Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city
in Iowa
and is the county seat
of Linn County
. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, 20 miles (32.2 km) north of Iowa City
and 100 miles (160.9 km) east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city. City hall
and the Linn County Courthouse
are located on Mays Island
in the Cedar River; Cedar Rapids is one of few cities in the world with governmental offices on a municipal island.
A flourishing center for arts and culture in Eastern Iowa, the city is home to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
, the Paramount Theatre
, Theatre Cedar Rapids, and the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance. Cedar Rapids is an economic hub of the state, located in the core of the Interstate 380
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Technology Corridor of Linn
, Benton
, Jones
, Johnson
, and Washington counties. The estimated population of the three-county Metropolitan Statistical Area
, which includes the nearby cities of Marion
and Hiawatha
, was 255,452 in 2008. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was to 126,326. The Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor has an estimated population of 423,353 as of 2006.
Cedar Rapids has been residence to famous figures for the United States, including American Gothic
painter Grant Wood
, journalist and historian William L. Shirer
, writer and photographer Carl Van Vechten
, and aerodynamics pioneer Dr. Alexander Lippisch
. In the 1990s and 2000s, Hollywood would feature several Cedar Rapidians including actors Bobby Driscoll
, Ashton Kutcher
, Elijah Wood
and Ron Livingston
. The area has also produced a number of professional athletes such as Ryan Sweeney
, Trent Green
, and Kurt Warner
. The city is also the setting for a musical, The Pajama Game
and the comedy film Cedar Rapids
.
Cedar Rapids is nicknamed the "City of Five Seasons", for the "fifth season", which is time to enjoy the other four. The symbol of the five seasons is the Tree of Five Seasons sculpture in downtown along the north river bank. The name "Five Seasons" and representations of the sculpture appear throughout the city in many forms.
The first permanent settler, Osgood Shepherd, arrived in 1838. When Cedar Rapids was first established in 1838, William Stone named the town Columbus. In 1841 it was resurveyed and renamed by N.B. Brown and his associates. They named the town Cedar Rapids for the rapid
s in the Cedar River at the site, and the river itself was named for the large number of red cedar
trees that grew along its banks. Cedar Rapids was incorporated on January 15, 1849. Cedar Rapids annexed
the community of Kingston in 1870.
The economic growth of Cedar Rapids increased in 1871 upon the founding of the Sinclair meatpacking company.
During the Iowa flood of 2008
, the Cedar River reached a record high of 31.12 feet (9.5 m) on June 13, 2008, the previous record was 20 feet (6.1 m) surpassing the 500-year flood plain. 1,126 city block
s were flooded, or more than 10 square miles (25.9 km²), 561 city blocks were severely damaged, on both banks of the Cedar River. This is 14% of the city's total area. There were a total of 7,749 flooded properties that had to be evacuated, 5,900 were homes, and 310 were city facilities including the City Hall
, Central Fire Station, Main Public Library, Ground Transportation Center, Public Works building, and Animal Control building. It is estimated 1300 or more properties are to be demolished in the Cedar Rapids area because of the flood.
, in the middle of the river, is the only area of the city where addresses have no quadrant. Areas outside of the city limit that use the "Cedar Rapids" city name on their mailing address also do not use the quadrants.
Except in the downtown area, 1st Avenue and the Cedar River tend to run diagonally instead of along the cardinal directions. Due to the curving of 1st Avenue, there are some areas in western Cedar Rapids where NW addresses are actually south of SW addresses.
Cedar Rapids is divided into fourteen ZIP Code
s. Mays Island and the downtown area are covered by 52401. The northeast quadrant is covered by 52402 and 52411. The southeast quadrant is covered by 52403. The southwest quadrant is covered by 52404. The northwest quadrant is covered by 52405. Post office box
es are covered by ZIP codes 52406, 52407, 52408, 52409, and 52410. Several other ZIP codes are for specific business (Aegon
USA, Rockwell Collins
, etc.).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 64.4 square miles (166.8 km²), of which, 63.1 square miles (163.5 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²) of it (1.99%) is water.
is one of the major tourist attractions in Cedar Rapids, and the nearby Bohemian National Cemetery may also be of interest to visitors. The National Czech & Slovak Museum's main building was located directly on the river and was badly damaged by the 2008 floods. As of late 2010, the Board of Directors of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is pursuing a plan to move and then elevate its flood-damaged museum building. There is a temporary location open in Czech Village that people may visit as the main site is in the process of recovery.
The Cedar Rapids Czech Heritage Foundation is one of many local organizations working to promote and preserve Czech heritage in Cedar Rapids. They support and sponsor many programs and events throughout the year. One of these programs is the Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa pageant. Two Miss Czech-Slovak US queens can claim this community as home: Lisa Volesky and Stasia Krivanek.
Olga Drahozal is the famed band leader of the Czech Plus Polka Band, a performing group that frequents the Kosek Band Stand. She, along with Bessie Duggena and Leona Poduška, taught Czech School (Česká škola) at Wilson Middle School.
In 2003, the African-American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa opened its doors. Cedar Rapids is also home to the historic 26 acre (105,000 m²) Brucemore Estate
, on which sits a 21-room mansion, and the Masonic
Library and Museum.
There are twelve active neighborhood associations in Cedar Rapids. The neighborhoods nearest downtown include Wellington Heights and Oakhill Jackson in the southeast quadrant and Moundview in the northeast quadrant. Also farther north in the northeast quadrant is the Kenwood Park which was independent until it was incorporated into the Cedar Rapids city limits and Noelridge Park neighborhood. The boundaries of Kenwood are 32nd Street to Oakland Road to Old Marion Road to C Avenue to 40th Street then 1st Avenue between 40th street and 32nd Street.
In addition to the neighborhood associations in Cedar Rapids, there are many informal, unofficial neighborhoods, such as Bowman Woods, Vernon Heights, Stoney Point, and Wilderness Estates.
In 2009, Cedar Rapids was rated one of the "Top 10 cities to Grow Up In" in the United States, partly due to a low crime rate and a good public school system.
of 2010, there were 126,326 people, 53,236 households, and 30,931 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,784.3 people per square mile (688.9/km²). There were 57,217 housing units at an average density of 808.2 per square mile (312.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.98% White, 5.58% African American, 0.31% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races
, and 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.31% of the population.
There were 53,236 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.3 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
Based on the 2010 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimates, the median income for a household in the city was $51,186, and the median income for a family was $63,265. Males had a median income of $40,413 versus $26,402 for females. The per capita income
for the city is $26,370. About 6.3% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under the age of 18 and 4.3% of those 65 or older.
In the 2000 census, Cedar Rapids was 91.9% non-Hispanic white, with well over half of the population claiming a specific ethnic European ancestry, such as Germans (35.5%), Irish
(17.1%), English
(9.4%), Czechs (7.8%), Norwegians
(5.1%), and French
from either France or Canada (3.2%). The city also has a growing minority population: for example, in the three-year period from 2006 to 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 4.9% of the Cedar Rapids population identified as African American
s, up from 3.7% in the 2000 census. There are also Asian (such as Cambodian
s, many of whom arrived in the 1980s), Arab-American and Hispanic
communities after an influx of immigrant workers arrived in the 1990s.
The Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area
consists of Linn
, Benton
, and Jones
counties. The MSA had a 2000 census population of 237,230, with an estimated 2008 population of 255,452; Linn County was the only county in the MSA before the MSA was redefined after the 2000 census.
As a growing job center, Cedar Rapids pulls commuters from nearby Marion
and Hiawatha
. Other towns that have become bedroom communities
include Ely
, Swisher
, Shueyville
, Palo
, Atkins
, Fairfax
, Walford
, Robins
and Bertram
.
culture in the United States. The National Muslim Cemetery on 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of land donated by Haj. Yahya William Aossey in 1948 is said to be the first exclusively Muslim cemetery in North America. Graves in the cemetery face Mecca
. The Mother Mosque of America
, dedicated on June 16, 1934, is the longest standing mosque in North America and the second oldest after the 1929 mosque built in Ross, North Dakota
. In 1972, another mosque was built and the original mosque was sold and fell into disrepair before being purchased in 1990 by the Islamic Council of Iowa and renovated. It is on the National Register of Historic Places
. The Iowa flood of 2008
extensively damaged the basement, destroying many historic documents.
Muslim presence in the area dates to 1895 when the first immigrants arrived from the Beqaa Valley
in today's Lebanon
and Syria
. Islamic Services of America (I.S.A.) was established in Cedar Rapids in 1975 and provides Halal
Certification and supervision throughout the world.
company Rockwell Collins
is based in Cedar Rapids, and Aegon
has its United States headquarters there. A large Quaker Oats mill, one of the four that merged in 1901 to form Quaker Oats, dominates the north side of downtown. Other large companies that have facilities in Cedar Rapids include Archer Daniels Midland
, Cargill
, General Mills
, and Nordstrom
. Newspaperarchive
, based in Cedar Rapids, is the largest newspaper archive in North America with a repository of more than 150 million pages assembled over 250 years; it was taken offline for two days by the 2008 flood.
, a National Trust Historic Site, among others.
Cedar Rapids is also home to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Legion Art's CSPS Hall, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
, the African American Historical Museum, Kirkwood Community College
's Iowa Hall Gallery, and the legendary Grant Wood
Studio at 5 Turner Alley. These Cedar Rapids venues have recently hosted world class and award nominated exhibitions, including the works of Andy Warhol
, Grant Wood
, and the Iowa Biennial
, among others.
The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art houses the largest collection of Grant Wood paintings in the world. The 1920s Paramount Theatre
is home to the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra and the Cedar Rapids Area Theatre Organ Society. Concerts and events such as high school graduations, sporting events, exhibitions, and political rallies are held in the U.S. Cellular Center
, formerly known as The Five Seasons Center.
Many arts centers in Cedar Rapids sustained severe damage during the June 2008 flood
. Among those severely damaged are the Paramount Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids, the National Czech & Slovak Museum, and the African American Historical Museum. Two Wurlitzer organs were damaged, located at the Paramount Theatre and Theatre Cedar Rapids. The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art suffered minor damage. It is expected to cost $25 million to repair the Paramount; Theatre Cedar Rapids reopened in February 2010.
team Cedar Rapids Kernels
, a member of the Midwest League
since 1962. The Kernels are a Class-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The ice hockey
team Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
are a member of the USHL and were once Clark Cup Champions. There is also a junior hockey league, the Cedar Rapids Hockey Association, with mini-mite-high school teams. Sports facilities include Veterans Memorial Stadium
for baseball, Kingston Stadium for football and track, the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena
for hockey, Hawkeye Downs Speedway, a half-mile paved racetrack featuring weekly racing and national and regional touring series as well as a motocross arena, and the U.S. Cellular Center
(formerly the Five Seasons Center) for basketball. This arena also hosts the Iowa High School volleyball championships and many concerts.
Cedar Rapids is also home to the high competitive "metro" athletic teams, representing Jefferson, Washington, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Xavier, and Prairie high schools.
Cedar Rapids is also the birth place of NASCAR Nationwide's 2008 RAYBESTO's Rookie Of The Year Landon Cassill
.
From April 6, 1908, to December 31, 2005, Cedar Rapids used the city commission
form of government. It was one of the few larger American cities remaining to operate under this model. Under this form of government, the council was made up of a public safety commissioner, a streets commissioner, a finance commissioner, a parks commissioner, and a mayor. The council members worked on a full-time basis, served two year terms, and were considered department heads. Don Canney
, the longest serving mayor in city history, served for twenty-two years under this system. The last mayor of Cedar Rapids under this form of government was Paul Pate
.
In 2005 the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce spearheaded a movement to change from the commission form of government. A panel was appointed by Mayor Pate and the City Council to study the issue, and recommended that voters be presented with three options:
On June 14, 2005, voters went to the polls to decide whether to adopt a new form of government or continue with the commission form. 28,818 of the 83,514 registered voters (29.72%) cast ballots on the issue. 68.80% of the voters decided to adopt a new form of government. Elections were held on November 8, 2005 and 30 candidates ran. Kay Halloran, a retired attorney and state legislator, became the first mayor elected under the new system. Several members of the city council were elected outright; however, the remaining races were close enough to require a runoff election
, which took place in December.
Cedar Rapids now has an Iowa "Home Rule" charter which establishes a weak mayor
system with a part-time City Council and Mayor both on four year terms. The eight-member Council is divided into five districts. One council member is elected from each district and the remaining three members are elected on an at-large basis. The mayor's salary is $30,000 and each member's is $15,000.
The Council and Mayor hired Jim Prosser as City Manager in the summer of 2006. Prior to hiring Prosser, James Flitz, formerly the City Attorney, served as interim City Manager. Department directors report to the City Manager, who has authority over employment, except in the case of the Police and Fire Chiefs, which require Council approval. The first meeting of the Council was held on January 3, 2006.
and Mount Mercy College
(now Mount Mercy University). The University of Iowa
also has an evening MBA
facility there. Kirkwood Community College
is the area's only two-year college, while Kaplan University
(formerly Hamilton College
) and Upper Iowa University
also have campuses there. Cornell College
in Mount Vernon
and the University of Iowa's main campus in Iowa City
are both within 30 miles (48.3 km) of Cedar Rapids.
The Cedar Rapids Community School District is the largest school district in the metropolitan area with an enrollment of 17,263 in the 2006-2007 school year. The district contains 24 elementary school
s, six middle school
s, and four high school
s: Jefferson, Washington
, Kennedy, and Metro High School
(an alternative high school). Two neighboring school districts draw students from within the Cedar Rapids city limits. The Linn-Mar Community School District
serves part of the northeast quadrant of the city and has seven elementary schools inside the city limits. The College Community School District serves part of the southwest quadrant of Cedar Rapids as well as neighboring rural portions of Linn
, Benton
and Johnson
counties. Located in a central campus off Interstate 380 are College Community's four elementary schools, Prairie Creek Intermediate, Prairie Point Middle School & Ninth Grade Academy, and Prairie High School
.
The Cedar Rapids Metro Catholic Education System, which is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
, consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school (Xavier
). The Cedar Rapids Catholic Education System and Cedar Rapids Community School District are synonymous with each other in the Cedar Rapids Public and Parochial School System.
The city hosts several private schools, including Cedar Valley Christian School
, Trinity Lutheran School, and Isaac Newton Christian Academy.
with 172,000 listeners aged 12 and older.
Clear Channel Communications
owns four stations in the Cedar Rapids area, including WMT
600 AM, a news/talk
station that has broadcast since 1922. Clear Channel also owns WMT-FM
96.5, a hot adult contemporary station; KMJM
1360 AM, a classic country
station; and KKSY
95.7 FM, a modern country music station. Cumulus Media
owns four stations in Cedar Rapids: KDAT
104.5 FM (adult contemporary), KHAK
98.1 FM (country music
), KRNA
94.1 FM (active rock
), and KRQN
107.1 (contemporary hits
). Three other stations in Cedar Rapids are independently owned: KZIA
102.9 FM (contemporary hits
), KGYM 1600 AM (sports radio
), and KMRY 1450 AM (adult standards
). Several stations from Waterloo
and Iowa City
also figure into ratings in Cedar Rapids. These stations include KFMW
107.9 FM, otherwise known as Rock 108 with an active rock
format and KOKZ
105.7 FM which has a classic hits
format. Both stations are located in Waterloo. Clear Channel
owned KKRQ
100.7 FM and its classic rock
format is the Iowa City station that is typically highly rated in Cedar Rapids.
The only non-commercial station licensed to Cedar Rapids is KCCK-FM
88.3 FM, a jazz
station licensed to Kirkwood Community College
. KXGM-FM 89.1 is a non-commercial contemporary Christian music
station licensed to neighboring Hiawatha. NPR stations from Cedar Falls
(KUNI (FM)
90.9 FM) and Iowa City (KSUI
91.7 FM and WSUI
910 AM) reach Cedar Rapids.
-Iowa City
-Dubuque
media market
consists of 21 eastern Iowa counties: Allamakee
, Benton
, Black Hawk
, Bremer, Buchanan
, Butler
, Cedar
, Chickasaw
, Clayton
, Delaware
, Dubuque
, Fayette
, Grundy
, Iowa
, Johnson
, Jones
, Keokuk
, Linn
, Tama
, Washington, and Winneshiek
. It is ranked 88th by Nielsen Media Research
for the 2008-2009 television season with 346,330 television households.
Cedar Rapids is home to four network-affiliated stations: KGAN
channel 2 (CBS
), KCRG
channel 9 (ABC
), KFXA
channel 28 (Fox
), and KPXR
channel 48 (ION). NBC
affiliate KWWL channel 7 is based in Waterloo but maintains a newsroom inside the Alliant Energy
tower in downtown Cedar Rapids. Other stations in the market are KWKB
channel 20 (CW
/MyNetwork TV), licensed to Iowa City; KWWF
channel 22 (RTN
), licensed to Waterloo; and KFXB
channel 40 (CTN
), licensed to Dubuque. Public television
is provided by Iowa Public Television
, which has two stations in the area: KIIN channel 12 in Iowa City and KRIN channel 32 in Waterloo. Mediacom
and local company ImOn Communications provide cable television
service to Cedar Rapids.
Print
The Gazette
is the primary daily newspaper for Cedar Rapids. The Cedar Rapids Gazette won a Pulitzer Prize in 1936, under editor Verne Marshall and primarily due to his efforts and articles, for its campaign against corruption and misgovernment in the State of Iowa.
is an American comedy film about a naive insurance agent Ed Helms
who is sent to represent his company at a regional conference in big town Cedar Rapids.
While the film's setting is Cedar Rapids, the film was actually shot in Ann Arbor, Michigan
(formerly known as the Cedar Rapids Airport), a regional airport that connects with other regional and international airports. Cedar Rapids Transit and private bus lines also connect at the airport.
Interstate 380
, part of the Avenue of the Saints
, runs north-south through Cedar Rapids. U.S. Highways 30, 151, and 218 and Iowa Highway 13 and Iowa Highway 100 also serve the city.
Cedar Rapids is served by four major railroads. They are the Union Pacific, the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway
(Crandic), the Canadian National, and the Iowa Northern Railway Company [IANR]. The Iowa Northern Railway has its headquarters in the historic Paramount Theater Building. The Crandic and the Iowa Interstate Railroad also are headquartered in Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Interstate reaches the city via the Crandic tracks, running a daily train from Iowa City, Iowa
to Cedar Rapids.
Cedar Rapids is linked to other Midwestern cities by the Burlington Trailways
bus hub at the Eastern Iowa Airport.
The city is also served by Cedar Rapids Transit
, consisting of an extensive bus system and taxis. Cedar Rapids Transit operates scheduled bus service throughout the city and to Marion. A series of enclosed pedestrian skywalks
connect several downtown buildings.
and Mercy Medical Center.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in 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...
and is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Linn County
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, 20 miles (32.2 km) north of Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
and 100 miles (160.9 km) east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city. City hall
Veterans Memorial Building (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
The Veteran’s Memorial Building is located on May’s Island in the middle of the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It, along with the Linn County Courthouse, is a contributing property to the May's Island Historic District that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
and the Linn County Courthouse
Linn County Courthouse (Iowa)
The Linn County Courthouse is located on May’s Island in the middle of the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It, along with the Veterans Memorial Building, is a contributing property to the May's Island Historic District that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
are located on Mays Island
Mays Island
Mays Island is a small island in the Cedar River, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Functioning as a civic center rather much like the Île de la Cité, it is the site of the city hall, the Linn County Courthouse, and the county jail. It was listed as an Historic District on the National Register of Historic...
in the Cedar River; Cedar Rapids is one of few cities in the world with governmental offices on a municipal island.
A flourishing center for arts and culture in Eastern Iowa, the city is home to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is a museum and library of Czech and Slovak history and culture located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the United States. Established in 1974, the museum and library moved to its present site in 1983. The museum was severely affected by the Iowa flood of 2008...
, the Paramount Theatre
Paramount Theatre (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
The Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a 6-story brick building located in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The theater is a restored example of a 1920's movie/vaudeville palace...
, Theatre Cedar Rapids, and the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance. Cedar Rapids is an economic hub of the state, located in the core of the Interstate 380
Interstate 380 (Iowa)
Interstate 380 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway located in eastern Iowa. The route extends from Interstate 80 near Coralville to Waterloo. I-380 connects the cities of Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, the second- and fifth-largest cities in the state, respectively, to the Interstate Highway System. ...
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Technology Corridor of Linn
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Benton
Benton County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 26,076 in the county, with a population density of . There were 11,095 housing units, of which 10,302 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Jones
Jones County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,638 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,911 housing units, of which 8,151 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Johnson
Johnson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 130,882 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,967 housing units, of which 52,715 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, and Washington counties. The estimated population of the three-county Metropolitan Statistical Area
Cedar Rapids metropolitan area
The Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Iowa, anchored by the city of Cedar Rapids...
, which includes the nearby cities of Marion
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
and Hiawatha
Hiawatha, Iowa
Hiawatha is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. It is a suburb located north of Cedar Rapids and is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, was 255,452 in 2008. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was to 126,326. The Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor has an estimated population of 423,353 as of 2006.
Cedar Rapids has been residence to famous figures for the United States, including American Gothic
American Gothic
American Gothic is a painting by Grant Wood, in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood's inspiration came from a cottage designed in the Gothic Revival style with a distinctive upper window and a decision to paint the house along with "the kind of people I fancied should live in that...
painter Grant Wood
Grant Wood
Grant DeVolson Wood was an American painter, born four miles east of Anamosa, Iowa. He is best known for his paintings depicting the rural American Midwest, particularly the painting American Gothic, an iconic image of the 20th century.- Life and career :His family moved to Cedar Rapids after his...
, journalist and historian William L. Shirer
William L. Shirer
William Lawrence Shirer was an American journalist, war correspondent, and historian, who wrote The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a history of Nazi Germany read and cited in scholarly works for more than 50 years...
, writer and photographer Carl Van Vechten
Carl van Vechten
Carl Van Vechten was an American writer and photographer who was a patron of the Harlem Renaissance and the literary executor of Gertrude Stein.-Biography:...
, and aerodynamics pioneer Dr. Alexander Lippisch
Alexander Lippisch
Alexander Martin Lippisch was a German pioneer of aerodynamics. He made important contributions to the understanding of flying wings, delta wings and the ground effect. His most famous design is the Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket-powered interceptor.Lippisch was born in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria...
. In the 1990s and 2000s, Hollywood would feature several Cedar Rapidians including actors Bobby Driscoll
Bobby Driscoll
Robert Cletus "Bobby" Driscoll was an American child actor known for a large body of cinema and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. He starred in some of The Walt Disney Company's most popular live-action pictures of that period, such as Song of the South , So Dear to My Heart , and Treasure Island...
, Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
, Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood
Elijah Jordan Wood is an American actor. He made his film debut with a minor part in Back to the Future Part II , then landed a succession of larger roles that made him a critically acclaimed child actor by age 9. He is best known for his high-profile role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's...
and Ron Livingston
Ron Livingston
Ronald Joseph "Ron" Livingston is an American film and television actor. His roles include a disaffected corporate employee in the film Office Space, a sardonic writer in a short-term relationship with Carrie Bradshaw in the TV show Sex and the City, and Captain Lewis Nixon in the miniseries...
. The area has also produced a number of professional athletes such as Ryan Sweeney
Ryan Sweeney
Ryan Joseph Sweeney is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics.-Early life:...
, Trent Green
Trent Green
Trent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
, and Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner
Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
. The city is also the setting for a musical, The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. It features a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven-and-a-half cents raise are going unheeded...
and the comedy film Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids (film)
Cedar Rapids is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Miguel Arteta. The script, written by Phil Johnston, was included on the 2009 Blacklist, a Hollywood list of the most popular unproduced screenplays of the year.-Plot:...
.
Cedar Rapids is nicknamed the "City of Five Seasons", for the "fifth season", which is time to enjoy the other four. The symbol of the five seasons is the Tree of Five Seasons sculpture in downtown along the north river bank. The name "Five Seasons" and representations of the sculpture appear throughout the city in many forms.
History
The location of present-day Cedar Rapids was in the territory of the Fox and Sac tribes.The first permanent settler, Osgood Shepherd, arrived in 1838. When Cedar Rapids was first established in 1838, William Stone named the town Columbus. In 1841 it was resurveyed and renamed by N.B. Brown and his associates. They named the town Cedar Rapids for the rapid
Rapid
A rapid is a section of a river where the river bed has a relatively steep gradient causing an increase in water velocity and turbulence. A rapid is a hydrological feature between a run and a cascade. A rapid is characterised by the river becoming shallower and having some rocks exposed above the...
s in the Cedar River at the site, and the river itself was named for the large number of red cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Juniperus virginiana is a species of juniper native to eastern North America, from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, east of the Great Plains...
trees that grew along its banks. Cedar Rapids was incorporated on January 15, 1849. Cedar Rapids annexed
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
the community of Kingston in 1870.
The economic growth of Cedar Rapids increased in 1871 upon the founding of the Sinclair meatpacking company.
Flood of 2008
Iowa flood of 2008
The Iowa flood of 2008 was a hydrological event involving most of the rivers in eastern Iowa beginning around June 8, 2008 and ending about July 1. Flooding continued on the Upper Mississippi River in the southeastern portion of the state for several more days...
, the Cedar River reached a record high of 31.12 feet (9.5 m) on June 13, 2008, the previous record was 20 feet (6.1 m) surpassing the 500-year flood plain. 1,126 city block
City block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
s were flooded, or more than 10 square miles (25.9 km²), 561 city blocks were severely damaged, on both banks of the Cedar River. This is 14% of the city's total area. There were a total of 7,749 flooded properties that had to be evacuated, 5,900 were homes, and 310 were city facilities including the City Hall
Seat of local government
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
, Central Fire Station, Main Public Library, Ground Transportation Center, Public Works building, and Animal Control building. It is estimated 1300 or more properties are to be demolished in the Cedar Rapids area because of the flood.
Geography
The city is divided into four quadrants, used in addressing. 1st Avenue (U.S. Route 151 Business) divides the north and south sides of the city, and the Cedar River divides east and west. Mays IslandMays Island
Mays Island is a small island in the Cedar River, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Functioning as a civic center rather much like the Île de la Cité, it is the site of the city hall, the Linn County Courthouse, and the county jail. It was listed as an Historic District on the National Register of Historic...
, in the middle of the river, is the only area of the city where addresses have no quadrant. Areas outside of the city limit that use the "Cedar Rapids" city name on their mailing address also do not use the quadrants.
Except in the downtown area, 1st Avenue and the Cedar River tend to run diagonally instead of along the cardinal directions. Due to the curving of 1st Avenue, there are some areas in western Cedar Rapids where NW addresses are actually south of SW addresses.
Cedar Rapids is divided into fourteen ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s. Mays Island and the downtown area are covered by 52401. The northeast quadrant is covered by 52402 and 52411. The southeast quadrant is covered by 52403. The southwest quadrant is covered by 52404. The northwest quadrant is covered by 52405. Post office box
Post Office box
A post-office box or Post Office box is a uniquely addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office station....
es are covered by ZIP codes 52406, 52407, 52408, 52409, and 52410. Several other ZIP codes are for specific business (Aegon
AEGON
Aegon N.V. is one of the world’s largest life insurance and pension groups, and a strong provider of investment products. Aegon's head office is in The Hague, Netherlands...
USA, Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins, Inc. is a large United States-based international company headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, primarily providing aviation and information technology systems and services to governmental agencies and aircraft manufacturers.- History :...
, etc.).
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 64.4 square miles (166.8 km²), of which, 63.1 square miles (163.5 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²) of it (1.99%) is water.
Neighborhoods
Czech Village is located along 16th Avenue SW, which is south of the Cedar River. It is home to such Czech-related businesses as The Czech Cottage, Sykora Bakery, Al's Blue Toad, and Deda and Babi's Antiques. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & LibraryNational Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is a museum and library of Czech and Slovak history and culture located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the United States. Established in 1974, the museum and library moved to its present site in 1983. The museum was severely affected by the Iowa flood of 2008...
is one of the major tourist attractions in Cedar Rapids, and the nearby Bohemian National Cemetery may also be of interest to visitors. The National Czech & Slovak Museum's main building was located directly on the river and was badly damaged by the 2008 floods. As of late 2010, the Board of Directors of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is pursuing a plan to move and then elevate its flood-damaged museum building. There is a temporary location open in Czech Village that people may visit as the main site is in the process of recovery.
The Cedar Rapids Czech Heritage Foundation is one of many local organizations working to promote and preserve Czech heritage in Cedar Rapids. They support and sponsor many programs and events throughout the year. One of these programs is the Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa pageant. Two Miss Czech-Slovak US queens can claim this community as home: Lisa Volesky and Stasia Krivanek.
Olga Drahozal is the famed band leader of the Czech Plus Polka Band, a performing group that frequents the Kosek Band Stand. She, along with Bessie Duggena and Leona Poduška, taught Czech School (Česká škola) at Wilson Middle School.
In 2003, the African-American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa opened its doors. Cedar Rapids is also home to the historic 26 acre (105,000 m²) Brucemore Estate
Brucemore
Brucemore, a park-like, estate in the heart of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is the site of a Queen Anne-style mansion, formal gardens, a children’s garden, night garden, pond, orchard, and woodland. Built between 1884 and 1886 by Caroline Sinclair, widow of pioneer industrialist T.M...
, on which sits a 21-room mansion, and the Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
Library and Museum.
There are twelve active neighborhood associations in Cedar Rapids. The neighborhoods nearest downtown include Wellington Heights and Oakhill Jackson in the southeast quadrant and Moundview in the northeast quadrant. Also farther north in the northeast quadrant is the Kenwood Park which was independent until it was incorporated into the Cedar Rapids city limits and Noelridge Park neighborhood. The boundaries of Kenwood are 32nd Street to Oakland Road to Old Marion Road to C Avenue to 40th Street then 1st Avenue between 40th street and 32nd Street.
In addition to the neighborhood associations in Cedar Rapids, there are many informal, unofficial neighborhoods, such as Bowman Woods, Vernon Heights, Stoney Point, and Wilderness Estates.
In 2009, Cedar Rapids was rated one of the "Top 10 cities to Grow Up In" in the United States, partly due to a low crime rate and a good public school system.
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 2010, there were 126,326 people, 53,236 households, and 30,931 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...
was 1,784.3 people per square mile (688.9/km²). There were 57,217 housing units at an average density of 808.2 per square mile (312.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.98% White, 5.58% African American, 0.31% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.93% 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 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.31% of the population.
There were 53,236 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were 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, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.3 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
Based on the 2010 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimates, the median income for a household in the city was $51,186, and the median income for a family was $63,265. Males had a median income of $40,413 versus $26,402 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 $26,370. About 6.3% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under the age of 18 and 4.3% of those 65 or older.
In the 2000 census, Cedar Rapids was 91.9% non-Hispanic white, with well over half of the population claiming a specific ethnic European ancestry, such as Germans (35.5%), Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
(17.1%), English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
(9.4%), Czechs (7.8%), Norwegians
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
(5.1%), and French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
from either France or Canada (3.2%). The city also has a growing minority population: for example, in the three-year period from 2006 to 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 4.9% of the Cedar Rapids population identified as African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s, up from 3.7% in the 2000 census. There are also Asian (such as Cambodian
Cambodian American
A Cambodian American is an American who is born, raised, or from Cambodia usually of Khmer descent but also including Chinese Cambodians, Vietnamese Cambodians, Cham people and other ethnicities of Cambodia...
s, many of whom arrived in the 1980s), Arab-American and Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
communities after an influx of immigrant workers arrived in the 1990s.
Cedar Rapids metropolitan area
The Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Iowa, anchored by the city of Cedar Rapids...
consists of Linn
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Benton
Benton County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 26,076 in the county, with a population density of . There were 11,095 housing units, of which 10,302 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, and Jones
Jones County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,638 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,911 housing units, of which 8,151 were occupied.-2000 census:...
counties. The MSA had a 2000 census population of 237,230, with an estimated 2008 population of 255,452; Linn County was the only county in the MSA before the MSA was redefined after the 2000 census.
As a growing job center, Cedar Rapids pulls commuters from nearby Marion
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
and Hiawatha
Hiawatha, Iowa
Hiawatha is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. It is a suburb located north of Cedar Rapids and is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Other towns that have become bedroom communities
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
include Ely
Ely, Iowa
Ely is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,149 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ely is located at ....
, Swisher
Swisher, Iowa
Swisher is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 813 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Swisher is located at ....
, Shueyville
Shueyville, Iowa
Shueyville is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 250 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Shueyville is located at ....
, Palo
Palo, Iowa
Palo is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 614 at the 2000 census; a special census in 2006 counted 899 residents. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Atkins
Atkins, Iowa
Atkins is a city in Benton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 977 at the 2000 census; a special census conducted by the city in 2005 counted 1,297 residents. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Fairfax
Fairfax, Iowa
Fairfax is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2123 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Fairfax is located at . It is located along U.S...
, Walford
Walford, Iowa
Walford is a city in Benton and Linn counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,463 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Walford is located at ....
, Robins
Robins, Iowa
Robins is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,142 at the 2010 census. It is a suburb of Cedar Rapids and part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Robins is located at ....
and Bertram
Bertram, Iowa
Bertram is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 681 at the 2000 census, although the official population was later revised to 263 when officials discovered that 418 students living in a Cornell College dormitory in nearby Mount Vernon had incorrectly been reported as...
.
Muslim heritage
Cedar Rapids has played an important role in MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
culture in the United States. The National Muslim Cemetery on 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of land donated by Haj. Yahya William Aossey in 1948 is said to be the first exclusively Muslim cemetery in North America. Graves in the cemetery face Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. The Mother Mosque of America
Mother Mosque of America
The Mother Mosque of America, once known as The Rose of Fraternity Lodge and also known as Moslem Temple, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, is the longest standing mosque in North America...
, dedicated on June 16, 1934, is the longest standing mosque in North America and the second oldest after the 1929 mosque built in Ross, North Dakota
Ross, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 48 people, 24 households, and 13 families residing in the city. The population density was 169.6 people per square mile . There were 29 housing units at an average density of 102.5 per square mile...
. In 1972, another mosque was built and the original mosque was sold and fell into disrepair before being purchased in 1990 by the Islamic Council of Iowa and renovated. It is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Iowa flood of 2008
Iowa flood of 2008
The Iowa flood of 2008 was a hydrological event involving most of the rivers in eastern Iowa beginning around June 8, 2008 and ending about July 1. Flooding continued on the Upper Mississippi River in the southeastern portion of the state for several more days...
extensively damaged the basement, destroying many historic documents.
Muslim presence in the area dates to 1895 when the first immigrants arrived from the Beqaa Valley
Beqaa Valley
The Beqaa Valley is a fertile valley in east Lebanon. For the Romans, the Beqaa Valley was a major agricultural source, and today it remains Lebanon’s most important farming region...
in today's Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. Islamic Services of America (I.S.A.) was established in Cedar Rapids in 1975 and provides Halal
Halal
Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law...
Certification and supervision throughout the world.
Economy
Cedar Rapids is one of the largest cities in the world for corn processing. The grain processing industry is Cedar Rapids' most important sector, directly providing 4,000 jobs that pay on average $85,000, and also providing 8,000 indirectly. Fortune 500Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
company Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins, Inc. is a large United States-based international company headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, primarily providing aviation and information technology systems and services to governmental agencies and aircraft manufacturers.- History :...
is based in Cedar Rapids, and Aegon
AEGON
Aegon N.V. is one of the world’s largest life insurance and pension groups, and a strong provider of investment products. Aegon's head office is in The Hague, Netherlands...
has its United States headquarters there. A large Quaker Oats mill, one of the four that merged in 1901 to form Quaker Oats, dominates the north side of downtown. Other large companies that have facilities in Cedar Rapids include Archer Daniels Midland
Archer Daniels Midland
The Archer Daniels Midland Company is a conglomerate headquartered in Decatur, Illinois. ADM operates more than 270 plants worldwide, where cereal grains and oilseeds are processed into products used in food, beverage, nutraceutical, industrial and animal feed markets worldwide.ADM was named the...
, Cargill
Cargill
Cargill, Incorporated is a privately held, multinational corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1865, it is now the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2011, number 13 on the Fortune 500,...
, General Mills
General Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
, and Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
. Newspaperarchive
Newspaperarchive
NewspaperARCHIVE.com is an online database of digitized newspapers. The site was launched in 1999 by its parent company, Heritage Archives of Cedar Rapids, Iowa...
, based in Cedar Rapids, is the largest newspaper archive in North America with a repository of more than 150 million pages assembled over 250 years; it was taken offline for two days by the 2008 flood.
Arts and culture
Cedar Rapids is home to the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, the Paramount Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids, and BrucemoreBrucemore
Brucemore, a park-like, estate in the heart of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is the site of a Queen Anne-style mansion, formal gardens, a children’s garden, night garden, pond, orchard, and woodland. Built between 1884 and 1886 by Caroline Sinclair, widow of pioneer industrialist T.M...
, a National Trust Historic Site, among others.
Cedar Rapids is also home to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Legion Art's CSPS Hall, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is a museum and library of Czech and Slovak history and culture located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the United States. Established in 1974, the museum and library moved to its present site in 1983. The museum was severely affected by the Iowa flood of 2008...
, the African American Historical Museum, Kirkwood Community College
Kirkwood Community College
Kirkwood Community College is a two-year Liberal Arts college serving seven counties in Iowa. Kirkwood's main campus is in Cedar Rapids, with additional campuses in Marion, Iowa City, Belle Plaine, Monticello, Tipton, Vinton, Washington and Williamsburg....
's Iowa Hall Gallery, and the legendary Grant Wood
Grant Wood
Grant DeVolson Wood was an American painter, born four miles east of Anamosa, Iowa. He is best known for his paintings depicting the rural American Midwest, particularly the painting American Gothic, an iconic image of the 20th century.- Life and career :His family moved to Cedar Rapids after his...
Studio at 5 Turner Alley. These Cedar Rapids venues have recently hosted world class and award nominated exhibitions, including the works of Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
, Grant Wood
Grant Wood
Grant DeVolson Wood was an American painter, born four miles east of Anamosa, Iowa. He is best known for his paintings depicting the rural American Midwest, particularly the painting American Gothic, an iconic image of the 20th century.- Life and career :His family moved to Cedar Rapids after his...
, and the Iowa Biennial
Iowa Biennial
The Iowa Biennial Exhibition and Archive began in 2004 as an international survey of contemporary miniature printmaking with its initial exhibition held at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. Works juried for the exhibition travel for exhibitions within the U.S...
, among others.
The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art houses the largest collection of Grant Wood paintings in the world. The 1920s Paramount Theatre
Paramount Theatre (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
The Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a 6-story brick building located in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The theater is a restored example of a 1920's movie/vaudeville palace...
is home to the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra and the Cedar Rapids Area Theatre Organ Society. Concerts and events such as high school graduations, sporting events, exhibitions, and political rallies are held in the U.S. Cellular Center
U.S. Cellular Center
The U.S. Cellular Center is a multi-purpose arena, located in the downtown section of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was financed by the approval of a voter referendum to allocate special municipal capital improvement bond monies, after several prior bond referendums to build a civic center failed between...
, formerly known as The Five Seasons Center.
Many arts centers in Cedar Rapids sustained severe damage during the June 2008 flood
Iowa flood of 2008
The Iowa flood of 2008 was a hydrological event involving most of the rivers in eastern Iowa beginning around June 8, 2008 and ending about July 1. Flooding continued on the Upper Mississippi River in the southeastern portion of the state for several more days...
. Among those severely damaged are the Paramount Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids, the National Czech & Slovak Museum, and the African American Historical Museum. Two Wurlitzer organs were damaged, located at the Paramount Theatre and Theatre Cedar Rapids. The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art suffered minor damage. It is expected to cost $25 million to repair the Paramount; Theatre Cedar Rapids reopened in February 2010.
Sports
Cedar Rapids is home of the minor-league baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team Cedar Rapids Kernels
Cedar Rapids Kernels
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Class A minor league baseball team based in Iowa. It is affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and plays in the Midwest League.-Franchise history:...
, a member of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
since 1962. The Kernels are a Class-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the East Division of the United States Hockey League . Before moving to Cedar Rapids in 1999, the team was based in Mason City, where they were known as the North Iowa Huskies....
are a member of the USHL and were once Clark Cup Champions. There is also a junior hockey league, the Cedar Rapids Hockey Association, with mini-mite-high school teams. Sports facilities include Veterans Memorial Stadium
Veterans Memorial Stadium (Cedar Rapids)
Veterans Memorial Stadium is a minor league baseball stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is the home field of the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League...
for baseball, Kingston Stadium for football and track, the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena
Cedar Rapids Ice Arena
The Cedar Rapids Ice Arena is a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, located adjacent to Veterans Memorial Stadium. The arena opened on January 8, 2000, and is owned by the city of Cedar Rapids. It is home to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League as well...
for hockey, Hawkeye Downs Speedway, a half-mile paved racetrack featuring weekly racing and national and regional touring series as well as a motocross arena, and the U.S. Cellular Center
U.S. Cellular Center
The U.S. Cellular Center is a multi-purpose arena, located in the downtown section of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was financed by the approval of a voter referendum to allocate special municipal capital improvement bond monies, after several prior bond referendums to build a civic center failed between...
(formerly the Five Seasons Center) for basketball. This arena also hosts the Iowa High School volleyball championships and many concerts.
Cedar Rapids is also home to the high competitive "metro" athletic teams, representing Jefferson, Washington, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Xavier, and Prairie high schools.
Cedar Rapids is also the birth place of NASCAR Nationwide's 2008 RAYBESTO's Rookie Of The Year Landon Cassill
Landon Cassill
Landon Douglas Cassill is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. He is a test driver for Hendrick Motorsports. He currently drives the #51 Chevrolet Impala for Phoenix Racing in the Sprint Cup Series....
.
Parks and recreation
Cedar Rapids has over 3360 acres (13.6 km²) of city owned property for undeveloped green space and recreational use. There are 74 formally named parks or recreational facilities. These include baseball and softball fields, all-weather basketball courts, two frisbee golf courses, sand volleyball courts, the Tuma Soccer Complex, a BMX dirt track, an off-leash dog exercise area, the Old MacDonald's Farm a children's zoo, 10 splash pads, and many parks that have pavilions, picnicking areas and restroom facilities. The various trail systems in Cedar Rapids have a total of 24 miles (38.6 km) for walking, running or bicycling.Government
| Mayor | In office |
|---|---|
| Don Canney Don Canney Donald J. "Don" Canney was an American politician and civil engineer who served as the Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for twenty-two years from 1969 to 1992. Canney is Cedar Rapids' longest serving mayor to date.... |
| 1969–1992 |
| Larry Serbousek | | 1992–1995 |
| Lee Clancey | | 1995–2002 |
| Paul Pate Paul Pate Paul Pate is an American politician from Iowa.Pate is a former mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and former Iowa Secretary of State. Pate also served in the Iowa State Senate for six years... |
| 2002–2006 |
| Kay Halloran Kay Halloran Kay Halloran was elected as the mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States in November 2005. She is a Democrat and former state legislator, and a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston... |
| 2006–2009 |
| Ron Corbett Ron Corbett -Early life and education:Corbett was born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1960. His family moved to Iowa and he later graduated from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa in 1983.-Career:... |
| 2010– |
City commission government
City commission government is a form of municipal government which once was common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the council-manager form of government...
form of government. It was one of the few larger American cities remaining to operate under this model. Under this form of government, the council was made up of a public safety commissioner, a streets commissioner, a finance commissioner, a parks commissioner, and a mayor. The council members worked on a full-time basis, served two year terms, and were considered department heads. Don Canney
Don Canney
Donald J. "Don" Canney was an American politician and civil engineer who served as the Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for twenty-two years from 1969 to 1992. Canney is Cedar Rapids' longest serving mayor to date....
, the longest serving mayor in city history, served for twenty-two years under this system. The last mayor of Cedar Rapids under this form of government was Paul Pate
Paul Pate
Paul Pate is an American politician from Iowa.Pate is a former mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and former Iowa Secretary of State. Pate also served in the Iowa State Senate for six years...
.
In 2005 the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce spearheaded a movement to change from the commission form of government. A panel was appointed by Mayor Pate and the City Council to study the issue, and recommended that voters be presented with three options:
- Stay with the current commission form of government.
- Adopt a "strong mayor form" where the council would be part time, the mayor would be full time, and a city manager would run the day to day affairs of the city.
- Adopt a "weak mayor form" of government, in this form the mayor and council would both work on a part-time basis. A full-time city manager would run the day-to-day operations of the city.
On June 14, 2005, voters went to the polls to decide whether to adopt a new form of government or continue with the commission form. 28,818 of the 83,514 registered voters (29.72%) cast ballots on the issue. 68.80% of the voters decided to adopt a new form of government. Elections were held on November 8, 2005 and 30 candidates ran. Kay Halloran, a retired attorney and state legislator, became the first mayor elected under the new system. Several members of the city council were elected outright; however, the remaining races were close enough to require a runoff election
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
, which took place in December.
Cedar Rapids now has an Iowa "Home Rule" charter which establishes a weak mayor
Mayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
system with a part-time City Council and Mayor both on four year terms. The eight-member Council is divided into five districts. One council member is elected from each district and the remaining three members are elected on an at-large basis. The mayor's salary is $30,000 and each member's is $15,000.
The Council and Mayor hired Jim Prosser as City Manager in the summer of 2006. Prior to hiring Prosser, James Flitz, formerly the City Attorney, served as interim City Manager. Department directors report to the City Manager, who has authority over employment, except in the case of the Police and Fire Chiefs, which require Council approval. The first meeting of the Council was held on January 3, 2006.
- Under Iowa law, municipal elections are non-partisan.
Education
Cedar Rapids is home to two four-year colleges: Coe CollegeCoe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
and Mount Mercy College
Mount Mercy College
Mount Mercy University is a four-year, co-educational Catholic liberal arts university located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1928.-Mount Mercy University:...
(now Mount Mercy University). The University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
also has an evening MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
facility there. Kirkwood Community College
Kirkwood Community College
Kirkwood Community College is a two-year Liberal Arts college serving seven counties in Iowa. Kirkwood's main campus is in Cedar Rapids, with additional campuses in Marion, Iowa City, Belle Plaine, Monticello, Tipton, Vinton, Washington and Williamsburg....
is the area's only two-year college, while Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Kaplan University is the "doing business as" name of the Iowa College Acquisition Corporation, a company that owns and operates for-profit colleges...
(formerly Hamilton College
Hamilton College (Iowa)
The name of Iowa- and Nebraska-based "Hamilton College" no longer exists. All seven campuses are now named Kaplan University.Hamilton College was the DBA name of the Iowa College Acquisition Corporation, a company that owns and operates independent, private, for-profit colleges. Hamilton College...
) and Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University
Established in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private institution of higher education with its residential campus located in northeast Iowa near the Volga River in the rural community of Fayette, where around 900 students are enrolled....
also have campuses there. Cornell College
Cornell College
Cornell College is a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Originally called the Iowa Conference Seminary, the school was founded in 1853 by Reverend Samuel M. Fellows...
in Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Iowa
Mount Vernon is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States, adjacent to the city of Lisbon. The city's population was 3,390 when the 2000 census figures were released, but that number was later revised to 3,808 because the Census Bureau had incorrectly reported that 418 residents of a Cornell...
and the University of Iowa's main campus in Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
are both within 30 miles (48.3 km) of Cedar Rapids.
The Cedar Rapids Community School District is the largest school district in the metropolitan area with an enrollment of 17,263 in the 2006-2007 school year. The district contains 24 elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s, six middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s, and four high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s: Jefferson, Washington
Washington High School (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Washington High School is a public high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa-The First Washington High School:Construction began on the first Washington in 1855 on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fifth Street S.E. It was a three-story brick building with a white belfry, and it was the largest public school...
, Kennedy, and Metro High School
Metro High School (Iowa)
Metro High School is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and is part of the Cedar Rapids Community School District.Metro: Mastering Educational Tasks Regardless of Obstacles- History :...
(an alternative high school). Two neighboring school districts draw students from within the Cedar Rapids city limits. The Linn-Mar Community School District
Linn-Mar Community School District
Linn-Mar Community School District in Iowa encompasses , which includes the northern part of the city of Marion, an area in Cedar Rapids, part of the city of Robins and rural areas in Linn County, both south and north of the city of Marion.-Schools:...
serves part of the northeast quadrant of the city and has seven elementary schools inside the city limits. The College Community School District serves part of the southwest quadrant of Cedar Rapids as well as neighboring rural portions of Linn
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Benton
Benton County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 26,076 in the county, with a population density of . There were 11,095 housing units, of which 10,302 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and Johnson
Johnson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 130,882 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,967 housing units, of which 52,715 were occupied.-2000 census:...
counties. Located in a central campus off Interstate 380 are College Community's four elementary schools, Prairie Creek Intermediate, Prairie Point Middle School & Ninth Grade Academy, and Prairie High School
Cedar Rapids Prairie High School
Cedar Rapids Prairie High School is a public high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school opened in 1954 after combining many schools in the surrounding area. The College Community School District serves the communities of Walford, Fairfax, Swisher, Shueyville, Ely, Southwest Cedar Rapids, and...
.
The Cedar Rapids Metro Catholic Education System, which is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northeastern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States. It includes all the Iowa counties north of Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, and Clinton counties. ...
, consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school (Xavier
Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the sixth largest and only Catholic high school in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area. It is affiliated with twelve area Catholic parishes and the Archdiocese of Dubuque...
). The Cedar Rapids Catholic Education System and Cedar Rapids Community School District are synonymous with each other in the Cedar Rapids Public and Parochial School System.
The city hosts several private schools, including Cedar Valley Christian School
Cedar Valley Christian School
Cedar Valley Christian School is a private Christian school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It contains approximately 250 students and consists of grades Pre-kindergarten through Twelfth grade...
, Trinity Lutheran School, and Isaac Newton Christian Academy.
Radio
Cedar Rapids' radio market, which consists of Linn County, is ranked 211th by ArbitronArbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
with 172,000 listeners aged 12 and older.
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
owns four stations in the Cedar Rapids area, including WMT
WMT (AM)
WMT is a news/talk radio station broadcasting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the United States. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. The station's signal reaches most of Iowa and portions of neighboring states during daylight hours. -History:...
600 AM, a news/talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station that has broadcast since 1922. Clear Channel also owns WMT-FM
WMT-FM
WMT-FM is a 100,000 watt radio station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is a Hot Adult Contemporary music formatted station owned by Clear Channel Communications...
96.5, a hot adult contemporary station; KMJM
KMJM (AM)
KMJM KMJM KMJM (1360 AM is a radio station licensed to serve Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and licensed to Capstar TX Limited Partnership...
1360 AM, a classic country
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
station; and KKSY
KKSY
KKSY is a 6,000 watt radio station serving Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is a Country music formatted station owned by Clear Channel Communications.The station officially signed on February 14, 2008....
95.7 FM, a modern country music station. Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
owns four stations in Cedar Rapids: KDAT
KDAT
KDAT is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Contemporary music format. Licensed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA, the station serves the Cedar Rapids area. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media.-External links:*...
104.5 FM (adult contemporary), KHAK
KHAK
KHAK is a radio station that broadcasts a country music format to the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, Iowa area. Licensed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa the station is currently owned by Cumulus Media. Its tower is also near Cedar Rapids, broadcasting the Signal at 100,000 Watts.- History :KHAK is one of the...
98.1 FM (country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
), KRNA
KRNA
KRNA is a radio station licensed to Iowa City, Iowa, with studios in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The transmitter for the station is located west of Oxford, Iowa. The station currently has an active rock format. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media.-History:...
94.1 FM (active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
), and KRQN
KRQN
KRQN is a radio station broadcasting a Rhythmic-leaning Top 40 music format, billed as "i107.1." Licensed to Vinton, Iowa, USA, the station serves the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. The station is currently owned by George S. Flinn, Jr. but is operated by Cumulus Media under a time brokerage...
107.1 (contemporary hits
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
). Three other stations in Cedar Rapids are independently owned: KZIA
KZIA
KZIA, known as "Z 102.9", is a radio station based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It has a Top 40 format primarily staffed with local personalities, including morning DJ's Scott Schulte and Ric Swann...
102.9 FM (contemporary hits
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
), KGYM 1600 AM (sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
), and KMRY 1450 AM (adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
). Several stations from Waterloo
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
and Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
also figure into ratings in Cedar Rapids. These stations include KFMW
KFMW
KFMW, known as "Rock 108", is a radio station based in Waterloo, Iowa. The station has an active rock format. Its signal is transmitted from the AFLAC Tower north of Rowley, Iowa.-History:...
107.9 FM, otherwise known as Rock 108 with an active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
format and KOKZ
KOKZ
KOKZ is a radio station serving the Waterloo/Cedar Rapids metropolitan area with a classic hits format which includes a diverse playlist of music from the late 1960s to the mid 1990s. It broadcasts on FM frequency 105.7 MHz and is under ownership of Bahakel Communications.The station signed on in...
105.7 FM which has a classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format. Both stations are located in Waterloo. Clear Channel
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
owned KKRQ
KKRQ
KKRQ is a radio station licensed to Clear Channel Communications, broadcasting at 100.7 MHz from Iowa City, Iowa. It currently carries a classic rock format, going by the moniker "100.7 The Fox". The music format includes Rock from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Occasionally, some music even from...
100.7 FM and its classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
format is the Iowa City station that is typically highly rated in Cedar Rapids.
The only non-commercial station licensed to Cedar Rapids is KCCK-FM
KCCK-FM
KCCK-FM is a public radio station licensed to Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, Iowa. KCCK is Iowa's only jazz radio station.-External links:*...
88.3 FM, a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
station licensed to Kirkwood Community College
Kirkwood Community College
Kirkwood Community College is a two-year Liberal Arts college serving seven counties in Iowa. Kirkwood's main campus is in Cedar Rapids, with additional campuses in Marion, Iowa City, Belle Plaine, Monticello, Tipton, Vinton, Washington and Williamsburg....
. KXGM-FM 89.1 is a non-commercial contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
station licensed to neighboring Hiawatha. NPR stations from Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census...
(KUNI (FM)
KUNI (FM)
KUNI is a radio station owned and operated by the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. It is one of two NPR outlets for Eastern Iowa; the other being WSUI in Iowa City. KUNI's transmitter is in Walker, Iowa, with its primary signal covering Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City...
90.9 FM) and Iowa City (KSUI
KSUI
KSUI is a radio station broadcasting a Classical music format. Located near Iowa City, Iowa, USA, the station serves the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas. The station is currently owned by The University of Iowa....
91.7 FM and WSUI
WSUI
WSUI is a public radio station in Iowa City, Iowa, in the United States. It is operated by the University of Iowa and a member of Iowa Public Radio. Its signal serves most of eastern Iowa. WSUI is one of two National Public Radio member stations serving eastern Iowa, the other being KUNI in...
910 AM) reach Cedar Rapids.
Television
The Cedar Rapids-WaterlooWaterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
-Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
-Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
media market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
consists of 21 eastern Iowa counties: Allamakee
Allamakee County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,330 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,617 housing units, of which 5,845 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Benton
Benton County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 26,076 in the county, with a population density of . There were 11,095 housing units, of which 10,302 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Black Hawk
Black Hawk County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 131,090 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,887 housing units, of which 52,470 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Bremer, Buchanan
Buchanan County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,958 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,968 housing units, of which 8,161 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Butler
Butler County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,867 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,682 housing units, of which 6,120 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Cedar
Cedar County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,956 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,064 housing units, of which 7,511 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Chickasaw
Chickasaw County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,439 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,679 housing units, of which 5,204 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Clayton
Clayton County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 18,129 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,999 housing units, of which 7,599 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Delaware
Delaware County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,764 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,028 housing units, of which 7,062 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Dubuque
Dubuque County, Iowa
Dubuque County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 93,653 in the 2010 census, an increase from 89,143 in the 2000 census. The county seat is the city of Dubuque. Dubuque County is coterminous with the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the seventh...
, Fayette
Fayette County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,880 in the county, with a population density of . There were 9,558 housing units, of which 8,634 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Grundy
Grundy County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,453 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,530 housing units, of which 5,131 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,355 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,258 housing units, of which 6,677 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Johnson
Johnson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 130,882 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,967 housing units, of which 52,715 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Jones
Jones County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,638 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,911 housing units, of which 8,151 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Keokuk
Keokuk County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,511 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,931 housing units, of which 4,408 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Linn
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Tama
Tama County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,767 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,766 housing units, of which 6,947 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Washington, and Winneshiek
Winneshiek County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 21,056 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,721 housing units, of which 7,997 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. It is ranked 88th by Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre films and newspapers...
for the 2008-2009 television season with 346,330 television households.
Cedar Rapids is home to four network-affiliated stations: KGAN
KGAN
KGAN is the CBS-affiliated television station for Eastern Iowa licensed to Cedar Rapids. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 51 from a transmitter in Rowley near the junction of Buchanan, Benton and Linn Counties. The station can also be seen on Mediacom channel 2 and in...
channel 2 (CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
), KCRG
KCRG-TV
KCRG-TV, channel 9, is a television station, operating as the ABC affiliate for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa metropolitan area, and the nearby cities of Waterloo, Iowa City and Dubuque....
channel 9 (ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
), KFXA
KFXA
KFXA is the Fox-affiliated television station for Eastern Iowa licensed to Cedar Rapids. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 27 from a transmitter in Van Horne. The station can also be seen on Mediacom channel 6 and in high definition on digital channel 828...
channel 28 (Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
), and KPXR
KPXR
KPXR-TV is the Ion Television affiliate for Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The station is owned by ION Media Networks, and operates a digital signal on channel 47.-Digital television:...
channel 48 (ION). NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate KWWL channel 7 is based in Waterloo but maintains a newsroom inside the Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy Corporation is a public utility holding company that incorporated in Madison, Wisconsin in 1981. It consists of two subsidiaries:...
tower in downtown Cedar Rapids. Other stations in the market are KWKB
KWKB
KWKB is a television station that broadcasts on digital channel 25 and is the CW affiliate for Eastern Iowa. KWKB is licensed to Iowa City, but its studios and transmitter are located north of West Branch. KWKB serves the greater Eastern Iowa area including Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and...
channel 20 (CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
/MyNetwork TV), licensed to Iowa City; KWWF
KWWF
KWWF is licensed to Waterloo, Iowa broadcasting on UHF channel 22. Its transmitter is located near Walker, Iowa.-History:KWWF signed on December 1, 2002, with a format of infomercials, home shopping, and reruns that were in the public domain...
channel 22 (RTN
Retro Television Network
The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs...
), licensed to Waterloo; and KFXB
KFXB
KFXB-TV is a television station based out of Dubuque, Iowa. The channel transmits digitally on UHF channel 43. Currently the channel is an owned and operated affiliate of the Christian Television Network....
channel 40 (CTN
Christian Television Network
Christian Television Network is a non-profit broadcast television network of small owned-and-operated stations that broadcasts religious programming. It is based in Largo, Florida , and the flagship station is WCLF channel 22, which signed on the air in the Tampa Bay Florida region in 1979...
), licensed to Dubuque. Public television
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
is provided by Iowa Public Television
Iowa Public Television
Iowa Public Television is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service member non-commercial educational Public television stations in the state of Iowa. A member of the PBS, it is owned by the Iowa Public Broadcasting Board, an agency of the state education department which holds the licenses...
, which has two stations in the area: KIIN channel 12 in Iowa City and KRIN channel 32 in Waterloo. Mediacom
Mediacom
Mediacom is a cable television and communications provider in the United States. Founded in July 1995, it serves primarily smaller markets in the Midwest and Southern United States. Formerly a publicly traded firm, it went private in a $600.0 million transaction in March 2011 and is, as of 2011,...
and local company ImOn Communications provide cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
service to Cedar Rapids.
The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)
The Gazette is a daily newspaper published in the American city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The first paper was published as an evening journal, as the Evening Gazette on Wednesday January 10, 1883 and sold for 3¢; it presently sells for 75¢. The newspaper is distributed throughout northeast and east...
is the primary daily newspaper for Cedar Rapids. The Cedar Rapids Gazette won a Pulitzer Prize in 1936, under editor Verne Marshall and primarily due to his efforts and articles, for its campaign against corruption and misgovernment in the State of Iowa.
Film
Cedar RapidsCedar Rapids (film)
Cedar Rapids is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Miguel Arteta. The script, written by Phil Johnston, was included on the 2009 Blacklist, a Hollywood list of the most popular unproduced screenplays of the year.-Plot:...
is an American comedy film about a naive insurance agent Ed Helms
Ed Helms
Edward Paul "Ed" Helms is an American actor and comedian known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as Andy Bernard on the US version of the sitcom/mockumentary The Office and for his role as Dr. Stu Price in The Hangover films.- Early life :Helms was born and raised...
who is sent to represent his company at a regional conference in big town Cedar Rapids.
While the film's setting is Cedar Rapids, the film was actually shot in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
Transportation
Cedar Rapids is served by The Eastern Iowa AirportThe Eastern Iowa Airport
The Eastern Iowa Airport is a commercial airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the United States. The airport serves Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and other communities in eastern Iowa...
(formerly known as the Cedar Rapids Airport), a regional airport that connects with other regional and international airports. Cedar Rapids Transit and private bus lines also connect at the airport.
Interstate 380
Interstate 380 (Iowa)
Interstate 380 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway located in eastern Iowa. The route extends from Interstate 80 near Coralville to Waterloo. I-380 connects the cities of Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, the second- and fifth-largest cities in the state, respectively, to the Interstate Highway System. ...
, part of the Avenue of the Saints
Avenue of the Saints
The Avenue of the Saints is a highway in the Midwestern United States that connects St. Paul, Minnesota, and St. Louis, Missouri.-Missouri:Within Missouri, the Avenue of the Saints is Interstate 64, U.S...
, runs north-south through Cedar Rapids. U.S. Highways 30, 151, and 218 and Iowa Highway 13 and Iowa Highway 100 also serve the city.
Cedar Rapids is served by four major railroads. They are the Union Pacific, the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway
The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway , also known as the Crandic is a Class III railroad operating in the US state of Iowa.-History:...
(Crandic), the Canadian National, and the Iowa Northern Railway Company [IANR]. The Iowa Northern Railway has its headquarters in the historic Paramount Theater Building. The Crandic and the Iowa Interstate Railroad also are headquartered in Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Interstate reaches the city via the Crandic tracks, running a daily train from Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
to Cedar Rapids.
Cedar Rapids is linked to other Midwestern cities by the Burlington Trailways
Burlington Trailways
Burlington Trailways is an inter-city bus company based in West Burlington, Iowa.Burlington Trailways was founded in 1929 as the Burlington Transportation Company, a subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad...
bus hub at the Eastern Iowa Airport.
The city is also served by Cedar Rapids Transit
Cedar Rapids Transit
Cedar Rapids Transit is the primary provider of mass transportation in Linn County, Iowa. Fourteen routes serve the city, with most radiating from the transfer city at the Lot 44 development in downtown...
, consisting of an extensive bus system and taxis. Cedar Rapids Transit operates scheduled bus service throughout the city and to Marion. A series of enclosed pedestrian skywalks
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
connect several downtown buildings.
Health care
There are two hospitals in Cedar Rapids. St. Luke'sSt. Luke's Hospital (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
St. Luke’s is a 560-bed hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was founded in 1884 as Cedar Rapids’ first hospital and is now one of two hospitals in Cedar Rapids, the other being Mercy Medical Center. St. Luke’s emergency department treats nearly 50,000 patients each year and the most cases of trauma...
and Mercy Medical Center.
Notable people
- Adrian ArringtonAdrian ArringtonAdrian Jarrard Arrington is an American football wide receiver who is currently a wide receiver of the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft and called up from the team's practice squad before Week 17 of the 2010 NFL season...
(born 1985) American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player - Robert Bruggeman, American football player
- Landon CassillLandon CassillLandon Douglas Cassill is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. He is a test driver for Hendrick Motorsports. He currently drives the #51 Chevrolet Impala for Phoenix Racing in the Sprint Cup Series....
, NASCAR racer - Priyanka ChopraPriyanka ChopraPriyanka Chopra is an Indian actress and former Miss World. Before starting her acting career, she worked as a model and gained fame after winning the Miss World title in 2000. She is often referred to by the nickname "Piggy Chops", which was given to her by co-stars on the set of the film...
, actress and Miss World 2000Miss World 2000Miss World 2000, the 50th Miss World pageant, was held on 30 November 2000 at the Millennium Dome in London, United Kingdom. The pageant's swimsuit segment was filmed in the Maldives.... - Arthur A. CollinsArthur A. CollinsArthur A. Collins was an American entrepreneur, who founded Collins Radio Co., which is now Rockwell Collins, Inc..Art Collins' father owned several thousand acres of farmland. After graduating from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Collins attended several colleges although he never...
(1909–1987) inventor and founder of Collins Radio CompanyRockwell CollinsRockwell Collins, Inc. is a large United States-based international company headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, primarily providing aviation and information technology systems and services to governmental agencies and aircraft manufacturers.- History :... - Marvin D. ConeMarvin ConeMarvin Dorwart Cone was an American painter in the regionalist style.He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and lived there most of his life. He graduated from Washington High School in 1910. Cone attended college and traveled to Paris with his contemporary and high-school friend, Grant Wood...
, artist - Paul ConradPaul ConradPaul Francis Conrad was an American political cartoonist from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During college, Conrad started cartooning at the University of Iowa for the Daily Iowan. While serving with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, during World War II, Conrad received a B.A. in art in 1950...
, cartoonist - Jim Cummins, NBC NewsNBC NewsNBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
correspondent, graduate of Regis High School in 1963 - Geof DarrowGeof DarrowGeofrey "Geof" Darrow is a comic artist known for his work on books such as Hard Boiled and Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot, which was adapted into an animated TV series of the same name.-Character design and Moebius collaborations:...
, comic book artist - Michael DaughertyMichael DaughertyMichael Kevin Daugherty is an American composer, pianist, and teacher. Influenced by popular culture, Romanticism, and Postmodernism, Daugherty is one of the most colorful and widely performed American concert music composers of his generation...
, classical composer - Walter Donald Douglas, co-founder of Penick & Ford Starch Company, died on the RMS Titanic
- Tim DeBoomTim DeBoomTim DeBoom in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is a professional triathlete from Boulder, Colorado.As of 2005, Tim is a two time winner of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii....
, Ironman World Champion - Don DeForeDon DeForeDonald John DeFore was an American actor who played "the regular guy" and "the good, ol' boy next door" in many films in the 1940s and 1950s.-Life and career:...
, actor and president of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences - Bobby DriscollBobby DriscollRobert Cletus "Bobby" Driscoll was an American child actor known for a large body of cinema and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. He starred in some of The Walt Disney Company's most popular live-action pictures of that period, such as Song of the South , So Dear to My Heart , and Treasure Island...
, former child actor - Cal EldredCal EldredCalvin John Eldred is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 14 seasons from to ....
, baseball player - John ElyJohn Ely (Iowa politician)John M. Ely, Jr. was an American Democratic politician, purchasing agent, and civil rights activist who served two terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and Iowa State Senate from 1961 to 1969. Ely was instrumental in abolishing capital punishment in Iowa.-Early years and education:Ely was...
, a member of the Iowa General AssemblyIowa General AssemblyThe Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
who was instrumental in abolishing capital punishmentCapital punishment in the United StatesCapital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
in Iowa - Michael EmersonMichael EmersonMichael Emerson is an American actor who is perhaps best known for his roles as Benjamin Linus on Lost and fictional serial killer William Hinks in The Practice.-Early life:...
, actor, grew up in Toledo, IowaToledo, IowaToledo is a city in and the county seat of Tama County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,539 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Toledo is located at .... - Paul EnglePaul EnglePaul Engle , noted American poet, editor, teacher, literary critic, novelist, and playwright. He is perhaps best remembered as the long-time director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and as founder of the International Writing Program , both at the University of Iowa.-Life:Engle is often mistakenly...
, poet - Terry FarrellTerry Farrell (actress)Theresa Lee "Terry" Farrell is an American actress and former fashion model. She is perhaps best known for her performances in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Becker.-Early life:...
, actress - Kent FergusonKent FergusonKent M. Ferguson is a retired diver from the United States. He competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics, finishing in fifth place in the Men's 3m Springboard event....
, Gold Medal Olympics Diver - Ben Ford, baseball player
- Salvatore GiuntaSalvatore GiuntaSalvatore Giunta is a retired Italian football player who played for, among others, AC Milan and Albacete Balompié, as well as the Italian under-21 side.Giunta played for AS Cannes in French Ligue 2 during the 1998-99 season....
US ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, first living recipient of the Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
since the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. - Ed GormanEdward GormanEd Gorman is an award-winning American author best known for his crime and mystery fiction. He wrote The Poker Club which is currently in post production for a film of the same name directed by Tim McCann....
, writer - Trent GreenTrent GreenTrent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
, American football player - George GreeneGeorge Greene (law)George Greene was a lawyer, justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, railroad entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist, and one of the founders of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.-Early life:...
, Iowa Supreme Court Justice - John HenchJohn HenchJohn Hench was an employee of The Walt Disney Company for more than sixty-five years, an exceptionally long tenure which saw the rise of nearly every Disney animated feature and theme park....
, Disney animator and Imagineer - Bourke B. HickenlooperBourke B. HickenlooperBourke Blakemore Hickenlooper , was a Republican politician from the US state of Iowa. He was lieutenant governor from 1939 to 1943 and then the 29th Governor of Iowa from 1943 to 1945...
(1896–1971) lieutenant governor, 29th Governor of Iowa, 4 term U.S. Senator - David HilkerDavid HilkerDavid Hilker is an American singer, musician, songwriter, producer and music industry executive. His music is heard in network, cable and syndicated TV shows, in major and independent films, advertising campaigns, video games and on several record labels....
, musician - Zach JohnsonZach JohnsonZach Johnson is an American golfer, winner of the 2007 Masters Tournament.Zach Johnson may also refer to:* Zack "Jick" Johnson, one of the creators of Kingdom of Loathing* Zachary Johnson, former drummer for The Fray...
(born 1976) AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golferProfessional golferIn golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
on the PGA TourPGA TourThe PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and the 2007 Masters2007 Masters TournamentThe 2007 Masters Tournament was contested from April 5-8 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 71st Masters Tournament, and the first major contested in the 2007 season...
champion - Danielle KahleDanielle KahleDanielle "Dani" Kahle is an American figure skater.In 2002, Danielle Kahle was the United States National Champion at the novice level.Kahle is coached by Frank Carroll and Cindy Bortz-Gould...
(born 1989) American figure skater - Aaron KampmanAaron KampmanAaron Allan Kampman is an American football defensive end and linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa....
(born 1979) 2 time All-ProAll-ProAll-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
and Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player - MacKinley Kantor, author (1956 Pulitzer prize for Andersonville)
- Charles KemmeCharles KemmeCharles Kemme served in the United States Army during World War I. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Battle of Soissons .His award citation reads:...
, Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
recipient - Bruce KimmBruce KimmBruce Edward Kimm is a retired American professional baseball catcher and manager. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox between 1976 until 1980....
, baseball player, coach, and manager - Ashton KutcherAshton KutcherChristopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
, actor - Alexander LippischAlexander LippischAlexander Martin Lippisch was a German pioneer of aerodynamics. He made important contributions to the understanding of flying wings, delta wings and the ground effect. His most famous design is the Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket-powered interceptor.Lippisch was born in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria...
(1894–1976) aerodynamics pioneer and aircraft designer - Ron LivingstonRon LivingstonRonald Joseph "Ron" Livingston is an American film and television actor. His roles include a disaffected corporate employee in the film Office Space, a sardonic writer in a short-term relationship with Carrie Bradshaw in the TV show Sex and the City, and Captain Lewis Nixon in the miniseries...
, actor, grew up in Marion, IowaMarion, IowaMarion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :... - Conger MetcalfConger MetcalfConger Metcalf, was an American painter.He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and died in Boston, Massachusetts. Metcalf began his art studies in 1932 at the Iowa Stone City Art Colony, headed by American Regionalist painter Grant Wood. Metcalf continued his studies at Coe College in Cedar Rapids...
, artist - John O. MinerJohn O. MinerJohn O. Miner was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.-Biography:Miner was born John Odgers Miner in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1910. He died on April 21, 1999.-Career:...
, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral - Dow MossmanDow MossmanDow Mossman, born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is an American writer.Mossman studied at Coe College for two years, finished college at the University of Iowa and received his M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 1969. His novel, The Stones of Summer, was published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1972 and...
, author - George NissenGeorge NissenGeorge P. Nissen was an American gymnast and inventor who developed the modern trampoline and made trampolining a worldwide sport.-Background:...
(1914–2010) National AAU Champion, 1935, 36, 37, developer of the modern trampoline - Wes ObermuellerWes ObermuellerWesley Mitchell Obermueller is a free agent Major League Baseball pitcher with a career ERA of 5.82. He began his career in the Kansas City Royals organization when he was selected in the 2nd round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
, baseball player - Bob ParsonsBob ParsonsBob Parsons is an American entrepreneur. He is the CEO and founder of The Go Daddy Group, Inc., a family of companies comprising three ICANN-accredited domain name registrars, including flagship registrar GoDaddy.com, reseller registrar Wild West Domains and Blue Razor Domains...
, Founder of Parsons Technology and Go DaddyGo DaddyGo Daddy is an Internet domain registrar and Web hosting company that also sells e-business related software and services. In 2010, it reached more than 45 million domain names under management. Go Daddy is currently the largest ICANN-accredited registrar in the world, and is four times the size of... - Arthur D. PenningtonArthur D. PenningtonArt "Superman" Pennington was a Negro League baseball player who currently lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Pennington played for the Chicago American Giants , the Pittsburgh Crawfords , as well as the Mexican Baseball League , the U.S. minor league system , and in Cuban and Venezuelan leagues...
, known as Art "Superman" Pennington was a Negro League baseballNegro league baseballThe Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
star - Ann RoyerAnn RoyerAnn Royer is a painter and sculptor living and working in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her work consists mostly of abstract nudes and horses. She was born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1933.-Education and work:...
, painter, sculptor - William L. ShirerWilliam L. ShirerWilliam Lawrence Shirer was an American journalist, war correspondent, and historian, who wrote The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a history of Nazi Germany read and cited in scholarly works for more than 50 years...
, journalist and author - Riley SmithRiley SmithRiley Smith is an American film and television actor and singer for the band The Life of Riley.-Background:Smith's parents are Russ and Roxanne Smith...
, actor - Ryan SweeneyRyan SweeneyRyan Joseph Sweeney is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics.-Early life:...
, baseball player - Paul TibbetsPaul TibbetsPaul Warfield Tibbets, Jr. was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force, best known for being the pilot of the Enola Gay, the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in the history of warfare. The bomb, code-named Little Boy, was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima...
, pilot of the B-29 Enola GayEnola GayEnola Gay is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, named after Enola Gay Tibbets, mother of the pilot, then-Colonel Paul Tibbets. On August 6, 1945, during the final stages of World War II, it became the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb as a weapon of war...
that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Lived in Cedar Rapids until 1927. - Carl Van VechtenCarl van VechtenCarl Van Vechten was an American writer and photographer who was a patron of the Harlem Renaissance and the literary executor of Gertrude Stein.-Biography:...
, novelist and photographer - Dedric WardDedric WardDedric Lamar Ward is a former American football player and coach. He played Wide Receiver, having played for the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys...
, American football player - Kurt WarnerKurt WarnerKurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
(born 1971) American football quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, played in 3 Super BowlSuper BowlThe Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s, won Super Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
as Super Bowl MVP - Elijah WoodElijah WoodElijah Jordan Wood is an American actor. He made his film debut with a minor part in Back to the Future Part II , then landed a succession of larger roles that made him a critically acclaimed child actor by age 9. He is best known for his high-profile role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's...
, actor, best known for The Lord of the Rings film trilogyThe Lord of the Rings film trilogyThe Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter... - Grant WoodGrant WoodGrant DeVolson Wood was an American painter, born four miles east of Anamosa, Iowa. He is best known for his paintings depicting the rural American Midwest, particularly the painting American Gothic, an iconic image of the 20th century.- Life and career :His family moved to Cedar Rapids after his...
Famous painter - Wright BrothersWright brothersThe Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
Orville (1871–1948) and Wilbur (1867–1912) aviation pioneers, resided in Cedar Rapids in their youth
External links
- City of Cedar Rapids Official Website
- City Data Statistical Data about Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- History of Linn County Iowa by Luther A. Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick The Pioneer Publishing Company (1911 copyright expired) This searchable and pdf down loadable book was scanned into the public domainPublic domainWorks are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
by Google books. - The History of Linn county, Iowa not authored Western Historical Company(1878 copyright expired) This searchable and pdf downloadable book was scanned into the public domainPublic domainWorks are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
by Google books.