Maquoketa, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Maquoketa is a city in Clinton
and Jackson
counties in the U.S. state
of Iowa
. Located on the Maquoketa River
, it is the county seat
of Jackson County.
U.S. Route 61
adjoins the city, which therefore benefits, or possibly hinders, from traffic between Dubuque
and the Quad Cities
. Iowa Highways 62 and 64 also pass through the city. Maquoketa Caves State Park
is located a few miles northwest of the city.
The population was 6,112 at the 2000 census.
On June 4, 1840 J.E. Goodenow was appointed as the Post Master of the original U.S. Post Office located here and it was named "Springfield" after J.E. Goodenow's home town in Vermont. As time went on, there was a problem because of the large number of towns and cities already in the country with the name of Springfield, mail was getting lost by being sent to the wrong Post Offices. John Shaw, Rev. William Salter, and J.E. Goodenow petitioned the Post Office Department for a change of name to “Maquoketa”. It was changed by March 13, 1844. Maquoketa is a Meskwaki
[Native American tribe] compound word meaning "bear were here". 'Maquo' [a French spelling pronounced mahk-wah] means "bear" and 'keta' [an English spelling pronounced keh-tah] means "previously, formerly, there were, etc." In 1853 the town was incorporated. The historic Hurstville Lime Kilns are located just north of the city.
of 2000, there were 6,112 people, 2,614 households, and 1,599 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,773.3 people per square mile (684.0/km²). There were 2,797 housing units at an average density of 811.5 per square mile (313.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.10% White, 0.16% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.34% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 2,614 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,984, and the median income for a family was $36,705. Males had a median income of $25,819 versus $19,421 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,360. About 9.1% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.86%) is water.
The authority of the city resides in the city council. The council votes on and passes motions, resolutions and ordinances. Resolutions are statements of policy and ordinances are the laws of the city. The votes of each council member are recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The council also approves expenditures and the budget, contracts, city policies and zoning changes.
Currently (see references) the mayor is Jason Hute who is also the current chief executive officer of the city and presides over council meetings. The city council elected officials are (listed last name alphabetically) Todd Mang, Amy Moore, Neil Morehead, Don Schwenker, Margo Shouse, Eric Pape and Edgar Turney. The day to day operations of the city of Maquoketa are run by the city manager Brian Wagner.
Clinton County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 49,116 in the county, with a population density of . There were 21,733 housing units, of which 20,223 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and Jackson
Jackson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 19,848 in the county, with a population density of . There were 9,415 housing units, of which 8,289 were occupied.-2000 census:...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. Located on the Maquoketa River
Maquoketa River
The Maquoketa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in northeastern Iowa in the United States. Its watershed covers within a rural region of rolling hills and farmland southwest of Dubuque. It is not to be confused with the Little Maquoketa River, another distinct...
, 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 Jackson County.
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
adjoins the city, which therefore benefits, or possibly hinders, from traffic between Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
and the Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
. Iowa Highways 62 and 64 also pass through the city. Maquoketa Caves State Park
Maquoketa Caves State Park
Maquoketa Caves State Park is a state park of Iowa, USA, located in Jackson County. It stands northwest of the city of Maquoketa.The park contains more caves than any other state park in Iowa. A trail system links the caves, formations, and overlooks while providing a scenic hiking experience. Many...
is located a few miles northwest of the city.
The population was 6,112 at the 2000 census.
History
In 1838, six years before Iowa became a state, J.E. Goodenow and Lyman Bates came to this location, bought some land and built a log cabin.On June 4, 1840 J.E. Goodenow was appointed as the Post Master of the original U.S. Post Office located here and it was named "Springfield" after J.E. Goodenow's home town in Vermont. As time went on, there was a problem because of the large number of towns and cities already in the country with the name of Springfield, mail was getting lost by being sent to the wrong Post Offices. John Shaw, Rev. William Salter, and J.E. Goodenow petitioned the Post Office Department for a change of name to “Maquoketa”. It was changed by March 13, 1844. Maquoketa is a Meskwaki
Meskwaki
The Meskwaki are a Native American people often known to outsiders as the Fox tribe. They have often been closely linked to the Sauk people. In their own language, the Meskwaki call themselves Meshkwahkihaki, which means "the Red-Earths." Historically their homelands were in the Great Lakes region...
[Native American tribe] compound word meaning "bear were here". 'Maquo' [a French spelling pronounced mahk-wah] means "bear" and 'keta' [an English spelling pronounced keh-tah] means "previously, formerly, there were, etc." In 1853 the town was incorporated. The historic Hurstville Lime Kilns are located just north of the city.
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 6,112 people, 2,614 households, and 1,599 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 1,773.3 people per square mile (684.0/km²). There were 2,797 housing units at an average density of 811.5 per square mile (313.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.10% White, 0.16% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.34% Pacific Islander, 0.34% 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 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 2,614 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% 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, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,984, and the median income for a family was $36,705. Males had a median income of $25,819 versus $19,421 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 $16,360. About 9.1% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Geography
Maquoketa is located at 42°4′1"N 90°39′58"W (42.066901, −90.666238), primarily in Jackson County.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 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.86%) is water.
Government
Maquoketa is governed by the Mayor with city council form of government, utilizing several departments, boards, and commissions.The authority of the city resides in the city council. The council votes on and passes motions, resolutions and ordinances. Resolutions are statements of policy and ordinances are the laws of the city. The votes of each council member are recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The council also approves expenditures and the budget, contracts, city policies and zoning changes.
Currently (see references) the mayor is Jason Hute who is also the current chief executive officer of the city and presides over council meetings. The city council elected officials are (listed last name alphabetically) Todd Mang, Amy Moore, Neil Morehead, Don Schwenker, Margo Shouse, Eric Pape and Edgar Turney. The day to day operations of the city of Maquoketa are run by the city manager Brian Wagner.