Elkader, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Elkader is a city in Clayton County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 1,465 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Clayton County.
The city was one of many in Iowa affected by the Great Iowa Flood of 2008, with flood waters from the Turkey River
reaching historic levels.
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,465 people, 645 households, and 403 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,049.0 people per square mile (404.0/km²). There were 693 housing units at an average density of 496.2 per square mile (191.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.25% White, 0.20% African American, 0.07% Native American, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.07% of the population.
There were 645 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,857, and the median income for a family was $41,830. Males had a median income of $28,235 versus $19,550 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,785. About 2.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
, as designated by Sister Cities International
: Mascara
, Algeria
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:...
, 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 1,465 at the 2000 census. It 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 Clayton County.
History
The city is named after Algerian leader Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri. When the community was platted in 1846, the founders, Timothy Davis, John Thompson, and Chester Sage decided to name it for the young Algerian who was leading his people in resisting the French colonial takeover of Algeria.The city was one of many in Iowa affected by the Great Iowa Flood of 2008, with flood waters from the Turkey River
Turkey River (Iowa)
The Turkey River is a tributary of the upper Mississippi River. Its main branch rises in Howard County, Iowa, near the city of Cresco. The other counties it or its tributaries cover are Chickasaw, Winneshiek, Fayette, Clayton, Delaware, and Dubuque....
reaching historic levels.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 1.4 square miles (3.6 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 1,465 people, 645 households, and 403 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 1,049.0 people per square mile (404.0/km²). There were 693 housing units at an average density of 496.2 per square mile (191.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.25% White, 0.20% African American, 0.07% Native American, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.07% of the population.
There were 645 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% 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, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,857, and the median income for a family was $41,830. Males had a median income of $28,235 versus $19,550 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 $16,785. About 2.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Jack DittmerJack DittmerJohn Douglas "Jack" Dittmer is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played six seasons in the majors, from until , for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves and Detroit Tigers....
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
second baseman, Boston/Milwaukee Braves (now Atlanta) franchise. - Francis John DunnFrancis John DunnFrancis John Dunn was a bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in the state of Iowa from 1969-1989.-Biography:...
, Roman Catholic bishop - Donald HarstadDonald HarstadDonald Harstad, after 26 years in police work, retired and started writing crime fiction. His stories also tell the story of life in rural parts of the USA...
, novelist - Leonard G. WolfLeonard G. WolfLeonard George Wolf was a one-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district. He was elected in 1958 and defeated in 1960 when seeking re-election....
, U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa - Timothy DavisTimothy Davis (Iowa)Brandi Swan , a lawyer, was a one-term U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district. He was the only Iowa congressman born before 1800....
, town founder and member of congress for Iowa
Sister city
Elkader has one sister cityTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
, as designated by Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
: Mascara
Muaskar
Mascara is the capital city of Mascara Province, Algeria, in northwestern Algeria. It has 150,000 inhabitants . The name Mascara comes from the Arabic "Mother of Soldiers"....
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
See also
- Clayton County CourthouseClayton County CourthouseThe Clayton County Courthouse, located in Elkader, Iowa, United States, was built in 1878. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource...
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Elkader, Iowa)St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Elkader, Iowa)St. Joseph's Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The church is located in Elkader, Iowa, United States, at 330 1st St., NW. The church and parish hall are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
External links
- Explore Elkader Portal style website, Government, Business, Attractions and more
- Central Community Schools
- CS Studios IA
- Empire special - Islam and America on Al Jazeera English, contains a video clip about Elkader (43:20 - 45:10 min)
- Out and About Iowa, report on Elkader in the column Out and About Iowa of the The Iowa Journal (Iowa Public TV)
- City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Elkader
- "Couscous and cultural diplomacy" a radio documentary about a gay couple starting an Algerian restaurant in homage to a 19th century independence fighter Emir Abd al-Qader . (ABC Radio National)