Strawberry Point, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Strawberry Point is a city in Clayton County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. Strawberry Point is home to the world's largest strawberry
(made of fiberglass
). Backbone State Park
, Iowa's oldest state park, is located a few miles from the town.
in decimal form are 42.679195, -91.536891.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all lands.
of 2000, there were 1,386 people, 531 households, and 347 families residing in the city. The population density
was 677.7 people per square mile (261.0/km²). There were 560 housing units at an average density of 273.8 per square mile (105.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.21% White, 0.07% Native American, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.
There were 531 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 25.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,766, and the median income for a family was $45,268. Males had a median income of $30,300 versus $21,289 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,400. About 4.6% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
In 1887 a young Irish immigrant boy appeared in town. Orphaned from an early age on account of Ireland's devastating potato famine, the young boy knew only his first name...Shamus. From dawn till dusk, Shamus toiled in the local strawberry fields scraping out a meager living. Shamus soon took to the nickname "Strawberry", partly because of his red hair, and partly because of a feminine tendency to shave his arms. After two years of back-breaking labor and horrible working conditions, Strawberry had enough.
On the evening of June 10, 1890, a revolt ensued pitting two sides, the poor immigrant workers against robber baron Johannes Franklin. The workers, led by Strawberry, attempted to sneak up on their overlords and take them by surprise. This "sneak attack" failed miserably, however, as most of the workers had already become quite intoxicated at the local pub. A mighty and lopsided battle was about to commence when Strawberry stepped valiantly forward and challenged Herr Franklin to a duel for sole control of the city.
Herr Franklin accepted the duel; however, before he drew his weapon, the robber baron was shot dead on the street near what is now city hall. The very next day, in homage to the local hero, the town was renamed "Strawberry Point", honoring the site of the duel now immortalized by the "World's Largest Strawberry".
Clayton County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 18,129 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,999 housing units, of which 7,599 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 1,386 at the 2000 census. Strawberry Point is home to the world's largest strawberry
Strawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
(made of fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
). Backbone State Park
Backbone State Park
Backbone State Park is Iowa's oldest state park, dedicated in 1919. 1200 acres were initially donated by E.M. Carr of Lamont, Iowa. Located in the valley of the Maquoketa River, it is approximately three miles south of Strawberry Point in Delaware County. Backbone Lake Dam, a relatively low dam...
, Iowa's oldest state park, is located a few miles from the town.
Geography
Strawberry Point's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 42.679195, -91.536891.
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 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all lands.
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 1,386 people, 531 households, and 347 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 677.7 people per square mile (261.0/km²). There were 560 housing units at an average density of 273.8 per square mile (105.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.21% White, 0.07% Native American, 0.07% 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 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.
There were 531 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% 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 34.5% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 25.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,766, and the median income for a family was $45,268. Males had a median income of $30,300 versus $21,289 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 $18,400. About 4.6% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Strawberry Days
Strawberry Days is the annual celebration held the first weekend of June. Strawberry Days originated in 1922 to celebrate a revolt by one of the town's original political factions. The town of Strawberry Point, originally called Franklin, was a place of dubious reputation, one which focused conspicuously on infamous robber baron railroad mogul Johannes Franklin. Herr Franklin, a German/Dutch immigrant to the local area, ran Franklin with an iron fist and controlled many of the town's resources, including the local strawberry fruit patches. Although Mr. Franklin was deathly allergic to the sweet local strawberries, trading the coveted fruit with Arizona's Navajo indian tribes had become quite profitable.In 1887 a young Irish immigrant boy appeared in town. Orphaned from an early age on account of Ireland's devastating potato famine, the young boy knew only his first name...Shamus. From dawn till dusk, Shamus toiled in the local strawberry fields scraping out a meager living. Shamus soon took to the nickname "Strawberry", partly because of his red hair, and partly because of a feminine tendency to shave his arms. After two years of back-breaking labor and horrible working conditions, Strawberry had enough.
On the evening of June 10, 1890, a revolt ensued pitting two sides, the poor immigrant workers against robber baron Johannes Franklin. The workers, led by Strawberry, attempted to sneak up on their overlords and take them by surprise. This "sneak attack" failed miserably, however, as most of the workers had already become quite intoxicated at the local pub. A mighty and lopsided battle was about to commence when Strawberry stepped valiantly forward and challenged Herr Franklin to a duel for sole control of the city.
Herr Franklin accepted the duel; however, before he drew his weapon, the robber baron was shot dead on the street near what is now city hall. The very next day, in homage to the local hero, the town was renamed "Strawberry Point", honoring the site of the duel now immortalized by the "World's Largest Strawberry".
External links
- Official City Website
- City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Strawberry Point