Washta, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Washta is a city in Cherokee County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 282 at the 2000 census. It holds the distinction of being "The Coldest Spot in Iowa," having recorded a temperature of 47 degrees below zero without wind chill
on January 12, 1912.
Washta's name dates back to 1868 when a local man named Whisman turned his farm into a trading post/mail stop for the freight train going from Correctionville, Iowa
to Cherokee, Iowa
. He was asked to be the official postmaster
for the area. When asked what the name of his town would be, he recalled an interesting encounter with two Native Americans
the year before. While Whisman was out hunting, the two came upon him, removed his gun, looked at it, and handed it back while saying, "Wash-tay, Wash-tay," meaning good. Changing the pronunciation slightly, Whisman decided he would call the town Washta.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 282 people, 117 households, and 69 families residing in the city. The population density
was 268.5 people per square mile (103.7/km²). There were 133 housing units at an average density of 126.6 per square mile (48.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 117 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,673, and the median income for a family was $35,455. Males had a median income of $22,639 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,025. About 11.1% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 6.3% of those sixty five or over.
Cherokee County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,072 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,777 housing units, of which 5,207 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 282 at the 2000 census. It holds the distinction of being "The Coldest Spot in Iowa," having recorded a temperature of 47 degrees below zero without wind chill
Wind chill
Wind chill is the felt air temperature on exposed skin due to wind. The wind chill temperature is always lower than the air temperature, and the windchill is undefined at the higher temps...
on January 12, 1912.
Washta's name dates back to 1868 when a local man named Whisman turned his farm into a trading post/mail stop for the freight train going from Correctionville, Iowa
Correctionville, Iowa
Correctionville is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 851 at the 2000 census. The town name comes from the original survey of the town. The site lies on a surveyor's correction line,...
to Cherokee, Iowa
Cherokee, Iowa
Cherokee is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,932 at the 2010 Census, up from 5,369 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cherokee County. Cherokee is also the home of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute, under the Iowa Department of Human Services...
. He was asked to be the official postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
for the area. When asked what the name of his town would be, he recalled an interesting encounter with two Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
the year before. While Whisman was out hunting, the two came upon him, removed his gun, looked at it, and handed it back while saying, "Wash-tay, Wash-tay," meaning good. Changing the pronunciation slightly, Whisman decided he would call the town Washta.
Geography
Washta is located at 42°34′33"N 95°43′5"W (42.575896, -95.718051). It is situated near the Little Sioux RiverLittle Sioux River
The Little Sioux is a river in the United States. It rises in southwest Minnesota near the Iowa border, and continues to flow southwest for across northwest Iowa into the Missouri River at Little Sioux. The Little Sioux River was known as Eaneah-waudepon or "Stone River" to the Sioux Indians...
.
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.
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 282 people, 117 households, and 69 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 268.5 people per square mile (103.7/km²). There were 133 housing units at an average density of 126.6 per square mile (48.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 117 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% 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 40.2% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,673, and the median income for a family was $35,455. Males had a median income of $22,639 versus $18,750 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 $13,025. About 11.1% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 6.3% of those sixty five or over.