Confidence, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Confidence is a small unincorporated community
in Wayne County
, Iowa
, United States
. Located in south central Iowa, the community lies along County Highway J18 in the northeastern corner of its county, just west of Rathbun Lake
.
It was originally platted in 1858, and its population and economic activity peaked in the 1920s, the peak of coal mining activity in the area. The first coal mines in the area date from the around the 1860's, although in the 19th century, they were small, serving only the local market. By the end of the 19th century, L. Frye was the principal mine owner in the area. Frye's mines were in the Mystic coal seam
, which was not much over 2 foot (0.6096 m) thick in this area. In 1905, he opened a new mine with a 110 feet (33.5 m) shaft and a steam hoist. This mine was just 1/4 mile south of an older Frye mine that had mined out just 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) of coal. Other mines in the area included the J. Hayhurst Bank and the Jared Bank.
The town changed drastically as a result of the Great Depression
. In its prime, the town boasted a millinery, a tavern, a shoe shop, and a bank. The bank paid off all its deposits upon closing in 1935.
By the end of the 20th century, it was a virtual ghost town, with only a handful of occupied houses, a derelict church, a cemetery, a park, and the New Providence Baptist Church http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rkross/ChurchesOfWayne/churches-of-wayne-co-36.pdf, housed in its current building since 1981. Its postal address designations are split between Melrose
, ZIP code 52569, and Plano
, ZIP code 52581. Its area is part of the Wayne Community School District, http://www.wayne.k12.ia.us based in Corydon
.
Other nearby towns include Russell
, in Lucas County
; Albia
, seat of Monroe County
; Centerville
and Moravia
, in Appanoose County
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Wayne County
Wayne County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 6,403 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,212 housing units, of which 2,652 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...
. Located in south central Iowa, the community lies along County Highway J18 in the northeastern corner of its county, just west of Rathbun Lake
Rathbun Lake
Rathbun Lake was constructed and is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Located at Chariton River mile marker 142, approximately 7 miles north of Centerville, Iowa, in Appanoose County, it is one of the largest lakes in Iowa...
.
It was originally platted in 1858, and its population and economic activity peaked in the 1920s, the peak of coal mining activity in the area. The first coal mines in the area date from the around the 1860's, although in the 19th century, they were small, serving only the local market. By the end of the 19th century, L. Frye was the principal mine owner in the area. Frye's mines were in the Mystic coal seam
Mystic, Iowa
Mystic is a city in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 588 at the 2000 census.-History:At the end of the 19th century, "the valley of Walnut Creek was one continuous mining camp, known under different names, Jerome, Diamond, Mystic, Clarksdale, Rathbun and Darby" . A. M...
, which was not much over 2 foot (0.6096 m) thick in this area. In 1905, he opened a new mine with a 110 feet (33.5 m) shaft and a steam hoist. This mine was just 1/4 mile south of an older Frye mine that had mined out just 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) of coal. Other mines in the area included the J. Hayhurst Bank and the Jared Bank.
The town changed drastically as a result of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. In its prime, the town boasted a millinery, a tavern, a shoe shop, and a bank. The bank paid off all its deposits upon closing in 1935.
By the end of the 20th century, it was a virtual ghost town, with only a handful of occupied houses, a derelict church, a cemetery, a park, and the New Providence Baptist Church http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rkross/ChurchesOfWayne/churches-of-wayne-co-36.pdf, housed in its current building since 1981. Its postal address designations are split between Melrose
Melrose, Iowa
Melrose is a city in Monroe County, Iowa, United States. The population was 130 at the 2000 census. Melrose is known as Iowa's "Little Ireland"...
, ZIP code 52569, and Plano
Plano, Iowa
Plano is a city in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 58 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Plano is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, ZIP code 52581. Its area is part of the Wayne Community School District, http://www.wayne.k12.ia.us based in Corydon
Corydon, Iowa
Corydon is a city in Wayne County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,585 in the 2010 census, a decline from 1,591 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wayne County....
.
Other nearby towns include Russell
Russell, Iowa
Russell is a city in Lucas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 554 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 559 population in the 2000 census...
, in Lucas County
Lucas County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,898 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,238 housing units, of which 3,689 were occupied.-2000 census:...
; Albia
Albia, Iowa
Albia is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,706 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albia's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 41.026600, −92.805262....
, seat of Monroe County
Monroe County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,970 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,884 housing units, of which 3,213 were occupied.-2000 census:...
; Centerville
Centerville, Iowa
Centerville is a city in and the county seat of Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,528 in the 2010 census, a decline from 5,924 in the 2000 census. After the turn of the 20th century Centerville had a booming coal mining industry that attracted many European immigrants...
and Moravia
Moravia, Iowa
Moravia is a city in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 713 at the 2000 census.-History:Moravia is named for the religious faith. Moravian families left Salem, North Carolina in 1849 to start a colony in the west. Money was sent to purchase forty acres of land for a town site...
, in Appanoose County
Appanoose County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,884 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,633 housing units, of which 5,627 were occupied.-2000 census:...
.