Knoxville, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Knoxville is a city in Marion County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 7,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Marion County
. Knoxville is home of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum
located next to the famous dirt track known as Knoxville Raceway
.
to commemorate his service in the American Revolutionary War
.
In early 1853, the citizens of Marion County created a committee to attract railroad development to the county and to Knoxville, with members promising to buy shares in any railroad that reached town. The first contender was the Muscatine, Oskaloosa & Council Bluffs, proposing an east-west line that would pass through Knoxville. By 1875, when this line reached Knoxville, it was the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The second railroad to reach Knoxville was the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, which completed a line from Oskaloosa
in 1876.
Systematic coal mining in Marion County began with the Union Coal Company's mine in Flagler, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Knoxville in around 1874 or 1875. For several years, the Number 5 mine in Flagler was one of the most productive in Iowa, employing around 150 men and working a coal vein over 8 feet (2.5 m) thick. The Oak Hill coal company also had mines in Flagler.
Shortly after the railroad reached Knoxville, J. T. James opened a coal mine in town just 8 blocks north of the courthouse. This mine continued in operation until 1890. A second mine nearby was operated by W. A. Gamble. In the 1880s, the White Breast Fuel Company opened the Number 11 mine at Flagler. This mine operated in a coal vein that was locally up to 14 feet thick, but only locally. The mine continued operating until 1892, working in progressively thinner coal as it expanded.
of 2000, there were 7,731 people, 3,191 households, and 1,984 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,746.2 people per square mile (673.8/km²). There were 3,418 housing units at an average density of 772.0 per square mile (297.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.00% White, 0.88% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races
, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 3,191 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% 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 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,055, and the median income for a family was $44,078. Males had a median income of $34,832 versus $21,593 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,893. About 9.6% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
and the Des Moines River
in Lake Red Rock
, at 41°19′9"N 93°6′5"W (41.319096, -93.101509).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), all of it land.
Marion County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 33,309 in the county, with a population density of . There were 13,914 housing units, of which 12,723 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 7,731 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 Marion County
Marion County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 33,309 in the county, with a population density of . There were 13,914 housing units, of which 12,723 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. Knoxville is home of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum is a Hall of Fame and museum for sprint car drivers, owners, mechanics, builders, manufacturers, promoters, sanctioning officials and media members....
located next to the famous dirt track known as Knoxville Raceway
Knoxville Raceway
Knoxville Raceway is a semi-banked 1/2 mile dirt oval raceway located at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa, USA. Races at the "Sprint Car Capital of the World" are held on Saturday nights though some special events may start as early as Wednesday and build up to Saturday. Regular...
.
History
The site for the future county seat of Marion County was selected because it was within a mile of the geographic center of the county, reasonably level and near a good source of timber. The first town lots were sold in 1845, and the town was named after General KnoxHenry Knox
Henry Knox was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War....
to commemorate his service in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...
in 1876.
Systematic coal mining in Marion County began with the Union Coal Company's mine in Flagler, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Knoxville in around 1874 or 1875. For several years, the Number 5 mine in Flagler was one of the most productive in Iowa, employing around 150 men and working a coal vein over 8 feet (2.5 m) thick. The Oak Hill coal company also had mines in Flagler.
Shortly after the railroad reached Knoxville, J. T. James opened a coal mine in town just 8 blocks north of the courthouse. This mine continued in operation until 1890. A second mine nearby was operated by W. A. Gamble. In the 1880s, the White Breast Fuel Company opened the Number 11 mine at Flagler. This mine operated in a coal vein that was locally up to 14 feet thick, but only locally. The mine continued operating until 1892, working in progressively thinner coal as it expanded.
Demographics
According to 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 7,731 people, 3,191 households, and 1,984 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 1,746.2 people per square mile (673.8/km²). There were 3,418 housing units at an average density of 772.0 per square mile (297.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.00% White, 0.88% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.28% 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 0.94% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 3,191 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% 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, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% 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 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,055, and the median income for a family was $44,078. Males had a median income of $34,832 versus $21,593 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 $17,893. About 9.6% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Geography
Knoxville is located 2 miles (3.2 km) east of White Breast Creek and 6 miles southwest of the confluence of White Breast CreekWhite Breast Creek
White Breast Creek is an important tributary of the Des Moines River in Iowa. It flows from southwest to northeast, rising in Ward Township in Union County, near Osceola, and flowing in an easterly then a northeasterly direction, to its mouth with the Des Moines River at Lake Red...
and 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...
in Lake Red Rock
Lake Red Rock (Des Moines River)
Originally the city of Red Rock, Lake Red Rock, also referred to as Red Rock Reservoir is a reservoir formed by Red Rock Dam on the Des Moines River, about 55 miles southeast of the city of Des Moines, Iowa. The dam was completed in 1969 as a flood control project by the United States Army Corps of...
, at 41°19′9"N 93°6′5"W (41.319096, -93.101509).
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 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), all of it land.
Notable people
- Robert L. BurnsRobert L. BurnsRobert L. Burns was a Los Angeles school board member between 1923 and 1929 and Los Angeles City Council member between 1929 and 1945. He previously was on the school board in Hutchinson, Kansas. At his death in 1955, he was described as Los Angeles's "elder statesman."Robert L...
— Los Angeles, California, City Council member, 1929–45, born in Knoxville - James FeeJames FeeJames Fee was an American photographer known for his images of abandoned factories and lonesome highways....
— Photographer. - Dixie Cornell GebhardtDixie Cornell GebhardtDixie Cornell Gebhardt was a leader of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Iowa during World War I, and was responsible for the design of the Iowa's state flag....
— Designer of the Flag of IowaFlag of IowaThe flag of the state of Iowa consists of three vertical stripes of blue, white, and red, reflecting Iowa's history as part of the French Louisiana Territory...
(and 1st cousin of Henry Carroll Timmonds, below) - Edward R. HaysEdward R. HaysEdward Retilla Hays was a nineteenth century politician, soldier, and lawyer from Ohio and Iowa, who briefly represented Iowa's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.-Biography:...
— U.S. congressman, 1890-1891. - James MathewsJames Mathews (representative)James Mathews was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.Matthews was born at Liberty, Trumbull County, Ohio. After studying law he was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1830. He then moved to Coshocton, Ohio, where he practiced law. From 1832-1837 Mathews was a member of the...
— U.S. congressman (from Ohio), 1841–1843; professor at Iowa State CollegeIowa State UniversityIowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
. - Howard B. MyersHoward B. MyersHoward B. Myers, PhD was an American statistician and economist who held executive posts with several agencies during the New Deal. His work was key in developing the techniques used to measure unemployment....
— Economist - William M. StoneWilliam M. StoneWilliam Milo Stone was the sixth Governor of Iowa .- Biography :...
— Governor of Iowa (1864–1868) - Henry Carroll TimmondsHenry Carroll TimmondsHenry Carroll Timmonds, the oldest child of Dr. Landon Marion Timmonds and Jane Mandeville Tichenor, was born in Knoxville, Iowa, on May 12, 1853, less than a year after his parents moved there...
— Missouri state representative and judge in late 1800s
External links
- KNIA/KRLS Am/Fm radio station with local news
- Knoxville Chamber of Commerce
- Discover Knoxville Promotion of local businesses with some local news
- City Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Knoxville