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Altoona, Iowa

 

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Altoona, Iowa



 
 
Altoona is a city in Polk County
Polk County, Iowa

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 374,601. The 2007 estimate was 418,339. Its county seat is Des Moines, Iowa, which is also the capital city of Iowa....
, Iowa
Iowa

The State of Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It is bordered by Minnesota to the north, Wisconsin and Illinois to the east, Nebraska and South Dakota to the west, and Missouri to the south....
, United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 and a part of the Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines , is the Capital and the most populous city in the United States U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County, Iowa....
West Des Moines
West Des Moines, Iowa

West Des Moines is a city in Polk County, Iowa, Dallas County, Iowa, and Warren County, Iowa counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents....
 Metropolitan Statistical Area
Des Moines metropolitan area

The Des Moines metropolitan area, officially known as the Des Moines, Iowa-West Des Moines, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area , consists of five counties in central Iowa: Polk County, Iowa, Dallas County, Iowa, Warren County, Iowa, Madison County, Iowa, and Guthrie County, Iowa....
. The population was 10,345 at the 2000 census; a special census taken in August 2005 counted 13,301 residents.

Altoona is home of Adventureland
Adventureland (Iowa)

Adventureland is a family-owned amusement park in Altoona, Iowa . It features over 100 rides, shows and attractions....
, an amusement park
Amusement park

Amusement park is the generic term for a collection of Amusement ride and other entertainment attractions assembled for the purpose of entertaining a large group of people....
, and Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows is a Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse racetrack and racino in Altoona, Iowa....
, a horse racing
Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrianism sport that has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot racing of Ancient Rome are an early example, as is the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology....
 track and casino
Casino

A casino is, in the modern sense of the word, a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships and other tourist attractions....
.

ona incorporated as a city on March 11, 1876. It is named for the Latin
Latin

Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
 word for "high," altus, after surveyor Julian B. Bausman discovered that Altoona was the highest point on the Des Moines Valley Railroad between Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines , is the Capital and the most populous city in the United States U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County, Iowa....
 and Keokuk
Keokuk, Iowa

Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County, Iowa. The other county seat is Fort Madison, Iowa....
.

ona is located at (41.650089, -93.472546).

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 7.1 square miles (18.4 kmē), all of it land.

f the census
Census

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....
 of 2000, there were 10,345 people, 3,850 households, and 2,895 families residing in the city.






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Encyclopedia


Altoona is a city in Polk County
Polk County, Iowa

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 374,601. The 2007 estimate was 418,339. Its county seat is Des Moines, Iowa, which is also the capital city of Iowa....
, Iowa
Iowa

The State of Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It is bordered by Minnesota to the north, Wisconsin and Illinois to the east, Nebraska and South Dakota to the west, and Missouri to the south....
, United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 and a part of the Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines , is the Capital and the most populous city in the United States U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County, Iowa....
West Des Moines
West Des Moines, Iowa

West Des Moines is a city in Polk County, Iowa, Dallas County, Iowa, and Warren County, Iowa counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents....
 Metropolitan Statistical Area
Des Moines metropolitan area

The Des Moines metropolitan area, officially known as the Des Moines, Iowa-West Des Moines, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area , consists of five counties in central Iowa: Polk County, Iowa, Dallas County, Iowa, Warren County, Iowa, Madison County, Iowa, and Guthrie County, Iowa....
. The population was 10,345 at the 2000 census; a special census taken in August 2005 counted 13,301 residents.

Altoona is home of Adventureland
Adventureland (Iowa)

Adventureland is a family-owned amusement park in Altoona, Iowa . It features over 100 rides, shows and attractions....
, an amusement park
Amusement park

Amusement park is the generic term for a collection of Amusement ride and other entertainment attractions assembled for the purpose of entertaining a large group of people....
, and Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows is a Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse racetrack and racino in Altoona, Iowa....
, a horse racing
Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrianism sport that has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot racing of Ancient Rome are an early example, as is the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology....
 track and casino
Casino

A casino is, in the modern sense of the word, a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships and other tourist attractions....
.

History

Altoona incorporated as a city on March 11, 1876. It is named for the Latin
Latin

Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
 word for "high," altus, after surveyor Julian B. Bausman discovered that Altoona was the highest point on the Des Moines Valley Railroad between Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines , is the Capital and the most populous city in the United States U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County, Iowa....
 and Keokuk
Keokuk, Iowa

Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County, Iowa. The other county seat is Fort Madison, Iowa....
.

Geography

Altoona is located at (41.650089, -93.472546).

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 7.1 square miles (18.4 kmē), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census
Census

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....
 of 2000, there were 10,345 people, 3,850 households, and 2,895 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 1,835.4 people per square mile (708.2/kmē). There were 3,959 housing units at an average density of 557.3/sq mi (215.3/kmē). The racial makeup of the city was 97.11% White, 0.92% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.

There were 3,850 households out of which 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
 living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,162, and the median income for a family was $58,306. Males had a median income of $36,030 versus $28,205 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 for the city was $20,336. About 4.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Altoona (along with nearby Runnells
Runnells, Iowa

Runnells is a city in Polk County, Iowa, Iowa, United States. The population was 352 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines, Iowa–West Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines metropolitan area....
, Mitchellville
Mitchellville, Iowa

Mitchellville is a city in Polk County, Iowa and Jasper County, Iowa counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,715 at the 2000 census....
, and parts of Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill, Iowa

Pleasant Hill is a city in Polk County, Iowa, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,070 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines, Iowa–West Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines metropolitan area....
 and Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines , is the Capital and the most populous city in the United States U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County, Iowa....
) is a part of the Southeast Polk Community School District
Southeast Polk Community School District

Southeast Polk Community School District is centered just to the east of Des Moines, Iowa, in southeastern Polk County. The high school and junior high are located in Pleasant Hill, Iowa....
, and its students attend Southeast Polk High School. The town is home to four of the eight elementary schools in the district: Altoona, Centennial, Clay, and Willowbrook. The current Altoona Elementary building also served as the town's high school until it joined the Southeast Polk consolidation in 1962.

Famous residents

  • Kyle Orton
    Kyle Orton

    Kyle Raymond Orton is an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue Boilermakers football....
    , Chicago Bears
    Chicago Bears

    The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the NFC North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     quarterback
  • Neal Smith
    Neal Smith (politician)

    Neal Edward Smith was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa from 1959 until 1995 ? the longest period of time any Iowa Representative has ever served in the United States House of Representatives....
    , former United States Congress
    United States Congress

    The United States Congress is the Bicameralism legislature of the Federal government of the United States of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives....
    man
  • Claire Redfield, 1994 R.C.P.D.
  • Jamie Solinger
    Jamie Solinger

    Jamie Solinger is a beauty queen from Altoona, Iowa who won the title Miss Teen USA 1992.Solinger competed as Miss Iowa Teen USA in the Miss Teen USA 1992 in pageant which was nationally broadcast from Biloxi, Mississippi on 25 August 1992....
    , 1992 Miss Teen USA
    Miss Teen USA

    Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant run by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 15?19. The reigning titleholder is Stevi Perry of Miss Arkansas Teen USA....


External links