Indianola, Iowa
Indianola is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States, located 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The population was 15,833 at the time of the 2020 census.[3] It is the county seat of Warren County.[4] Indianola is home to the National Balloon Classic, a nine-day hot air balloon festival held annually in the summer, the Des Moines Metro Opera, a world renowned major American Summer Opera Festival, and Simpson College.
Indianola | |
|---|---|
City | |
National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa | |
Location of Indianola, Iowa | |
Indianola Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 41°21′42″N 93°33′47″W / 41.36167°N 93.56306°WCoordinates: 41°21′42″N 93°33′47″W / 41.36167°N 93.56306°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Warren |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council[1] |
| • Mayor | Stephanie Erickson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.44 sq mi (29.62 km2) |
| • Land | 11.44 sq mi (29.62 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 968 ft (295 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 15,833 |
| • Density | 1,384.61/sq mi (534.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 50125 |
| Area code | 515 |
| FIPS code | 69-38280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0457810 |
| Website | www |
History
Indianola was founded in 1849 as the county seat of Warren County. The town was located near the geographic center of the new county. The town's name was taken from a newspaper account of a Texas ghost town of the same name.[5]
Indianola was incorporated in 1863.[6]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.25 square miles (29.14 km2), all of it land.[7] The Summerset Trail's southern terminus is in Indianola.[8]
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Indianola has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.
| Climate data for Indianola, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 70 (21) | 79 (26) | 89 (32) | 92 (33) | 106 (41) | 105 (41) | 112 (44) | 113 (45) | 104 (40) | 95 (35) | 82 (28) | 70 (21) | 113 (45) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.9 (12.7) | 59.0 (15.0) | 74.3 (23.5) | 82.7 (28.2) | 88.0 (31.1) | 91.5 (33.1) | 94.5 (34.7) | 93.4 (34.1) | 90.4 (32.4) | 84.6 (29.2) | 70.9 (21.6) | 58.6 (14.8) | 96.0 (35.6) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 31.7 (−0.2) | 36.3 (2.4) | 49.5 (9.7) | 62.1 (16.7) | 71.9 (22.2) | 81.4 (27.4) | 85.5 (29.7) | 84.0 (28.9) | 77.6 (25.3) | 64.8 (18.2) | 49.6 (9.8) | 36.9 (2.7) | 60.9 (16.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 21.7 (−5.7) | 25.8 (−3.4) | 38.3 (3.5) | 50.0 (10.0) | 60.9 (16.1) | 70.7 (21.5) | 74.7 (23.7) | 72.8 (22.7) | 65.0 (18.3) | 52.5 (11.4) | 38.8 (3.8) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 49.9 (9.9) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 11.6 (−11.3) | 15.2 (−9.3) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 37.9 (3.3) | 49.9 (9.9) | 60.0 (15.6) | 64.0 (17.8) | 61.6 (16.4) | 52.4 (11.3) | 40.1 (4.5) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 17.4 (−8.1) | 38.8 (3.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −11.7 (−24.3) | −6.4 (−21.3) | 7.0 (−13.9) | 22.3 (−5.4) | 34.7 (1.5) | 46.5 (8.1) | 53.5 (11.9) | 51.1 (10.6) | 36.5 (2.5) | 23.8 (−4.6) | 10.1 (−12.2) | −3.3 (−19.6) | −16.1 (−26.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −33 (−36) | −35 (−37) | −20 (−29) | −2 (−19) | 21 (−6) | 36 (2) | 40 (4) | 38 (3) | 23 (−5) | 4 (−16) | −11 (−24) | −26 (−32) | −35 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.91 (23) | 1.42 (36) | 1.94 (49) | 3.88 (99) | 5.58 (142) | 5.72 (145) | 4.32 (110) | 3.90 (99) | 3.86 (98) | 3.02 (77) | 1.85 (47) | 1.40 (36) | 37.8 (961) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.5 (22) | 8.2 (21) | 3.7 (9.4) | 1.0 (2.5) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.5 (1.3) | 1.9 (4.8) | 6.7 (17) | 30.8 (78.76) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.1 | 6.6 | 7.3 | 10.0 | 12.3 | 11.0 | 8.0 | 8.9 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 96.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.7 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 14.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA[9] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[10] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 836 | — |
| 1870 | 1,428 | +70.8% |
| 1880 | 2,146 | +50.3% |
| 1890 | 2,254 | +5.0% |
| 1900 | 3,261 | +44.7% |
| 1910 | 3,283 | +0.7% |
| 1920 | 3,628 | +10.5% |
| 1930 | 3,488 | −3.9% |
| 1940 | 4,123 | +18.2% |
| 1950 | 5,145 | +24.8% |
| 1960 | 7,062 | +37.3% |
| 1970 | 8,852 | +25.3% |
| 1980 | 10,843 | +22.5% |
| 1990 | 11,340 | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 12,998 | +14.6% |
| 2010 | 14,782 | +13.7% |
| 2020 | 15,833 | +7.1% |
| Source: "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-03-29. Source: U.S. Decennial Census[11][3] | ||
In 2005, a special census was conducted that revised Indianola's population to 14,156.[12][13]
As of 2013, there were 15,108 people, 5,477 households, and 3,579 families living in the city. The population density was 1,314.0 inhabitants per square mile (507.3/km2). There were 5,893 housing units at an average density of 523.8 per square mile (202.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
Of the 5,477 households 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 28.6% of households were one person and 13.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.
The median age was 34.1 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 15.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 22.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.
2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 12,998 people, 4,748 households, and 3,261 families living in the city. The population density was 1,414.7 inhabitants per square mile (546.2/km2). There were 4,981 housing units at an average density of 542.1/sq mi (209.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.92% White, 0.40% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85%.[14]
Of the 4,748 households 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 26.5% of households were one person and 12.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.
The age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 15.8% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median household income was $43,725 and the median family income was $52,238. Males had a median income of $36,945 versus $24,401 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,574. About 5.6% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
21.4%-Catholic
64.5%-Protestant
14.1%-non affiliated
Current elected officials
City Council:
| Position | Name | Term expires |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Stephanie Erickson | 2025 |
| City Council Ward 1 | John Parker Jr. | 2023 |
| City Council Ward 2 | Ron Dalby | 2025 |
| City Council Ward 3 | Gwen Schroder | 2023 |
| City Council Ward 4 | Christina Beach | 2025 |
| City Council At-Large | Heather Hulen | 2023 |
| City Council At-Large | Steve Richardson | 2025 |
Arts and culture
Indianola is also the home of the National Balloon Classic and National Balloon Museum.
Points of interest
Education
Public school system
Indianola is served by the Indianola Community School District.
Indianola has four elementary schools:
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|
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Indianola Middle School is the only middle school.
Indianola High School is the only senior high school.
Colleges and universities
Simpson College, a liberal arts college of the United Methodist Church, is in Indianola, and was founded in 1860.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Highways
Iowa Highway 92 runs east and west through the city and crosses US Highways 65 and 69 southeast of the central business district.
Railroads
Indianola no longer has railroad service. At one time, it served as a terminal point for a branch line of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad which came off the CB&Q mainline at Indianola Junction which was 4 miles west of Chariton. There was a brick and stucco depot that stood across the tracks from the Rock Island depot. This line was abandoned in the early 1960s.
The other railroad was the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad which branched off a branch line from Carlisle, Iowa which is just southeast of Des Moines to Summerset Junction a few miles north of Indianola and on into Winterset. The Winterset to Summerset Junction portion of the line was discontinued in the early 1960s leaving the Indianola to Carlisle line in place. There was a brick Rock Island depot just to the west of US Highway 65 & 69 in the center of Indianola. This line maintained sporadic service until the Rock Island went bankrupt in 1980. The line was then operated by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad until the early 1990s at which point the line was abandoned back to Carlisle. The line was converted to the Summerset Trail from Indianola to Carlisle after abandonment.
The Rock Island and CB&Q lines both came in from the east and paralleled each other as they came into Indianola. They could interchange cars and there was at one point, first class Pullman passenger trains came down the Rock Island and then moved to the CB&Q railroad to Chariton and on to St. Joseph Missouri.[15] The Rock Island purchased a portion of the CB&Q after it was abandoned. Freight cars were sometimes stored there.
Air service
Scheduled passenger service and general aviation services are provided by Des Moines International Airport which is 13 miles NW of Indianola. There are two privately-owned airports near Indianola. Nash Field is 4 miles south of Indianola and is open to the public. Laverty Field is 3 miles north of Indianola and requires prior permission to land.[16]
Notable people
- Casey Blake, baseball player and assistant coach for the Indianola High School girls basketball team[17]
- Todd Blythe, former football player for the Arena Football League, NFL, and the Canadian Football League[18]“FI0002379,” Indianola, IA 1990. Donated by Boylan Margie / Fortepan Iowa. CC-BY-SA, https://fortepan.us/photo/1/FI0002379
- George Washington Carver, botanical researcher and agronomy educator[19]
- Dayton Duncan, writer and documentary filmmaker[20]
- Junior D. Edwards, posthumous Medal of Honor honoree[21]
- Erasmus Haworth, geologist[22]
- James C. Hickman, actuary[23]
- Paul Homan (1893–1969), economist[24]
- John Paul Jones, painter[25]
- Lane Sisters, four sibling singers[26]
- Ralph Parcaut, wrestler[27]
- Steve Spray, golfer[28]
- Chris Street, Iowa Hawkeye basketball player[29]
- Edwin Edgar Voigt, bishop of the Methodist Church[30]
- Ilo Browne Wallace, Second Lady of the United States, wife of Vice President Henry A. Wallace[31]
- Ed Yost, inventor of the modern hot air balloon
Technology
- Indianola has a municipal, Gigabit-capable, fiber optic network[32] and entrepreneurial development programs that links STEM-related activities at its schools and Simpson College to the local tech economy.
References
- ^ "City of Indianola, Iowa". Denman & Company, LLP. p. 20. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ a b "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2009-08-14. Warren County History
- ^ The History of Warren County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c, Volume 1. Higginson Book Company. 1879. p. 482.
- ^ . United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
- ^ Warren County Conservation Board. Summerset Trail. 2007-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Revised 2000 Census Population and Housing Counts for Iowa Places and Counties" (PDF). iowadatacenter.org. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Indianola - Iowa, United States". britannica.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Brown, Robert C; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Co. Iowa Mail Line and Branch Lines Depots and Towers; April 1999; No Publisher Listed; p 133
- ^ AirNav.com website
- ^ Lutz, Bob (18 January 2017). "Former Shocker Blake battled his way onto the MLB Hall of Fame ballot". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ^ Gengler, Matt (7 April 2017). "WH grad chases pro football dream". Missouri Valley Times News. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ^ "George Washington Carver". Simpson College. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ^ "Dayton Duncan". Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ^ Albertson, Teresa May (5 November 2018). "Freedom Rock honors Indianola Medal of Honor recipient". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ^ "Haworth, Erasmus - KS-Cyclopedia - 1912". www.ksgenweb.org. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "James C. Hickman, former business school dean, dies". news.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "Homan, Paul T. (Paul Thomas), 1893-1969 @ SNAC". snaccooperative.org. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "John Paul Jones". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ^ Longden, Tom. "Leota Lane". Des Moines Register Data Central. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ "PARCAUT AND RUEBENS WILL MEET IN BOXING AND WRESTLING SHOW" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. 16 March 1921. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ^ "12 August 1996 My piece on Steve Spray - Newspapers.com". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "BASKETBALL; Iowa Player Dies in Crash". The New York Times. Associated Press. 1993-01-21. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "Bishop Edwin Edgar Voigt" (PDF).
- ^ Saxon, Wolfgang (1981-02-25). "Ilo Browne Wallace, 92, Widow of a Vice President to Roosevelt". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ Indianola, First Connected Community in Iowa (February 15, 2013). "Gigabit IMU Network". Retrieved 2014-12-02.
External links
- Official City of Indianola Website
- Indianola Chamber of Commerce