Traer, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Traer is a city in Tama County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 1,594 at the 2000 census. James "Tama Jim" Wilson lived in Traer after serving as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and was buried in a cemetery northwest of the town in 1920. Traer is known for the iron winding staircase that originally led to the office of the local newspaper. The staircase is freestanding, reverse-spiral and connected to the building with a suspended walkway, a somewhat rare arrangement.
Margaret Wilson
, who won the Pulitzer prize for fiction in 1924, was born in Traer.
, with a five-member council. It employs an attorney, a treasurer, a clerk and deputy clerk, and a gas and building inspector. The city runs multiple committees, on finance, streets, airport and garbage, recreation, public services, and protection. City boards include those responsible for the library, the airport, the parks, the memorial building, planning and zoning, the Wilson Nature Preserve, and historic preservation.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
Important roads in Traer include U.S. Route 63
and Iowa Highway 8.
of 2000, there were 1,594 people, 686 households, and 443 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,446.4 people per square mile (559.5/km²). There were 728 housing units at an average density of 660.6 per square mile (255.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.31% White, 0.31% African American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.
There were 686 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 28.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,329, and the median income for a family was $43,375. Males had a median income of $30,882 versus $20,670 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,811. About 4.9% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Tama County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,767 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,766 housing units, of which 6,947 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 1,594 at the 2000 census. James "Tama Jim" Wilson lived in Traer after serving as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and was buried in a cemetery northwest of the town in 1920. Traer is known for the iron winding staircase that originally led to the office of the local newspaper. The staircase is freestanding, reverse-spiral and connected to the building with a suspended walkway, a somewhat rare arrangement.
Margaret Wilson
Margaret Wilson
Dame Margaret Wilson DCNZM is a New Zealand academic and former politician. She was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives during the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand. She is a member of the Labour Party.-Early life:...
, who won the Pulitzer prize for fiction in 1924, was born in Traer.
Municipal services
Services provided by the city include a fire department, an ambulance service, North Tama County Community Schools, a swimming pool, a public library, an airport, and two parks.Government
The city is governed by a mayor-council governmentMayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
, with a five-member council. It employs an attorney, a treasurer, a clerk and deputy clerk, and a gas and building inspector. The city runs multiple committees, on finance, streets, airport and garbage, recreation, public services, and protection. City boards include those responsible for the library, the airport, the parks, the memorial building, planning and zoning, the Wilson Nature Preserve, and historic preservation.
Geography
Traer is located at 42°11′29"N 92°27′52"W (42.191495, -92.464374), in Perry TownshipPerry Township, Tama County, Iowa
Perry Township is a civil township in the northeastern part of Tama County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,891.-Transportation:Important highways in Perry Township include U.S...
.
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 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
Important roads in Traer include U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63 is a long north–south United States highway primarily in the Midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 in Ruston, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 2 in Benoit, Wisconsin, about east of Duluth, Minnesota. It is not related to U.S...
and Iowa Highway 8.
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 1,594 people, 686 households, and 443 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 1,446.4 people per square mile (559.5/km²). There were 728 housing units at an average density of 660.6 per square mile (255.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.31% White, 0.31% African American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.
There were 686 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% 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, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 28.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,329, and the median income for a family was $43,375. Males had a median income of $30,882 versus $20,670 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 $17,811. About 4.9% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.