Carter Lake, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Carter Lake is a city in Pottawattamie County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 3,248 at the 2000 census.
The city is surrounded on three sides by Omaha, Nebraska
and on the fourth by the Missouri River
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (9.95%) is water.
. This is due to a flood
that occurred in March 1877, which redirected the course of the river 2 km (1.25 mi) to the southeast. The remnants of the old river course, which were called Saratoga Bend, became an oxbow lake
, Carter Lake, for which the town is named today.
Soon after the formation of the lake, the site became a flourishing recreational area. It included, "a boathouse at the foot of Locust street, hotels and club houses were numerous and the lake was the scene of many a pleasant rowing and fishing party."
After extensive litigation between Iowa and Nebraska, in 1892 the Supreme Court of the United States
finally ruled that Carter Lake belonged to Iowa in Nebraska v. Iowa, 143 U.S. 359 (1891). Although the general rule is that state boundaries follow gradual changes in the course of a river, the Court ruled that an exception exists when a river avulses
one of its bends
. In 1972, the court made another ruling on the circumstances of Carter Lake when it ruled on a boundary dispute between the two states in Nebraska v. Iowa, 406 U.S. 117 (1972).
Legally considered part of Council Bluffs
, residents lacked the basic city services enjoyed by residents east of the Missouri but were still subject to city taxes. The community successfully seceded in the 1920s, intending to become part of Omaha, but the Nebraska city did not want to pay to extend sewers or water lines either and in 1930 Carter Lake was incorporated as its own municipality.
During the late 1930s and 1940s the Chez Paree nightclub and casino operated openly in Carter Lake because casinos were legal in Iowa but illegal in Nebraska. Consequently, Carter Lake gained the reputation as the biggest gambling spot between Chicago and Reno.
A mistaken belief that a defendant corporation located in Carter Lake was a legal resident of Nebraska resulted in a second U.S. Supreme Court case, Owen Equipment & Erection Co. v. Kroger
, 437 U.S. 365 (1978). This case clarified the law regarding ancillary jurisdiction
, which allows claims based on state law to be heard in federal courts when related to a claim based on federal law.
Carter Lake creates a geographic oddity for travelers going to Eppley Airfield
which it surrounds on the south and west. Consequently travelers going to Eppley Airfield from anywhere except North Omaha will be going through Carter Lake, Iowa. It has caused great confusion when travelers not used to the area go through and see a "Welcome to Iowa" sign on their way to and from the airport.
of 2000, there are 3,248 people, 1,221 households, and 914 families residing in the city. The population density
is 1,799.7 people per square mile (696.7/km²). There are 1,292 housing units at an average density of 715.9 per square mile (277.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 96.71% White, 0.25% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.86% from other races
, and 1.20% from two or more races. 2.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,221 households out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% are married couples
living together, 13.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% are non-families. 20.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.66 and the average family size is 3.04.
Age/Gender Breakdown: 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,851, and the median income for a family is $42,794. Males have a median income of $30,946 versus $23,309 for females. The per capita income
for the city is $18,758. 7.1% of the population and 4.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Pottawattamie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 93,158 in the 2010 census, an increase from 87,704 in the 2000 census and is the second largest county by area in Iowa. The Pottawattamie county seat is located at Council Bluffs. It is one of three Iowa...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,248 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Carter Lake is located at 41°17′34"N 95°54′50"W (41.292647, -95.913989).The city is surrounded on three sides by Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
and on the fourth by the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (9.95%) is water.
History
Carter Lake is the only city in Iowa located west of the Missouri RiverBorder irregularities of the United States
Border irregularities of the United States, particularly panhandles, territory effectively an exclave because of water, and highway incursions into other states, are not uncommon. Often they are a result of geometric borders not following geological features...
. This is due to a flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
that occurred in March 1877, which redirected the course of the river 2 km (1.25 mi) to the southeast. The remnants of the old river course, which were called Saratoga Bend, became an oxbow lake
Oxbow lake
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake. This landform is called an oxbow lake for the distinctive curved shape, named after part of a yoke for oxen. In Australia, an oxbow lake is called a billabong, derived...
, Carter Lake, for which the town is named today.
Soon after the formation of the lake, the site became a flourishing recreational area. It included, "a boathouse at the foot of Locust street, hotels and club houses were numerous and the lake was the scene of many a pleasant rowing and fishing party."
After extensive litigation between Iowa and Nebraska, in 1892 the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
finally ruled that Carter Lake belonged to Iowa in Nebraska v. Iowa, 143 U.S. 359 (1891). Although the general rule is that state boundaries follow gradual changes in the course of a river, the Court ruled that an exception exists when a river avulses
Avulsion (river)
In sedimentary geology and fluvial geomorphology, avulsion is the rapid abandonment of a river channel and the formation of a new river channel. Avulsions occur as a result of channel slopes that are much lower than the slope that the river could travel if it took a new course.-Deltaic and...
one of its bends
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
. In 1972, the court made another ruling on the circumstances of Carter Lake when it ruled on a boundary dispute between the two states in Nebraska v. Iowa, 406 U.S. 117 (1972).
Legally considered part of Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, residents lacked the basic city services enjoyed by residents east of the Missouri but were still subject to city taxes. The community successfully seceded in the 1920s, intending to become part of Omaha, but the Nebraska city did not want to pay to extend sewers or water lines either and in 1930 Carter Lake was incorporated as its own municipality.
During the late 1930s and 1940s the Chez Paree nightclub and casino operated openly in Carter Lake because casinos were legal in Iowa but illegal in Nebraska. Consequently, Carter Lake gained the reputation as the biggest gambling spot between Chicago and Reno.
A mistaken belief that a defendant corporation located in Carter Lake was a legal resident of Nebraska resulted in a second U.S. Supreme Court case, Owen Equipment & Erection Co. v. Kroger
Owen Equipment & Erection Co. v. Kroger
Owen Equipment & Erection Co. v. Kroger, , is a case that was decided by the United States Supreme Court regarding the civil procedure subject of ancillary jurisdiction.- Facts :...
, 437 U.S. 365 (1978). This case clarified the law regarding ancillary jurisdiction
Ancillary jurisdiction
Ancillary jurisdiction allows a United States federal court to hear certain claims sufficiently related to the original claim that would otherwise defeat the court's jurisdiction...
, which allows claims based on state law to be heard in federal courts when related to a claim based on federal law.
Carter Lake creates a geographic oddity for travelers going to Eppley Airfield
Eppley Airfield
Eppley Airfield is a medium hub primary airport located three miles northeast of the central business district of Omaha, a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. It is the largest airport in the state of Nebraska...
which it surrounds on the south and west. Consequently travelers going to Eppley Airfield from anywhere except North Omaha will be going through Carter Lake, Iowa. It has caused great confusion when travelers not used to the area go through and see a "Welcome to Iowa" sign on their way to and from the airport.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there are 3,248 people, 1,221 households, and 914 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 1,799.7 people per square mile (696.7/km²). There are 1,292 housing units at an average density of 715.9 per square mile (277.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 96.71% White, 0.25% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.86% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.20% from two or more races. 2.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,221 households out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% are married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% are non-families. 20.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.66 and the average family size is 3.04.
Age/Gender Breakdown: 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,851, and the median income for a family is $42,794. Males have a median income of $30,946 versus $23,309 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city is $18,758. 7.1% of the population and 4.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- City of Carter Lake
- History of Carter Lake
- Carter Lake Police Department
- Edward F. Owen Memorial Library
- Carter Lake Elementary School
- Carter Lake Community Resource Center
- Carter Lake Preservation Society
- Carter Lake Weather
- Map showing history of Missouri River shifts at Carter Lake
- City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Carter Lake