Iona, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Iona is a city in Bonneville County
, Idaho
, United States
. It is part of the Idaho Falls, Idaho
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 1,201 at the 2000 census
.
Iona was homesteaded by Mormon pioneers in 1884. Sagebrush
, as tall as a man sitting on a horse, covered the now famous potato fields. The short growing season made it difficult to grow crops and the early settlers were discouraged and many wanted to go back south to Utah
. However, when Mormon apostle Wilford Woodruff
spoke to a small congregation in the Iona area on June 17, 1884, he said:
The settlers were persuaded to stay in the valley and one, Thomas E. Ricks, went on to found the city of Rexburg and Ricks College which later became Brigham Young University-Idaho
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,201 people, 372 households, and 318 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,526.0 people per square mile (587.0/km²). There were 385 housing units at an average density of 489.2 per square mile (188.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.42% White, 0.08% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.83% from other races
, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.91% of the population.
There were 372 households out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.3% were married couples
living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.5% were non-families. 12.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 3.55.
In the city the population was spread out with 35.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,904, and the median income for a family was $42,692. Males had a median income of $32,105 versus $21,818 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,334. 17.6% of the population and 14.0% of families were below the poverty line. 11.6% of those under the age of 18 and 6.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Bonneville County, Idaho
Bonneville County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the county had a population of 104,234. Its county seat and largest city is Idaho Falls...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Idaho Falls metropolitan area
The Idaho Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in eastern Idaho, anchored by the city of Idaho Falls...
. The population was 1,201 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Iona was homesteaded by Mormon pioneers in 1884. Sagebrush
Sagebrush
Sagebrush is a common name of a number of shrubby plant species in the genus Artemisia native to western North America;Or, the sagebrush steppe ecoregion, having one or more kinds of sagebrush, bunchgrasses and others;...
, as tall as a man sitting on a horse, covered the now famous potato fields. The short growing season made it difficult to grow crops and the early settlers were discouraged and many wanted to go back south to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. However, when Mormon apostle Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff, Sr. was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his death...
spoke to a small congregation in the Iona area on June 17, 1884, he said:
The Spirit of the Lord rests mightily upon me and I feel to bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. I promise you that the climate will be moderated for your good. I can see these great sagebrush prairies, as far as the eye can reach, turned into fertile fields. I bless the land that it shall yield forth in its strength. Flowers and trees and fine homes shall grace this great valley from one end to the other. Schools and colleges of higher learning shall be built to serve you that you may learn the mysteries of God’s great universe. I see churches and meetinghouses dotting the landscape, where the God of Israel may be worshiped in spirit and in truth. Yes, and as I look into the future of this great valley I can see temples—I can see beautiful temples erected to the name of the living God where holy labors may be carried on in his name through generations to come.
The settlers were persuaded to stay in the valley and one, Thomas E. Ricks, went on to found the city of Rexburg and Ricks College which later became Brigham Young University-Idaho
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Brigham Young University–Idaho is a private university located in Rexburg, Idaho. Founded in 1888, the university is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2001, known for the greater part of its...
.
Geography
Iona is located at 43°31′35"N 111°55′43"W (43.526319, -111.928478).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 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 1,201 people, 372 households, and 318 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 1,526.0 people per square mile (587.0/km²). There were 385 housing units at an average density of 489.2 per square mile (188.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.42% White, 0.08% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.83% 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 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.91% of the population.
There were 372 households out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.3% 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, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.5% were non-families. 12.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 3.55.
In the city the population was spread out with 35.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,904, and the median income for a family was $42,692. Males had a median income of $32,105 versus $21,818 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 $14,334. 17.6% of the population and 14.0% of families were below the poverty line. 11.6% of those under the age of 18 and 6.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.