Editing Van Meter, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Van Meter, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = "Tradition with a Vision"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.vanmeteria.gov/|title= City of Van Meter, Iowa |publisher=City of Van Meter, Iowa |access-date=August 31, 2012}}</ref>
<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Dallas_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Van_Meter_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Van Meter, Iowa

<!-- 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        = [[Dallas County, Iowa|Dallas]]
|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_total_km2           = 6.05
|area_land_km2            = 5.99
|area_water_km2           = 0.05
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.33
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.31
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1484
|population_density_km2   = 247.7
<!--Latest pop estimate-->
|population_density_sq_mi = 641.5
|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             = 981
|coordinates              = {{coord|41|31|09|N|93|56|35|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 50261
|area_code                = [[Area code 515|515]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-80445
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2397116<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397116}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.vanmeteria.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}
'''Van Meter''' is a city in [[Dallas County, Iowa|Dallas County]], [[Iowa]], United States, situated along the [[Raccoon River]]. The population was 1,484 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=cen2020>{{cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref> Van Meter is part of the [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]]&ndash;[[West Des Moines, Iowa|West Des Moines]] [[Des Moines metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Van Meter was laid out as a town in 1869.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_k1E0AQAAMAAJ | title=The History of Dallas County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c | publisher=Higginson Book Company | year=1879 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_k1E0AQAAMAAJ/page/n437 483]}}</ref> The city was named for Jacob Rhodes Van Meter and his family, [[Dutch people|Dutch]] settlers from [[Meteren]], the [[Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=7710 |title= Profile for Van Meter, Iowa, IA |publisher= ePodunk|access-date=August 31, 2012}}</ref> Van Meter was incorporated on December 29, 1877.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Van-Meter-Iowa.html|title= Van Meter, Iowa |publisher= City-Data.com|access-date=August 31, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Rock Island Depot, Van Meter, Iowa.jpg|left|thumb|Rock Island Depot, Van Meter, Iowa]]

===The Van Meter Visitor===
In September and October 1903, there were multiple instances of people claiming to have seen a winged, bat-like creature in and around Van Meter. The roughly nine-foot-tall being, which has since been dubbed the Van Meter Visitor, was reported to be able to shoot light from the horn situated on its forehead and be unaffected by bullets. Clarence Dunn, one of the witnesses, had even made a plaster cast of three-toed footprints it left behind. A smaller, similar being sometimes accompanied it. After a community-led confrontation, the being disappeared after about four days, supposedly into the nearby coal mine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2015/07/01/van-meter-remembers-1903-visit-from-winged-monster/29583469/|title=Van Meter remembers 1903 visit from winged monster|last=Kilen|first=Mile|website=[[Des Moines Register]]|date=July 1, 2015|access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Van Meter Visitor: A True and Mysterious Encounter with the Unknown|last1=Lewis|first1=Chad|last2=Nelson|first2=Kevin Lee|last3=Voss|first3=Noah|publisher=On the Road Publishing|year=2013|isbn=0982431465}}</ref> Claims of witnessing bat-like creatures or phenomena have continued, including into the 2010s.<ref name=Adel/>

To commemorate the sightings, a Van Meter Visitor Festival transpires annually around the anniversary of the events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.traveliowa.com/calendar/van-meter-visitor-festival/1637535/|title=Van Meter Visitor Festival|website=Travel Iowa|access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name=Adel>{{cite web|url=https://www.adelnews.com/news/20171002/van-meter-visitor-festival-keeps-hunt-alive|title=Van Meter Visitor festival keeps the hunt alive|last=Cole|first=Clint|website=Adel News|date=October 2, 2017|access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
Van Meter's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 41.531505, -93.955338).<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|1.30|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.28|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|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|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Van Meter is situated west of [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]], just south of [[Interstate 80 in Iowa|Interstate 80]].

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= left
|1880|376
|1890|467
|1900|407
|1910|386
|1920|358
|1930|400
|1940|436
|1950|364
|1960|385
|1970|464
|1980|747
|1990|751
|2000|866
|2010|1016
|2020|1484
|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=2015-10-26}} and [http://data.iowadatacenter.org/datatables/PlacesAll/plpopulation18502000.pdf Iowa Data Center]
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[United States census|census]] of 2020,<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-census-main.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 1,484 people, 513 households, and 402 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 641.5 inhabitants per square mile (247.7/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 538 housing units at an average density of 232.6 per square mile (89.8/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 94.6% [[White Americans|White]], 0.4% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.5% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 0.6% from other races and 3.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.

Of the 513 households, 46.4% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.6% were cohabitating couples, 20.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 10.3% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 21.6% of all households were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals, 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 34.8 years. 34.0% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.4% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 29.0% were from 25 and 44; 21.8% were from 45 and 64; and 10.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.5% male and 49.5% 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 1,016 people, 382 households, and 280 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|793.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 415 housing units at an average density of {{convert|324.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 1.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 382 households, of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.7% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the city was 35.5 years. 31.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.4% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 8.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% 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 866 people, 326 households, and 237 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,450.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 342 housing units at an average density of {{convert|572.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.23% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.69% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.23% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.23% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.46% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.39% of the population.

There were 326 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,625, and the median income for a family was $59,000. Males had a median income of $37,895 versus $26,023 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,272. About 0.8% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
The [[Bob Feller#Legacy|Bob Feller Museum]] opened on June 10, 1995, in honor of [[Bob Feller]], a National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and a native of Van Meter.

On November 11, 2006, [[Veterans Day (United States)|Veterans Day]], ground was broken for an Iowa Veterans Cemetery at a site located in the Northern part of Van Meter.  Iowa Governor [[Tom Vilsack]] was among those who helped dedicate the cemetery. On November 11, 2018, a [[Freedom Rock]] was unveiled at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.<ref>WHO 13 Digital Staff (November 12, 2018). [https://who13.com/news/governor-honors-iowa-veterans-new-freedom-rock-unveiled/ Governor Honors Iowa Veterans; New Freedom Rock Unveiled]. ''[[WHO-DT|WHO TV]]'' ([[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]]). Retrieved September 29, 2021.</ref>

==Education==
The [[Van Meter Community School District]] operates local public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_VAN%20METER_0.pdf|title=VAN METER|publisher=[[Iowa Department of Education]]|access-date=2020-08-30}}</ref>

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

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*[[Myrtle Aydelotte]], nurse, professor, and hospital administrator
*[[Derek Benz]], [[science fiction]] author, ''[[The Revenge of the Shadow King]]''.
*[[Bob Feller]],  Major League Baseball pitcher and member of [[Baseball Hall of Fame]]; born in Van Meter
*[[David Young (Iowa politician)|David Young]], former  [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] for {{ushr|IA|3}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{Portal|Iowa}}
*[http://www.vanmeteria.gov/ City of Van Meter official website]

{{Dallas County, Iowa}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Dallas County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Des Moines metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1869]]