Editing West Union, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = West Union, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = Deeply connected<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westunion.com/|title=Home|website=West Union, Iowa}}</ref>
|image_skyline            = West Union Heiserman Library.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = West Union Heiserman Library
|image_map = Fayette_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_West_Union_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of West Union, 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|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Fayette County, Iowa|Fayette]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         = December 7, 1879<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sos.iowa.gov/business/pdf/IncCities.pdf|accessdate=2024-11-05|title=List of Incorporated Cities|publisher=Iowa Secretary of State Paul D. Pate|date=2022-11-02}}</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           = 7.11
|area_land_km2            = 7.11
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.75
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.75
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2490
|population_density_km2   = 350.02
|population_density_sq_mi = 906.44
<!-- 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             = 1161
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|57|32|N|91|48|47|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 52175
|area_code                = [[Area code 563|563]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-84765
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 468989<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|468989}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.westunion.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
[[File:FI0003159.jpg|alt=Downtown, West Union, Iowa, 1910|thumb|Downtown, West Union, Iowa 1910]]
'''West Union''' is a city in [[Fayette County, Iowa|Fayette County]], [[Iowa]], United States. The population was 2,490 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 Fayette 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>

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2020}}

Originally called Knob Prairie, the community was founded by William Wells, naming it for his hometown, also called [[West Union, Ohio|West Union]], in [[Ohio]]. The [[vacuum cleaner]] was invented here.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

==Geography==
West Union is located at {{coord|42|57|43|N|91|48|36|W|type:city}} (42.962035, -91.810055).<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|2.78|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>

The city lies at the junction of [[U.S. Route 18 in Iowa|U.S. Route 18]] with Iowa Highways [[Iowa Highway 56|56]] and [[Iowa Highway 150|150]].

West Union is the home of the [[North Fayette Valley Community School District]], which comprises the communities of West Union; [[Clermont, Iowa|Clermont]]; [[Elgin, Iowa|Elgin]]; [[Wadena, Iowa|Wadena]]; [[Hawkeye, Iowa|Hawkeye]]; [[Fayette, Iowa|Fayette]], the unincorporated town of [[Alpha, Iowa|Alpha]] and the surrounding rural areas.

North Fayette and Valley Community Schools combined services in 2013 with the high school in West Union and the middle school in Elgin. The new school's mascot is called the Tigerhawks, due to the merging of the schools mascots, the Valley Tigers and the North Fayette Hawks. This agreement came about as a result of low enrollment and less state aid. The agreement was intended to last until the end of the 2015–2016 school year, when the school boards could decide to either: continue the whole-grade sharing agreement, end the agreement and go back to the North Fayette and Valley school districts, or officially consolidate the two districts. In July, 2018, after overwhelming majorities from both districts agreed to the merger, the district officially became North Fayette Valley.

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title= West Union historical population
|type= USA
|align= right
|width= 20%
|state= Iowa
|shading= 
|percentages= 
|1870|1489
|1880|1551
|1890|1676
|1900|1935
|1910|1652
|1920|1777
|1930|2056
|1940|2059
|1950|2141
|1960|2551
|1970|2624
|1980|2783
|1990|2490
|2000|2549
|2010|2486
|2020|2490
|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 [[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 2,490 people, 1,103 households, and 570 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 906.5 inhabitants per square mile (350.0/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,232 housing units at an average density of 448.5 per square mile (173.2/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 92.9% [[White Americans|White]], 1.7% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.6% from other races and 2.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 3.5% of the population.

Of the 1,103 households, 21.8% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.5% were cohabitating couples, 30.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 23.3% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 48.3% of all households were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals, 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 42.0 years. 22.2% of the residents were under the age of 20; 6.9% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.7% were from 25 and 44; 23.1% were from 45 and 64; and 24.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.9% male and 49.1% 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 2,486 people, 1,106 households, and 626 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|894.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,240 housing units at an average density of {{convert|446.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 5,106 households, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.4% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 42.4 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% 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 2,549 people, 1,107 households, and 660 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|947.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,198 housing units at an average density of {{convert|445.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.41% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.24% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.24% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.71% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.20% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.22% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 1,107 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.87.

Age spread: 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,515, and the median income for a family was $45,128. Males had a median income of $30,246 versus $20,677 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,937. About 6.0% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
West Union is a part of the [[North Fayette Valley Community School District]]. It was previously a part of the [[North Fayette Community School District]],<ref>"[https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_NORTH%20FAYETTE.pdf North Fayette] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427124413/https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_NORTH%20FAYETTE.pdf |date=2018-04-27 }}." [[Iowa Department of Education]]. Retrieved on July 29, 2018.</ref> which merged into the North Fayette Valley district on July 1, 2018.<ref name=Mergerlist>"[https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/District%20Reorganization%20History%20final.pdf REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124738/https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/District%20Reorganization%20History%20final.pdf |date=2019-02-09 }}." [[Iowa Department of Education]]. Retrieved on July 29, 2018.</ref>

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

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*[[Lucien Lester Ainsworth]] (1831–1902), [[U.S. Representative]] from [[Iowa's 3rd congressional district]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000067|title=AINSWORTH, Lucien Lester|publisher= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=February 14, 2011}}</ref>
*[[George Willis Botsford]] (1862–1917), classical scholar and history professor at [[Columbia University]]
*[[Robert B. Kamm]] (1919–2008), former President of [[Oklahoma State University–Stillwater]]
*[[Addie Dickman Miller]] (1859–1936), College founder and inventor
*[[Paul Peek (politician)|Paul Peek]] (1904–1987), [[Associate Justice]] of the [[California Supreme Court]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{Portal|Iowa}}  
*[http://www.westunion.com West Union Chamber of Commerce], including official city information
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/West-Union-Iowa.html City-Data] comprehensive statistical data about West Union

{{Fayette County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:West Union, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Fayette County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:County seats in Iowa]]