catholic bishop]]<ref name=curtis>{{cite book|last=Curtis|first=Georgina Pell|title=The American Catholic Who's Who|volume=XIV|year=1961|publisher=Walter Romig|location=Grosse Pointe, Michigan}}</ref>
*[[Dick Kenworthy]], [[Major League Baseball]] [[third baseman]] for the [[Chicago White Sox]]
*[[John Milton Killits]] (1858–1938), [[United States federal judge]] in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio]] from 1910 to 1928
*[[John Logan (poet)]] (1923–1987), poet and professor
*[[Smith McPherson]] (1848–1915), [[Iowa Attorney General]] from 1881 to 1885
*[[L. Welch Pogue]] (1899–2003), aviation attorney and chairman of the now-defunct [[Civil Aeronautics Board]].
*[[Stephen Shortridge]], [[actor]]
*[[Con Starkel]] (1880–1933), [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]] for the [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]]
*[[Duane Thompson]] (1903–1970), actress in silent films
*[[Nellie Walker]] (1874–1973), sculptor best known for statue of [[James Harlan (senator)|James Harlan]] in [[National Statuary Hall Collection]] in the [[United States Capitol]]
*[[Fred Lawrence Whipple]] (1906–2004), astronomer, creator of the [[Whipple shield]] and Professor of Astronomy at [[Harvard University]] from 1950 to 1977

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{Portal|Iowa}}
* [http://www.redoakiowa.com Red Oak's Website] Portal style website.
* [http://www.redoakexpress.com/ The Red Oak Express] Area wide local print and online newspaper.
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Red-Oak-Iowa.html City Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Red Oak.
* [http://www.redoakschooldistrict.com/ Red Oak Community School District] Local School District Website

{{Montgomery County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Red Oak, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Montgomery County, Iowa]]
[[Category:County seats in Iowa]]