Fort Atkinson, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Fort Atkinson is a city in Winneshiek County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 389 at the 2000 census. It is home to the historic Fort Atkinson State Preserve
and hosts a large annual fur-trapper rendezvous each September. Fort Atkinson holds the largest regional hay
auction every Wednesday.
(Winnebago) during their removal from Wisconsin
. The name honors Henry Atkinson, the commanding officer in charge of the effort. Construction began in May 1840 and was complete by the summer of 1842. The regular army
turned the fort over to Iowa volunteers as the troops stationed there were needed for the Mexican-American War. After the Ho-Chunk were removed from Iowa the post was abandoned on February 14, 1849.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 389 people, 165 households, and 102 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,240.9 people per square mile (484.5/km²). There were 169 housing units at an average density of 539.1 per square mile (210.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.49% White, 0.26% Native American and 0.26% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.26% of the population.
There were 165 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,205, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,702. About 12.3% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
called Trinity Catholic School. The district's schools serve students from the small communities of Little Turkey, Lawler
, Waucoma
, St. Lucas
, Protivin, Fort Atkinson, and Jackson Junction
. The schools themselves are located in Jackson Junction.
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:...
, 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 389 at the 2000 census. It is home to the historic Fort Atkinson State Preserve
Fort Atkinson State Preserve
Fort Atkinson State Preserve is a state preserve of Iowa, USA, containing the remnants of Fort Atkinson, a U.S. Army frontier post created to keep the peace between various Native American tribes as well as prevent white settlers from encroaching on Indian lands.-History:The 1830 Treaty of Prairie...
and hosts a large annual fur-trapper rendezvous each September. Fort Atkinson holds the largest regional hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
auction every Wednesday.
History
Fort Atkinson was built to protect the Ho-ChunkHo-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
(Winnebago) during their removal from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The name honors Henry Atkinson, the commanding officer in charge of the effort. Construction began in May 1840 and was complete by the summer of 1842. The regular army
United States Army
The 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...
turned the fort over to Iowa volunteers as the troops stationed there were needed for the Mexican-American War. After the Ho-Chunk were removed from Iowa the post was abandoned on February 14, 1849.
Geography
Fort Atkinson is located at 43°8′39"N 91°56′5"W (43.144034, -91.934839).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 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 389 people, 165 households, and 102 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 1,240.9 people per square mile (484.5/km²). There were 169 housing units at an average density of 539.1 per square mile (210.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.49% White, 0.26% Native American and 0.26% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.26% of the population.
There were 165 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% 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, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,205, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $17,813 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 $14,702. About 12.3% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
City government
Fort Atkinson is governed by Mayor Paul Herold and a city council composed of David Bullgreen, Michelle Elsbernd, Dave Schneider, and Kay Schmitt.Schools
Fort Atkinson is located in the Turkey Valley School District, a small K-12 school with about 575 students. There is also a private Catholic school in ProtivinProtivin, Iowa
Protivin is a city in Chickasaw and Howard counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 317 at the 2000 census. Early settlers named the city after the Bohemian town of Protivín in what is now the south of the Czech Republic.- History :...
called Trinity Catholic School. The district's schools serve students from the small communities of Little Turkey, Lawler
Lawler, Iowa
Lawler is a city in Chickasaw County, Iowa, United States. The population was 461 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lawler is located at ....
, Waucoma
Waucoma, Iowa
Waucoma is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. The population was 299 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Waucoma is located at on the Little Turkey River....
, St. Lucas
St. Lucas, Iowa
St. Lucas is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. The population was 178 at the 2000 census.-Geography:St. Lucas is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Protivin, Fort Atkinson, and Jackson Junction
Jackson Junction, Iowa
Jackson Junction is a city in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 60 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Turkey Valley Community schools, which serves the nearby communities of Waucoma; Lawler; Fort Atkinson; St...
. The schools themselves are located in Jackson Junction.