Editing Waverly, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Waverly, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = Waverly iowa.jpg
|image_caption            = Waverly, Iowa
|image_map                = Bremer_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Waverly_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Waverly, Iowa
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
<!-- 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|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Bremer County, Iowa|Bremer]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|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           = 30.46
|area_land_km2            = 29.16
|area_water_km2           = 1.30
|area_total_sq_mi         = 11.76
|area_land_sq_mi          = 11.26
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.50
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 10394
|population_density_km2   = 356.39
|population_density_sq_mi = 923.09
<!-- 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             = 892
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|43|49|N|92|29|20|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 50677
|area_code                = [[Area code 319|319]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-82875
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 468955<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|468955}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.waverlyia.com/}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Waverly''' is a city in [[Bremer County, Iowa]], United States. The population was 10,394 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> It is the [[county seat]] of Bremer County<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> and is part of the [[Waterloo-Cedar Falls metropolitan area]].

The sister city of Waverly is the [[Germany|German]] city of [[Eisenach]], which is famous for the [[Wartburg castle]]. Waverly is the location of [[Wartburg College]], which is named after the castle.

==Early Waverly history==
=== Indian reservation===
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2010}}
The first permanent residents of Waverly were settled there against their will. Because of their alleged assistance given to Chief [[Black Hawk (chief)|Black Hawk]] during the [[Blackhawk War]] of 1832, the [[Ho-Chunk|Winnebago]] were forced to cede their lands east of the Mississippi and to move to Neutral Ground in what is now northeastern Iowa. They were to receive $270,000 ($10,000 per year for 27 years) and were required to surrender several of their tribesmen accused of murdering whites during the war. At that time there were three tribes living in the area, the Ho-Chunk numbering about 500, the Meskwaki numbering about 100 and the Pottawattomi numbering about 50.  With Iowa statehood in 1846, the Winnebago were moved again. In an 1845 treaty, the Winnebago exchanged their Iowa lands for the {{convert|800000|acre|km2|-2|adj=on}} Long Prairie (Crow Wing River) reserve in Minnesota and $190,000. In 1848, a detachment of United States troops from [[Fort Atkinson, Iowa]], came to enforce the removal. All told, between 1840 and 1863, the Winnebagoes were moved five times. They were pushed first to northeastern Iowa, then to Long Prairie, Minnesota, then to Blue Earth, Minnesota, then to Crow Creek, South Dakota. In 1865, after the constant upheaval cost 700 tribal members’ lives, the current Winnebago Reservation in Nebraska was established by the treaties of 1865 and 1874. The tribe lost more than two thirds of this land in the General Allotment Act of 1887. By 1913, only {{convert|120000|acre|km2|-1}} of cropland, woodland, and pasture remained. The tribe is federally recognized and organized under the 1934 [[Indian Reorganization Act]]. The Winnebago Tribe established a constitution in 1936 which was amended in 1968.

===Settlement===
[[File:FI0006246.jpg|alt=Courthouse, Bremer County|thumb|Bremer County Courthouse in Waverly, 1935]]
[[File:FI0019224.jpg|alt=Main street, Waverly, Iowa 1900|left|thumb|Main Street, 1900]]
Frederick Cretzmeyer is credited with being the first European settler in Waverly. Having purchased {{convert|160|acre|km2|1}} in 1852, he built a log hut on the east side of the Cedar River (or what was once called the Red Cedar River). Soon more homes were constructed as other settlers arrived, with some of their later homes built just over the hill behind the old recycling center.

William Patterson Harmon came to Waverly in the spring of 1853 with the idea of establishing a town and a saw mill. He purchased most of what is now Waverly from the United States Government for $1.25 an acre. The area was incorporated as a town on April 25, 1859, according to the Library of the State of Iowa. (A centennial celebration was held in August 1956.)

Two stories exist on how the town was named. The speaker at the ceremony was said to have been a fan of [[Walter Scott|Sir Walter Scott's]] [[Waverley novels]] and when it came time to name the town (which settlers had wanted to call Harmonville or Harmon) he inadvertently called it Waverly. The myth goes that Jennie Harmon Case later wrote that it was her father who was the speaker and that he made the decision to name the town after the favorite book, instead of the proposed "Harmonville." Coincidentally, Bremer County's name also honors a person eminent in literature. Bremer was named in 1850 by [[Stephen P. Hempstead|Governor Hempstead]], who was an admirer of the Swedish feminist author [[Fredrika Bremer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.co.bremer.ia.us/bremer-county/history.aspx|title=Bremer County History|publisher=Bremer County, Iowa|access-date=May 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202648/http://www.co.bremer.ia.us/bremer-county/history.aspx|archive-date=April 24, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first school was started by Charles Ensign in a log cabin in 1854. A stone school house was erected by 1855 and additional schools were built in 1861 and 1868. The first graduating class of the Waverly High School was the class of 1875 with two students. Wartburg College moved to Waverly from Clinton, Iowa, in 1856. The public library was established in 1866.

In 2014, the [[Waverly East Bremer Avenue Commercial Historic District]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. Among the noted buildings in the listing is the WPA-era post office, which contains a [[United States post office murals|mural]] designed by artist [[Mildred W. Pelzer]] for the [[Section of Painting and Sculpture]], later called the [[Section of Fine Arts]], of the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]]. The painting, called ''A Letter from Home in 1856'', depicted a farm family pausing during plowing to read a letter from their former home.<ref>{{cite web| last1=Full| first1=Jan Olive| title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Waverly East Bremer Avenue Commercial Historic District| url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/14000174.pdf| publisher=National Park Service| access-date=March 15, 2017| location=Washington, D. C.| date=October 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222004945/https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/14000174.pdf| archive-date=February 22, 2017}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|11.51|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|11.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.50|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=May 11, 2012 |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=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title= Waverly historical population
|type= USA
|align= left
|width= 25%
|state= Iowa
|shading= 
|percentages= 
|1870|2291
|1880|2345
|1890|2346
|1900|3177
|1910|3205
|1920|3352
|1930|3652
|1940|4156
|1950|5124
|1960|6357
|1970|7205
|1980|8444
|1990|8539
|2000|8968
|2010|9874
|2020|10394
|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}}
}}

===2020 census===
As of the 2020 United States census, the population of Waverly, Iowa, was 10,394, an increase from 9,874 recorded in the 2010 census.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Census: Waverly, Iowa |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/waverlycityiowa/PST045219 |website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref> The racial composition of the city was predominantly White (94.1%), with African Americans making up 1.0%, Asians 1.5%, Hispanics or Latinos 2.0%, and 1.3% identifying as two or more races.<ref>{{cite web |title=Waverly, Iowa Demographics |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1982495 |website=Census Reporter |access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref> The population had a slight female majority, with 51.8% female and 48.2% male. The age distribution included 19.5% under the age of 18, 18.4% between 18 and 24 (a group significantly represented by students at Wartburg College), 22.1% aged 25 to 44, 23.1% aged 45 to 64, and 16.9% aged 65 and older. The city contained 4,274 housing units, of which 95.3% were occupied and 4.7% were vacant.<ref>{{cite web |title=Waverly, Iowa Housing Characteristics |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=waverly,%20iowa%20housing&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP04 |website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref> The average household size was 2.34 persons, and family households accounted for 65.5% of the total. The median household income was $70,301, and the poverty rate stood at approximately 7.2%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Waverly, Iowa Economic Profile |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=waverly,%20iowa%20income&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1901 |website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref> Educational attainment was high, with 97.1% of residents aged 25 and over having graduated from high school, and 36.8% holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.<ref>{{cite web |title=Waverly, Iowa Education |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=waverly,%20iowa%20education&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1501 |website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref>

===2010 census===
At the 2010 [[census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 11, 2012}}</ref> there were 9,874 people, 3,546 households and 2,294 families in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|896.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. There were 3,732 housing units at an average density of {{convert|339.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 3,546 households, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age was 33.1 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 21.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.9% were from 25 to 44; 21.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

===2000 census===
At the 2000,[[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 8,968 people, 3,238 households and 2,143 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|803.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,394 housing units at an average density of {{convert|304.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup was 97.11% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.05% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.87% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.72% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 0.61% of the population.

There were 3,238 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90.

21.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 20.4% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The [[median household income]] was $39,587 and the median family income was $52,656. Males had a median income of $36,369 and females $22,031. The [[per capita income]] was $18,285. About 2.1% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[File:WartburgSt.Francis.jpg|thumb|right|Statue of St. Francis at Wartburg College]]
[[Wartburg College]], maintained by the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]], is a four-year [[liberal-arts college]] in Waverly that opened in 1852. In the 2016–2017 school year, the college had an enrollment of 1,482 students.<ref>[http://www.wartburg.edu/fastfacts], Wartburg College, December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.</ref>

The [[Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District]] operates local [[state school|public]] schools<ref>{{cite web|url=https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_WAVERLY-SHELL%20ROCK_0.pdf|title=Waverly-Shell Rock|publisher=Iowa Department of Education|access-date=2020-07-20}}</ref> and is made of seven schools including four elementary schools, a middle school (grades 5 through 8), a high school, and a residential alternative high school.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wsr.k12.ia.us/#!our-schools/zoixj|title = Waverly-Shell Rock Schools &#124; Home}}</ref> The district strives "to create a passion for learning that will sustain students for a lifetime".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.waverly-shellrock.k12.ia.us/|title= Waverly-Shell Rock Schools|access-date= April 1, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110416053130/http://www.waverly-shellrock.k12.ia.us/|archive-date= April 16, 2011|url-status= dead}}</ref> In the 2005–06 school year, the district had 2,020 K-12 students, of whom 1,823 were regular education students and 197 were special education students. Thirty-four of the special education students are served in Greenview High School, an alternative high school program. Waverly-Shell Rock Senior High completed building a new auditorium and gymnasium in 2008.

St. Paul's Lutheran School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stpaulswaverly.org/school/|title=St. Paul's Lutheran School |publisher= St. Paul's Lutheran Church |access-date= April 1, 2011}}</ref> In the 2010–2011 school year, 139 students were enrolled in K-6 and 87 students in pre-school. More than half of the students come from neighboring congregations and assistance is given to families who demonstrate financial need. The school offers a Gifted and Talented program; a Partners in Education Program, in which students and residents at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community work together; and several unique opportunities in the fine arts.

==Economy==
Major employers in Waverly include [[CUNA Mutual Group]], Waverly Health Center, [[Wartburg College]], [[Nestlé|Nestlé Beverage]], [[Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District]], Peoples Insurance Agency and the GMT Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.waverlyia.com/images/audit_2012.docx |title=City of Waverly Audit Report for FY 2012 |access-date=2013-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924042922/http://www.waverlyia.com/images/audit_2012.docx |archive-date=2014-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Government==
The City of Waverly has a [[Mayor–council government|mayor council form of government]]. The city has a professional city administrator who is hired by the city council. There is a seven-member city council: five elected members from wards, two members elected at-large. The mayor is elected by all citizens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://city.waverlyia.com/index.asp|title=Welcome to the City of Waverly|publisher=City of Waverly|access-date=April 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505042614/http://city.waverlyia.com/index.asp|archive-date=May 5, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Police and fire departments===
Waverly's police department consists of 16 officers.<ref>[http://www.waverlyia.com/police-department/about/staff.aspx Waverly Police Department], City of Waverly. Retrieved February 12, 2021.</ref>

The fire department is a [[volunteer fire department|volunteer force]] of 30 to 40 citizens.<ref>[http://city.waverlyia.com/fire.asp Welcome to the Waverly Volunteer Fire Department] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921095029/http://city.waverlyia.com/fire.asp |date=2007-09-21 }}, City of Waverly. Retrieved November 2, 2007.</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Utilities===

====Renewable energy====
{{unsourced|section|date=May 2025}}
In 1993, Waverly Light & Power Company became the first public power system in the Midwest to own and operate wind generation. The Zond 80&nbsp;kW turbine was installed on a farm just outside the city. In 1999, two 75&nbsp;kW turbines were added near [[Alta, Iowa]]. They are part of the 259 turbines on a wind farm near Storm Lake. In 2001, the first turbine was replaced by a 90&nbsp;kW turbine which has produced 111,000kwh in 15 days. WLP has set a goal known as "20 by 20-20" which means they are striving to generate 20% of its energy with renewable sources by the year 2020. The latest step in reaching that goal is to build a new ISEP energy park in Dallas County.

===Health care===
Waverly Health Center is a 25-bed critical access hospital in Waverly. It provides inpatient care, ambulatory surgery, outpatient services, specialty clinics and emergency room care to area residents. More than 50 health care providers and visiting specialists care for patients there, allowing residents local access to specialized care.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waverlyhealthcenter.org/|title= Waverly Health Center|publisher= Resolve Technology Group|access-date= April 1, 2011}}</ref> Waverly Health Center is accredited by the Joint Commission.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.qualitycheck.org/qualityreport.aspx?hcoid=8310|title= Summary of Accreditation Quality Information - Waverly Health Center|publisher= The Joint Commission|access-date=April 1, 2011}}</ref>

==Local radio==
[[KWAY (AM)]] and [[KWAY-FM]] are located on the south side of Waverly. Studios and transmitters are there.

==Evangelical Lutheran Church in America==
Waverly may have the highest national per capita concentration of ordained [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA) clergy. One estimate in the 1990s suggested Waverly had 37 ordained ELCA clergy, with a population of about 9,000. This estimate was made during the days preceding the ELCA decision regarding [[Called to Common Mission]]. If accurate, this would equal a ratio of one clergy member for every 243 people.

Waverly also has St. John Lutheran Church, which is affiliated with the [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]].

==Notable people==
*[[Edward C. Droste]], co-founder of [[Hooters]]
*[[A. J. Hinch]], former [[Major League Baseball]] [[catcher]] and manager of 2017 [[Houston Astros]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/hincha.01.shtml|title=A.J. Hinch|website=BASEBALL-Reference|access-date= May 6, 2011}}</ref>
*[[John Sladek]] (1937–2000), [[science fiction]] and [[non-fiction]] author
*[[Michael Talbott]], actor best known for his role in TV's ''Miami Vice''
*[[Dennis Wagner]], college football coach

==Sister cities==
* [[Sister city]] since 1992 - [[Eisenach]], Germany

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{Portal|Iowa}}  
*[http://www.waverlyia.com Welcome to Waverly] - portal style website; government, library, Chamber of Commerce and more
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/Waverly-Iowa.html City-Data] - comprehensive statistical data and more about Waverly

{{Bremer County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Waverly, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Bremer County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:County seats in Iowa]]
[[Category:Waterloo – Cedar Falls metropolitan area]]