Boone, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Boone is a city in and the county seat
of Des Moines Township
, Boone County
, Iowa, United States. It is the principal city of the 'Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area', which encompasses all of Boone County. This micropolitan statistical area, along with the 'Ames, Iowa
Metropolitan Statistical Area' comprise the larger 'Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area
'. The population of the city was 12,803 at the 2000 census.
Boone was plat
ted as a town in 1865, and incorporated the following year. The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company reached Boone in 1866. In 1868, it was chartered as a city. Commercial mining was spurred by the arrival of the railroad. In 1867, Canfield and Taylor opened a mine just west of town. Their mine shaft was 242 feet deep, and they hauled coal to the railroad by wagon. In 1874, a railroad spur was built to the mine. This mine was taken over by the railroad, and operated for 30 years.
There are two coal seams in the Boone area, the upper vein, about 3 feet thick, was always worked using longwall mining
, while the lower vein was always mined using room and pillar
mining. In 1912, United Mine Workers
Local 869 in Boone had 554 members, close to 10% of the population at the time.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23.1 km²), all of it land.
Ledges State Park is located 4 miles south of Boone and is a staple tourist attraction.
, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 5,313 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,179, and the median income for a family was $48,213. Males had a median income of $32,106 versus $22,119 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,995. About 5.4% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
ran through the center of town, but a new 4-lane highway was built in the late 1960s that bypassed the center of Boone to the south. There is also a network of paved country roads radiating out in all directions.
Boone is served by the mainline of the Union Pacific Railroad
which purchased the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad (C&NW) in 1995. Boone was a division and crew change point on the railroad under the Chicago & Northwestern and some of that business remains today. There is a moderate-sized rail yard to the east of the downtown area. Traffic has increased quite a bit and there are some issues with traffic blockage and noise. The locomotives no longer honk their horns in the town proper.
Boone was also the exact midpoint on the Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railroad, an electric interurban line converted to diesel in 1955 after a flood on the Des Moines River devastated the Fraser hydroelectric powerplant that supplied power to the railroad . It connected with the C&NW downtown. It was purchased by the C&NW in 1968 and subsequently abandoned. The western part of the line to Fraser has been resurrected as the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad
, a tourist line.
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
also ran a branch line into Boone from the southeast. It likewise connected with the C&NW. The line was trimmed back to Luther in the late 1960s and completely abandoned a few years later.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Des Moines Township
Des Moines Township, Boone County, Iowa
Des Moines Township is one of seventeen townships in Boone County, Iowa, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 13,758.-Geography:Des Moines Township covers an area of and contains one incorporated settlement, Boone...
, Boone County
Boone County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 26,306 in the county, with a population density of . There were 11,756 housing units, of which 10,728 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa, United States. It is the principal city of the 'Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area', which encompasses all of Boone County. This micropolitan statistical area, along with the 'Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
Metropolitan Statistical Area' comprise the larger 'Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
'. The population of the city was 12,803 at the 2000 census.
History
Coal mining played an important part in the early history of the Boone area. Local blacksmiths were already mining coal from the banks of Honey Creek south of what would become Boone in 1849.Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted as a town in 1865, and incorporated the following year. The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company reached Boone in 1866. In 1868, it was chartered as a city. Commercial mining was spurred by the arrival of the railroad. In 1867, Canfield and Taylor opened a mine just west of town. Their mine shaft was 242 feet deep, and they hauled coal to the railroad by wagon. In 1874, a railroad spur was built to the mine. This mine was taken over by the railroad, and operated for 30 years.
There are two coal seams in the Boone area, the upper vein, about 3 feet thick, was always worked using longwall mining
Longwall mining
Longwall mining is a form of underground coal mining where a long wall of coal is mined in a single slice . The longwall panel is typically 3–4 km long and 250–400 m wide....
, while the lower vein was always mined using room and pillar
Room and pillar
Room and pillar is a mining system in which the mined material is extracted across a horizontal plane while leaving "pillars" of untouched material to support the roof overburden leaving open areas or "rooms" underground...
mining. In 1912, United Mine Workers
United Mine Workers
The United Mine Workers of America is a North American labor union best known for representing coal miners and coal technicians. Today, the Union also represents health care workers, truck drivers, manufacturing workers and public employees in the United States and Canada...
Local 869 in Boone had 554 members, close to 10% of the population at the time.
Geography
Boone is located at 42°3′40"N 93°53′10"W (42.061127, −93.886057).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 8.9 square miles (23.1 km²), all of it land.
Ledges State Park is located 4 miles south of Boone and is a staple tourist attraction.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,803 people, 5,313 households, and 3,363 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,433.9 people per square mile (553.6/km²). There were 5,585 housing units at an average density of 625.5 per square mile (241.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.34% White, 0.32% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.35% from other racesRace (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 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 5,313 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,179, and the median income for a family was $48,213. Males had a median income of $32,106 versus $22,119 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,995. About 5.4% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Boone is located on US Highway 30. The original Lincoln HighwayLincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
ran through the center of town, but a new 4-lane highway was built in the late 1960s that bypassed the center of Boone to the south. There is also a network of paved country roads radiating out in all directions.
Boone is served by the mainline of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
which purchased the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad (C&NW) in 1995. Boone was a division and crew change point on the railroad under the Chicago & Northwestern and some of that business remains today. There is a moderate-sized rail yard to the east of the downtown area. Traffic has increased quite a bit and there are some issues with traffic blockage and noise. The locomotives no longer honk their horns in the town proper.
Boone was also the exact midpoint on the Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railroad, an electric interurban line converted to diesel in 1955 after a flood on the Des Moines River devastated the Fraser hydroelectric powerplant that supplied power to the railroad . It connected with the C&NW downtown. It was purchased by the C&NW in 1968 and subsequently abandoned. The western part of the line to Fraser has been resurrected as the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad
Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad
The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad in Boone County, Iowa.-History:The railroad was started in 1983 by a group of volunteers primarily to preserve a scenic section of the former Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad. The original track was built in the 1890s and...
, a tourist line.
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
also ran a branch line into Boone from the southeast. It likewise connected with the C&NW. The line was trimmed back to Luther in the late 1960s and completely abandoned a few years later.
Notable people
- Mamie Geneva DoudMamie EisenhowerMamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower was the wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and First Lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961.-Early life:...
, wife of President Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
. - Norman Arthur Erbe, was a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Governor of Iowa from 1961 to 1963. He was born and resided in Boone. - Jerry McNertneyJerry McNertneyGerald Edward McNertney is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He stood 6'1" and weighed 190 pounds in his playing days....
, MLB player for the Seattle Pilots/Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, and the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. - Hap MoranHap MoranFrancis Dale "Hap" Moran was a collegiate and professional American football player. He played mainly at halfback for Carnegie Tech , Grinnell College , the Frankford Yellow Jackets , the Chicago Cardinals , the Pottsville Maroons , and the New York Giants...
, an All American basketball player from Boone High SchoolBoone High SchoolBoone High School is a high school located in Boone, Iowa. The school's mascot is the Toreadors....
and New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
football star - Chad RinehartChad RinehartChad Rinehart is an American football guard for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, an offensive lineman for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In college he was an all-American for the University of Northern IowaUniversity of Northern IowaThe University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
. - Kate ShelleyKate ShelleyCatherine "Kate" Shelley was a midwestern United States railroad heroine, and the first woman in the United States to have a bridge named for her. She was also one of the few women to ever have a train named after her, the Kate Shelley 400.-Background:Catherine Shelley was born in Loughaun, County...
, who averted a terrible train accident. - Ray Lyman WilburRay Lyman WilburRay Lyman Wilbur was an American medical doctor who served as the third president of Stanford University and the 31st United States Secretary of the Interior.-Early life:...
, United States Secretary of the InteriorUnited States Secretary of the InteriorThe United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries... - Louis Seiling, Founder of the town of Seiling, OklahomaSeiling, OklahomaSeiling is a city in Dewey County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 860 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Seiling is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
External links
- Official Boone City Website
- Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
- Vintage Life Magazine photos
- City Data Detailed Statistical Data and more about Boone, Iowa