Lone Tree, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Lone Tree is a city in southeastern Johnson County
, Iowa
, United States
. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 1,151 at the 2000 census.
that grew nearby in the pioneer era. As the only tree between the Iowa and Cedar Rivers, it served as a prairie landmark
. This elm stood on a slight hill south of town. Local legend has it that the tree was so large, buffalo grazed under its expansive branches. It escaped prairie fires because of the lack of grass around the tree. The tree succumbed to the Dutch Elm disease of the 1960s, although valiant efforts were made to save it. The wood from the tree was used to make a sign denoting the tree's home on the hill southeast of the city limits.
The town had a moment of horrific fame during the economic crisis of the 1980s. On December 9, 1985 a local farmer, Dale Burr, became distraught over his growing debt. He shot his wife Emily in their home. He then went to Hills Bank & Trust in the neighboring town of Hills
and attempted to cash a check and when rebuffed, returned with a shotgun and killed bank president John Hughes. Next on his list was his neighbor Richard Goody, who had recently won a court settlement against Burr's son. When pulled over by Johnson County sheriff's, Burr shot himself fatally. The story was captured in Bruce Brown's book, Lone Tree.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
Lone Tree is located alongside Iowa Highway 22.
of 2000, there were 1,151 people, 459 households, and 323 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,165.3 people per square mile (448.9/km²). There were 489 housing units at an average density of 495.1 per square mile (190.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.96% White, 0.17% African American, 0.09% Asian, 0.26% from other races
, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 459 households out of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples
living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,431, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $35,227 versus $25,815 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,990. About 4.5% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.
Johnson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 130,882 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,967 housing units, of which 52,715 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...
. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Iowa City metropolitan area
The Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Iowa anchored by the city of Iowa City...
. The population was 1,151 at the 2000 census.
History
Lone Tree derives its name from a giant elmElm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
that grew nearby in the pioneer era. As the only tree between the Iowa and Cedar Rivers, it served as a prairie landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
. This elm stood on a slight hill south of town. Local legend has it that the tree was so large, buffalo grazed under its expansive branches. It escaped prairie fires because of the lack of grass around the tree. The tree succumbed to the Dutch Elm disease of the 1960s, although valiant efforts were made to save it. The wood from the tree was used to make a sign denoting the tree's home on the hill southeast of the city limits.
The town had a moment of horrific fame during the economic crisis of the 1980s. On December 9, 1985 a local farmer, Dale Burr, became distraught over his growing debt. He shot his wife Emily in their home. He then went to Hills Bank & Trust in the neighboring town of Hills
Hills, Iowa
Hills is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 679 at the 2000 census...
and attempted to cash a check and when rebuffed, returned with a shotgun and killed bank president John Hughes. Next on his list was his neighbor Richard Goody, who had recently won a court settlement against Burr's son. When pulled over by Johnson County sheriff's, Burr shot himself fatally. The story was captured in Bruce Brown's book, Lone Tree.
Geography
Lone Tree is located at 41°29′9"N 91°25′36"W (41.485871, -91.426692).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 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
Lone Tree is located alongside Iowa Highway 22.
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 1,151 people, 459 households, and 323 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 1,165.3 people per square mile (448.9/km²). There were 489 housing units at an average density of 495.1 per square mile (190.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.96% White, 0.17% African American, 0.09% Asian, 0.26% 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 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 459 households out of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% 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, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,431, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $35,227 versus $25,815 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 $18,990. About 4.5% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- City-Data Comprehensive statistical data and more about Lone Tree