Columbus Junction, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Columbus Junction is a city in Louisa County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 1,900 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Muscatine
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
A large Tyson food plant is located in the city. Columbus Junction is also home of the historic 'Swinging Bridge'.
built an east-west line through the area in 1858, with a station at Clifton. When the north-south Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota railroad was built, in 1870, it crossed the Rock Island at Clifton. The first BCR&M train arrived on Feb. 7, 1870, and the first local business opened the next day, a restaurant and boarding house, in a building moved by rail from Muscatine, Iowa
. Just a month later, the town was platted. Columbus City, Iowa
had already been established before the railroads came through, and both the Rock Island and the BCR&M had missed Columbus City by over a mile. As both Columbus City and Township had invested in the latter line, they were permitted to name the new town, so it became Columbus Junction.
In the summer of 2008, downtown Columbus Junction was badly flooded when the Cedar and Iowa River
s overflowed their banks.
and Fredonia
. It lies at the confluence of two large rivers, the Iowa
and the Cedar.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,900 people, 691 households, and 487 families residing in the city. The population density
was 879.6 people per square mile (339.6/km²). There were 748 housing units at an average density of 346.3 per square mile (133.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.32% White, 0.58% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 12.37% from other races
, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.00% of the population.
There were 691 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples
living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,167, and the median income for a family was $42,188. Males had a median income of $27,841 versus $22,566 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,314. About 9.7% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
Louisa County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 11,387 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,002 housing units, of which 4,346 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,900 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Muscatine
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Muscatine micropolitan area
The Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in east central Iowa, anchored by the city of Muscatine....
.
A large Tyson food plant is located in the city. Columbus Junction is also home of the historic 'Swinging Bridge'.
History
Columbus Junction began as Clifton. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific RailroadChicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
built an east-west line through the area in 1858, with a station at Clifton. When the north-south Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota railroad was built, in 1870, it crossed the Rock Island at Clifton. The first BCR&M train arrived on Feb. 7, 1870, and the first local business opened the next day, a restaurant and boarding house, in a building moved by rail from Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
. Just a month later, the town was platted. Columbus City, Iowa
Columbus City, Iowa
Columbus City is a city in Louisa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 376 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Columbus City is located at ....
had already been established before the railroads came through, and both the Rock Island and the BCR&M had missed Columbus City by over a mile. As both Columbus City and Township had invested in the latter line, they were permitted to name the new town, so it became Columbus Junction.
In the summer of 2008, downtown Columbus Junction was badly flooded when the Cedar and Iowa River
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
s overflowed their banks.
Geography
Columbus Junction is located at 41°16′42"N 91°21′45"W (41.278414, -91.362466), between the cities of Columbus CityColumbus City, Iowa
Columbus City is a city in Louisa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 376 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Columbus City is located at ....
and Fredonia
Fredonia, Iowa
Fredonia is a city in Louisa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 251 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Fredonia is located at ....
. It lies at the confluence of two large rivers, the Iowa
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
and the Cedar.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,900 people, 691 households, and 487 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 879.6 people per square mile (339.6/km²). There were 748 housing units at an average density of 346.3 per square mile (133.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.32% White, 0.58% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 12.37% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.00% of the population.
There were 691 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% 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, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,167, and the median income for a family was $42,188. Males had a median income of $27,841 versus $22,566 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 was $16,314. About 9.7% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Columbus Junction Iowa Portal style website, Government, Recreation, Businesses, and more
- City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Columbus Junction