Melbourne, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Melbourne is a city in Marshall County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 794 at the 2000 census.
The town of Melbourne was plotted February 23, 1882, by Milwaukee Land Company, in section 6 of Logan Township and was incorporated December 30, 1895. Melbourne was the only town in Marshall County to be served continuously by 2 major railroads. Melbourne's growth was rapid and made possible by three railroads and the population increased to 423 by 1910. Melbourne suffered the worst disaster in the town's history when a fire consumed the whole business district in 1903 and then in 1981 the southern end of town was destroyed by a tornado.
The mayor
of Melbourne from 1984 until 1998 was Bill Crews
, an openly gay
man who came out of the closet in 1993. At the time, Melbourne was believed to be the smallest municipality in the United States to have an openly gay mayor.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 794 people, 318 households, and 218 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,402.4 people per square mile (537.8/km²). There were 332 housing units at an average density of 586.4 per square mile (224.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.50% White, 0.13% African American, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.
There were 318 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,019, and the median income for a family was $51,250. Males had a median income of $36,528 versus $24,667 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,641. About 3.1% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.
Marshall County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 40,648 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,831 housing units, of which 15,538 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 794 at the 2000 census.
History
The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Melbourne from 1984 until 1998 was Bill Crews
Bill Crews
Bill Crews served as the mayor of Melbourne, Iowa from 1984 through 1998. He attracted national attention for being openly gay, having come out of the closet at the GBLT Equality March on Washington in 1993...
, an openly gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
man who came out of the closet in 1993. At the time, Melbourne was believed to be the smallest municipality in the United States to have an openly gay mayor.
Geography
Melbourne is located at 41°56′30"N 93°6′9"W (41.941788, -93.102403).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 0.6 square miles (1.6 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 794 people, 318 households, and 218 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 1,402.4 people per square mile (537.8/km²). There were 332 housing units at an average density of 586.4 per square mile (224.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.50% White, 0.13% African American, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.
There were 318 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% 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 31.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,019, and the median income for a family was $51,250. Males had a median income of $36,528 versus $24,667 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 $18,641. About 3.1% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.