Clear Lake, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 8,161 at the 2000 census. The city is named for the large lake
on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate 35
with many restaurants, hotels and truck stops.
Nelson P. Crabb was elected mayor
of Clear Lake in 2005 and began his term as mayor in January 2006.
was a summer home to the Sioux
and Winnebago
natives. During a land survey of northern Iowa done in 1832 by Nathan Boone, the son of the famous explorer, Daniel Boone
a map was made showing the lake and other bodies of water in the area.
In 1851 Joseph Hewitt and James Dickirson brought their families to camp on the east side of Clear Lake, soon building a cabin, and began a friendship with the Winnebago natives. By 1853 many more white settlers had also came to settle in the area. By the year 1855 the first Clear Lake school was built and the first steam saw mill. In 1855 a hotel was built by James Crow.
By 1870 the town had 775 residents and by 1871 the streets were graded and sidewalks were made of raised boards, a sure sign of thriving new city. The city of Clear Lake was incorporated on May 26, 1871. The first bandstand built in Clear Lake was in 1877 at the City Park. The town grew and built its first library in 1889. In 1909 Bayside Amusement park opens for the first time. The first North Iowa Band Festival was organized by John Kopecky and others in 1932
In 1933 the Surf Ballroom
open up on the site of the old Tom Tom ballroom that had been destroyed by fire. The opening dance night had approximately 700 couples attending. In 1947 the Surf Ballroom burned down and a new Surf Ballroom was built across the street in 1948. The Bayside Amusement park closed down in 1958.
In the early hours of February 3, 1959, a Beechcraft Bonanza
aircraft carrying Buddy Holly
, Ritchie Valens
, and The Big Bopper
, who had been performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, took off from the local runway in nearby Mason City
, on its way to the next show in Moorhead, Minnesota
.
The plane crashed soon after takeoff, killing all aboard. This event was later eulogized by folk singer Don McLean
in his famous song, "American Pie", in which the death of these '50s icons serves as a metaphor for greater changes within American society as a whole.
In June 1988 around 600 people gathered to witness the dedication of the monument to the deceased rock and roll legends. Clear Lake also replaced street signs officially changing 2nd Place North to Buddy Holly Place in honor of the late singer.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 13 square miles (33.7 km²), of which, 10.4 square miles (26.9 km²) of it is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it (19.95%) is water.
of 2000, there were 8,161 people, 3,461 households, and 2,239 families residing in the city. The population density
was 782.4 people per square mile (302.1/km²). There were 4,156 housing units at an average density of 398.4 per square mile (153.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.99% White, 0.27% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races
, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.86% of the population.
There were 3,461 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,097, and the median income for a family was $45,589. Males had a median income of $30,266 versus $21,356 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,213. About 5.0% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Clear Lake is part of the Mason City
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
Clear Lake School District has five schools
Private
North Iowa Christian School: pre-kindergarten-8th grade
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 44,151 in the county, with a population density of . There were 22,163 housing units, of which 19,350 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 8,161 at the 2000 census. The city is named for the large lake
Clear Lake (Iowa)
Clear Lake is the name of a natural body of water located in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa near Clear Lake, Iowa. It is approximately in size. It is a popular fishing destination, with walleye, bullhead, yellow bass and channel catfish. People from Des Moines and Minneapolis – Saint Paul have had...
on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
with many restaurants, hotels and truck stops.
Nelson P. Crabb was elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Clear Lake in 2005 and began his term as mayor in January 2006.
History
The region around the lake that would later be called Clear LakeClear Lake (Iowa)
Clear Lake is the name of a natural body of water located in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa near Clear Lake, Iowa. It is approximately in size. It is a popular fishing destination, with walleye, bullhead, yellow bass and channel catfish. People from Des Moines and Minneapolis – Saint Paul have had...
was a summer home to the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
and Winnebago
Ho-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
natives. During a land survey of northern Iowa done in 1832 by Nathan Boone, the son of the famous explorer, Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
a map was made showing the lake and other bodies of water in the area.
In 1851 Joseph Hewitt and James Dickirson brought their families to camp on the east side of Clear Lake, soon building a cabin, and began a friendship with the Winnebago natives. By 1853 many more white settlers had also came to settle in the area. By the year 1855 the first Clear Lake school was built and the first steam saw mill. In 1855 a hotel was built by James Crow.
By 1870 the town had 775 residents and by 1871 the streets were graded and sidewalks were made of raised boards, a sure sign of thriving new city. The city of Clear Lake was incorporated on May 26, 1871. The first bandstand built in Clear Lake was in 1877 at the City Park. The town grew and built its first library in 1889. In 1909 Bayside Amusement park opens for the first time. The first North Iowa Band Festival was organized by John Kopecky and others in 1932
In 1933 the Surf Ballroom
Surf Ballroom
The Surf Ballroom is a Historic Rock and Roll Landmark at 460 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake, Iowa. The Surf is closely associated with The Day the Music Died - early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson gave their last performances at the Surf on...
open up on the site of the old Tom Tom ballroom that had been destroyed by fire. The opening dance night had approximately 700 couples attending. In 1947 the Surf Ballroom burned down and a new Surf Ballroom was built across the street in 1948. The Bayside Amusement park closed down in 1958.
The Day the Music Died
Beechcraft Bonanza
The Beechcraft Bonanza is an American general aviation aircraft introduced in 1947 by The Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. , it is still being produced by Hawker Beechcraft, and has been in continuous production longer than any other airplane in history...
aircraft carrying Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
, and The Big Bopper
The Big Bopper
Jiles Perry "J. P." Richardson, Jr. also commonly known as The Big Bopper, was an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter whose big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star...
, who had been performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, took off from the local runway in nearby Mason City
Mason City, Iowa
Mason City is the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties....
, on its way to the next show in Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead is a city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, and the largest city in northwest Minnesota. The population was 38,065 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Clay County....
.
The plane crashed soon after takeoff, killing all aboard. This event was later eulogized by folk singer Don McLean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
in his famous song, "American Pie", in which the death of these '50s icons serves as a metaphor for greater changes within American society as a whole.
In June 1988 around 600 people gathered to witness the dedication of the monument to the deceased rock and roll legends. Clear Lake also replaced street signs officially changing 2nd Place North to Buddy Holly Place in honor of the late singer.
Geography
Clear Lake is located at 43°8′11"N 93°22′48"W (43.136479, -93.379927).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 13 square miles (33.7 km²), of which, 10.4 square miles (26.9 km²) of it is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it (19.95%) is water.
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 8,161 people, 3,461 households, and 2,239 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 782.4 people per square mile (302.1/km²). There were 4,156 housing units at an average density of 398.4 per square mile (153.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.99% White, 0.27% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races
Race (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 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.86% of the population.
There were 3,461 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,097, and the median income for a family was $45,589. Males had a median income of $30,266 versus $21,356 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 $20,213. About 5.0% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Clear Lake is part of the Mason City
Mason City, Iowa
Mason City is the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Mason City micropolitan area
The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in north central Iowa, anchored by the city of Mason City....
.
Arts and Culture
- Surf BallroomSurf BallroomThe Surf Ballroom is a Historic Rock and Roll Landmark at 460 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake, Iowa. The Surf is closely associated with The Day the Music Died - early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson gave their last performances at the Surf on...
- Site of Buddy Holly's last concert, the Surf Ballroom still has concerts and can be reserved as a convention hall or reception site. It is also a tourist attraction, and every February has a tribute to Buddy Holly. - Lady of the Lake- The stern wheeler ferry boat takes passengers on a scenic cruise around Clear Lake. The Lady of the Lake has an enclosed lower level and an open upper level.
- Clear Lake Fire Museum- Designed to resemble an early fire station, this museum's highlights include a 1924 Ahrens-Fox pumper truck, the city's 1883 hand-pulled hose cart, and the original fire bell used by the department. Also there is a memorial dedicated to honor all the firefighters who have served Clear Lake.
- Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel- Built by Jack Kennedy, The Guardian Angel Chapel overlooks Interstate 35 and is open to the public daily.
- Fort Custer Maze- The maze covers nearly two acres and has over two miles (3 km) of trail. The design is changed weekly during the summer season and prizes are given weekly for the fastest times.
- Clear Lake Arts Center- This non-profit organization, the Arts Center displays local and regional artists' work along with a sales gallery and art classes open to the public.
- PM Park, Clear Lake, IowaPM Park, Clear Lake, IowaPM Park is a restaurant and lodging establishment in Clear Lake, Iowa. It was previously run by the Patriarchs Militant as a children’s summer camp for the less fortunate.-History:...
- Site of The Patriarch Militants camp established in 1914, turned into a historical eating and lodging venue.
Education
PublicClear Lake School District has five schools
- Sunset View Elementary: Temporarily holding 6th Grade students until Middle School renovation is over
- Lincoln Elementary: sold.
- Clear Creek Elementary: pre-k to 5th grade.
- The Middle School: 7th Grade, currently in the 6th Grade wing while renovation is in progress
- The High SchoolClear Lake High School (Clear Lake, Iowa)-About the School:Clear Lake High School is a public high school in the Clear Lake Community School District. Clear Lake High school is in the city of Clear Lake, Iowa. It is located in Cerro Gordo County. The school colors are black and gold and the mascot is the Lion.-Academics:Clear Lake High...
: 9th to 12th grades. Also housing 8th Grade students due to Renovation
Private
North Iowa Christian School: pre-kindergarten-8th grade
Churches
- Agapepage.com, Agapé Christian Family Church
- Church of Christ
- Clear Lake Christian Church
- Clearlakefree.org, Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church
- Clear Lake Regular Baptist Church
- Clear Lake United Methodist
- Community of Christ
- First Church of Christ Scientist
- First Church of the Open Bible
- Congregationalclearlake.com n First Congregational Church
- Galilean Lutheran Church (ELCA)
- Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS)
- Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- Stpatrick.4lpi.com, St. Patrick's Catholic Church
- Ventura United Methodist
- Zionclearlake.org, Zion Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Notable people
- Richie HaywardRichie HaywardRichie Hayward was a drummer best known as a founding member and drummer in the band Little Feat. He performed with several bands and worked as a session player...
(1946–2010) songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, musicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, founding member for the rock band Little FeatLittle FeatLittle Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles.... - William Kirk Kaynor (1884–1929) was a United States RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. - Milo KnutsonMilo KnutsonMilo Garlock Knutson was a Wisconsin politician and radio broadcaster.Born in Clear Lake, Iowa, Knutson moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he became the news director for WKTY. From 1955 until 1965, Knutson was the Mayor of La Crosse. Knutson served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1969 until...
, Mayor of La Crosse, WisconsinLa Crosse, WisconsinLa Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
and member of the Wisconsin State SenateWisconsin State SenateThe Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly... - Jeff Scudder, business and finance lawyer at Snell & WilmerSnell & WilmerSnell & Wilmer LLP is a law firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. The firm is the largest in the state of Arizona and the 99th largest in the United States by number of lawyers, according to the National Law Journal's 2007 statistics.-History:...
External links
- Official Clear Lake City Website
- Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
- City Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Clear Lake, Iowa