Editing West Branch, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = West Branch, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = A Heritage for Success
|image_skyline            = West Branch, Iowa (2022).jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Downtown West Branch
|image_map                = Cedar_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_West_Branch_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of West Branch, 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        = [[Cedar County, Iowa|Cedar]], [[Johnson County, Iowa|Johnson]]
<!-- Government -->
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
|founder                  = 
|named_for                = 
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Roger Laughlin<ref>{{cite web | url=https://westbranchiowa.org/city-of-west-branch/mayor-city-council/ | title=Mayor & City Council Members | publisher=City of West Branch | access-date=24 April 2025}}</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_total_km2           = 6.66
|area_land_km2            = 6.66
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.57
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.57
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2509
|population_density_km2   = 376.79
|population_density_sq_mi = 975.88
<!-- 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             = 742
|coordinates              = {{coord|41|39|58|N|91|20|39|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 52358
|area_code                = [[Area code 319|319]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-83595
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2397261<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397261}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.westbranchiowa.org/}}
}}
'''West Branch''' is a city in [[Cedar County, Iowa|Cedar]] and [[Johnson County, Iowa|Johnson]] counties in the U.S. [[state of Iowa]]. The population was 2,509 as 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 birthplace of the only American president born in Iowa, [[Herbert Hoover]].

The Johnson County portion of West Branch is part of the [[Iowa City metropolitan area]].

== History ==
[[Image:Herbert Hoover birthplace.jpg|left|thumb|Hoover birthplace cottage]]

West Branch was laid out in 1869 by Joseph Steer. It was incorporated in 1875.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l4QUAAAAYAAJ | title=A Topical History of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume 1 | publisher=S. J. Clarke | author=Aurner, Clarence Ray | year=1910 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l4QUAAAAYAAJ/page/n151 149]}}</ref>

The city was first settled chiefly by Quakers from Ohio.  Its name is derived from the meeting place of the West Branch Quakers, and the location of the city on the west branch of the Wapsinonoc Creek.<ref>[http://vimeo.com/1545029 GazetteOnline.com video "West Branch, Iowa" by Stephen Schmidt]</ref> Most of Main Street is part of the [[West Branch Commercial Historic District]].

Before the [[American Civil War]], areas in and around West Branch were stops of the [[Underground Railroad]]. [[Abolitionism in the United States|Abolitionist]] [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]] once stayed at the Maxson farm east of West Branch.<ref>[http://iagenweb.org/history/soi/soi37.htm John Brown And The Underground Railroad<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.hooverassociation.org/johnbrown.html hooverassociation.org]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928082327/http://www.hooverassociation.org/johnbrown.html |date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> He also stayed at James Townsend's inn, the Traveler's Rest, in the winter of 1856.<ref>John Brown: 1800-1859: A biography after fifty years, page 312
 By Oswald Garrison Villard</ref> In 2008, archaeologists found evidence of unmarked graves in nearby North Liberty Cemetery while investigating an account of 17 escaped slaves who died before reaching Canada.<ref>Gregory R. Norfleet, [http://westbranchtimes.com/article.php?id=3458 Slave graves: Researchers find evidence behind 150-year-old tale. ''West Branch Times,'' August 27, 2008]</ref>
 
West Branch experienced rapid growth after the [[Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway]] was built through it.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=noQUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA509 | title=The History of Cedar County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, etc. | publisher=Western Historical Company | year=1878 | pages=509}}</ref>

President [[Herbert Hoover]] was born in West Branch in 1874. The [[Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum]] was dedicated here by Hoover and his close friend, President [[Harry Truman]], in 1962.<ref>[http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hoover/trade.htm#234 Hoover and Truman – Chapter 6: Exclusive Trade Unionists<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The [[Herbert Hoover National Historic Site]], which includes the Library-Museum, the Hoover Birthplace Cottage and the gravesites of President and Lou Henry Hoover, was authorized by Congress on August 12, 1965.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/heho/herbert-hoover-site.htm NPS – Page In-Progress<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.19|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}}</ref>

West Branch is located approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} east of [[Iowa City, Iowa|Iowa City]], and {{convert|40|mi|km}} west of [[Davenport, Iowa|Davenport]].

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= 
|1880|501
|1890|474
|1900|647
|1910|643
|1920|688
|1930|652
|1940|719
|1950|769
|1960|1053
|1970|1322
|1980|1867
|1990|1908
|2000|2188
|2010|2322
|2020|2509
|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 [[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 2,509 people, 1,034 households, and 649 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 975.9 inhabitants per square mile (376.8/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,128 housing units at an average density of 438.7 per square mile (169.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 91.2% [[White Americans|White]], 0.6% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.9% from other races and 5.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 5.1% of the population.

Of the 1,034 households, 28.9% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.6% were cohabitating couples, 27.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 18.8% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 37.2% of all households were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 41.0 years. 25.5% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.7% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 and 44; 25.5% were from 45 and 64; and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% 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 2,322 people, 947 households, and 612 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|727.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 990 housing units at an average density of {{convert|310.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 947 households, of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 38.7 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.4% were from 45 to 64; and 13.5% 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 2,341 people, 840 households, and 572 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,106.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 876 housing units at an average density of {{convert|443.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.71% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.37% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.41% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.91% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.59% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.96% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.74% of the population.

There were 840 households, out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.

26.9% are under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $51,667. Males had a median income of $31,949 versus $26,379 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,577. About 4.5% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
West Branch has been one of 36 communities in the Main Street Iowa program since being accepted on June 1, 2006.<ref>[http://www.westbranchtimes.com/article.php?viewID=967 Main Street names WB – West Branch Times – West Branch, Iowa – westbranchtimes.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The program encourages downtown economic development through historic preservation.

The city's industrial park is home to a major distribution center of Cincinnati-based [[Procter & Gamble]]. The building is {{convert|550000|sqft|m2}} and as of 2007, is undergoing an expansion.<ref>[http://www.westbranchtimes.com/article.php?viewID=1127 P&G finds development company to complete W. Branch expansion – West Branch Times – West Branch, Iowa – westbranchtimes.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The industrial park is also home to Plastic Products, Wausau, Acciona Windpower North America and, Tidewater Direct.

As of November 2007, construction was completed on [[Acciona Energy|Acciona Energía's]] wind turbine generator engineering and assembly plant, the first in North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westbranchtimes.com/article.php?id=1689|title=A powerful development|publisher=West Branch Times|last=Poggenklass|first=Rob|date=April 26, 2007|access-date=2011-08-23}}</ref> Production began at the plant in December 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acciona-na.com/About-Us/Our-Projects/U-S-/West-Branch-Wind-Turbine-Generator-Assembly-Plant.aspx|title=ACCIONA Windpower - Wind Turbine Generator Assembly Plant|publisher=ACCIONA North America|access-date=2011-08-23}}</ref>

==Media==
''West Branch Times'' has been in continuous publication since 1875.<ref name="westbranchtimes/about">{{cite web |title=About the West Branch Times |url=https://www.westbranchtimes.com/about/index.php |website=westbranchtimes.com |access-date=16 August 2023 |location=West Branch, Iowa -}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
===Museums===
[[Image:West-branch gruwell-crew.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[Gruwell and Crew General Store]]]]
[[Image:Jesse Hoover blacksmith shop.jpg|thumb|Reconstructed Jesse Hoover blacksmith shop]]

West Branch is home to the [[Herbert Hoover National Historical Site]], run by the [[National Park Service]] and [[Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum]], run by the [[National Archives and Records Administration]].  The library holds the documentary legacy of [[Rose Wilder Lane]] and her mother, [[Laura Ingalls Wilder]].

===Landmarks===
The [[Gruwell and Crew General Store]] is listed on the [[NRHP Iowa|National Register of Historic Places]]. It was named as one of the most endangered historic properties in Iowa by the [[Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance]] in 2008.<ref name=PI>{{cite web|url=http://www.preservationiowa.org/programs/endangeredItem.php?id=223&year=2008|title=Gruwell and Crew General Store|publisher=Preservation Iowa|access-date=2011-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322203452/http://www.preservationiowa.org/programs/endangeredItem.php?id=223&year=2008|archive-date=2012-03-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Butch Pedersen Field, formerly known as Oliphant Street Field, the playing field for the West Branch High School football team, is situated just northwest of downtown.  Colloquially known as "the Little Rose Bowl", it was constructed by the [[Works Progress Administration]] by excavating a sloped field, yielding a playing field with natural seating on three sides.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==Education==
The [[West Branch Community School District]] operates local public schools.  It has about 800 students and includes three schools: Hoover Elementary, West Branch Middle School and [[West Branch High School (Iowa)|West Branch High School]].<ref>Rob Poggenklass,[http://www.westbranchtimes.com/article.php?viewID=1227 School enrollment resumes decline – West Branch Times – West Branch, Iowa – westbranchtimes.com<!-- Bot generated title -->] Times Online</ref>

[[Scattergood Friends School]], a Quaker boarding school, is located east of the city.

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[Interstate 80 in Iowa|Interstate 80]] passes from west to east through West Branch.

==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 -->

*[[Marv Cook]], [[American football|football]] player<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hawkcentral.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070228%2FHAWKS0104%2F70228016%2F1058%2FHAWKS0104 |title=hawk central {{!}} Hawkeye Football |access-date=March 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928120633/http://www.hawkcentral.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070228%2FHAWKS0104%2F70228016%2F1058%2FHAWKS0104 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Mildred Adams Fenton]], [[Paleontology|paleontologist]]
*[[Herbert Hoover]] (1874–1964), [[List of Presidents of the United States|31st]] [[President of the United States]] (1929-1933)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hoover.archives.gov/education/chronology.html|title=HERBERT HOOVER: Chronology|publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]]|access-date=2011-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205012623/http://hoover.archives.gov/education/chronology.html|archive-date=2006-12-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Dave Rummells]], [[PGA Tour]] golfer<ref>[http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/20/33/ Dave Rummells - PGA Tour profile]</ref>
*Fine printers [[Harry Duncan (publisher)|Harry Duncan]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cummington Press, The (Harry Duncan and Wightman Williams, Cummington, Massachusetts, West Brand, Iowa), 1948-1970 {{!}} ArchivesSpace Public Interface |url=https://californiahistoricalsociety.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/archival_objects/9333 |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=californiahistoricalsociety.libraryhost.com}}</ref> and [[Allan Kornblum (publisher)|Allan Kornblum]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charis-Carlson |first=Jeff |title=Poet, publisher Allan Kornblum dies at age 65 |url=https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2014/11/24/poet-publisher-allan-kornblum-dies/70058622/ |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Iowa City Press-Citizen |language=en-US}}</ref> each printed and published books in West Branch.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{Portal|Iowa}}  
{{Official website|http://www.westbranchiowa.org/}}

{{Cedar County, Iowa}}
{{Johnson County, Iowa}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Cedar County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Johnson County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Iowa City metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Iowa]]