Eldon, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Eldon is a city in Wapello County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 998 at the 2000 census. Eldon is the site of the small Carpenter Gothic
style house that has come to be known as the American Gothic House
because Grant Wood
used it for the background in his famous 1930 painting American Gothic
.
Roseanne Barr
and Tom Arnold
(who was born in nearby Ottumwa
) opened Roseanne and Tom's Big Food Diner, specializing in loosemeat sandwiches (similar to the specialty of the fictional Lanford Lunch Box, which was owned by the Connor family on the ABC
sitcom Roseanne
- see also Canteen Lunch in the Alley
http://www.tvacres.com/restaurants_lanford.htm), in Eldon. The restaurant was short-lived, operating from March 13, 1993, until 1995. (The couple divorced in 1994.)
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.88% is water. The city is situated on the north bank of the Des Moines River
.
of 2000, there were 998 people, 438 households, and 275 families residing in the city. The population density
was 884.3 people per square mile (341.0/km²). There were 470 housing units at an average density of 416.5 per square mile (160.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.20% White, 0.40% from other races
, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population.
There were 438 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,950, and the median income for a family was $37,250. Males had a median income of $29,261 versus $20,573 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,495. About 11.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.
Wapello County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 35,625 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,098 housing units, of which 14,552 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 998 at the 2000 census. Eldon is the site of the small Carpenter Gothic
Carpenter Gothic
Carpenter Gothic, also sometimes called Carpenter's Gothic, and Rural Gothic, is a North American architectural style-designation for an application of Gothic Revival architectural detailing and picturesque massing applied to wooden structures built by house-carpenters...
style house that has come to be known as the American Gothic House
American Gothic House
The American Gothic House, also known as the Dibble House, is an iconic Carpenter Gothic house in Eldon, Iowa. It was the backdrop of the 1930 painting American Gothic by Grant Wood...
because 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...
used it for the background in his famous 1930 painting 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...
.
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
and Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold (actor)
Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
(who was born in nearby Ottumwa
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....
) opened Roseanne and Tom's Big Food Diner, specializing in loosemeat sandwiches (similar to the specialty of the fictional Lanford Lunch Box, which was owned by the Connor family on the 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...
sitcom Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
- see also Canteen Lunch in the Alley
Canteen Lunch in the Alley
Canteen Lunch in the Alley is a restaurant located at 112 East 2nd Street in Ottumwa, Iowa. It opened in the 1930s and has been a local institution famous for their loose-meat sandwiches and homemade pies...
http://www.tvacres.com/restaurants_lanford.htm), in Eldon. The restaurant was short-lived, operating from March 13, 1993, until 1995. (The couple divorced in 1994.)
Geography
Eldon is located at 40°55′4"N 92°13′13"W (40.917702, -92.220395).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 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.88% is water. The city is situated on the north bank of the Des Moines River
Des Moines River
The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...
.
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 998 people, 438 households, and 275 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 884.3 people per square mile (341.0/km²). There were 470 housing units at an average density of 416.5 per square mile (160.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.20% White, 0.40% 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 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population.
There were 438 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% 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, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,950, and the median income for a family was $37,250. Males had a median income of $29,261 versus $20,573 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 $14,495. About 11.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- American Gothic House Center site Has links to area attractions
- City Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Eldon