Jefferson, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Jefferson is a city in Greene County
, Iowa
, United States
, along the North Raccoon River
. The population was 4,626 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Greene County
. It is the home of the Mahanay Memorial Bell Tower, 168 feet (51.2 m) tall, located on the town square, and visible for miles. The tower is named for Floyd Mahanay, a philanthropist
and former resident. Jefferson is bisected east to west by the old Lincoln Highway
(formerly U.S. 30). A new U.S. 30 is located about one mile to the north.
ted and settled a few years earlier, "New Jefferson" was organized in the winter of 1855-56 and officially incorporated in January 1872. It began as a farming community and remains so today. The first settlers of the new city were the family of George S. Walton who built there in 1855. During the Civil War
, Jefferson as well as Greene County contributed its sons to raising Company H, 10th Iowa Infantry (1861) and Company E, 39th Iowa Infantry (1862). The railway came to Jefferson in the decades after the Civil War. Jefferson's first mayor was Mahlon Head, elected in 1872. Jefferson's library was completed in 1904 through the generosity of the Carnegie library
fund. The stretch of Lincoln Highway that runs through Jefferson was completed circa
1924.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²), of which 5.8 square miles (15 km²) are land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.85%) is water.
of 2000, there were 4,626 people, 1,954 households, and 1,234 families residing in the city. The population density
was 794.6 people per square mile (306.9/km²). There were 2,094 housing units at an average density of 359.7 per square mile (138.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.97% White, 0.15% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.73% of the population.
There were 1,954 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,818, and the median income for a family was $42,754. Males had a median income of $32,206 versus $21,359 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,441. About 3.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
" (season four, episode 18). In the episode, nuclear warheads are being moved from Illinois to Jefferson, but are intercepted during transit by Marwan's associates.
Greene County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,336 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,546 housing units, of which 3,996 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...
, along the North Raccoon River
Raccoon River
The Raccoon River is a tributary of the Des Moines River in central Iowa in the United States. As measured using the longest of its three forks, its length increases to...
. The population was 4,626 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
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 Greene County
Greene County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,336 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,546 housing units, of which 3,996 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. It is the home of the Mahanay Memorial Bell Tower, 168 feet (51.2 m) tall, located on the town square, and visible for miles. The tower is named for Floyd Mahanay, a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and former resident. Jefferson is bisected east to west by the old Lincoln Highway
Lincoln 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,...
(formerly U.S. 30). A new U.S. 30 is located about one mile to the north.
History
While platPlat
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 and settled a few years earlier, "New Jefferson" was organized in the winter of 1855-56 and officially incorporated in January 1872. It began as a farming community and remains so today. The first settlers of the new city were the family of George S. Walton who built there in 1855. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Jefferson as well as Greene County contributed its sons to raising Company H, 10th Iowa Infantry (1861) and Company E, 39th Iowa Infantry (1862). The railway came to Jefferson in the decades after the Civil War. Jefferson's first mayor was Mahlon Head, elected in 1872. Jefferson's library was completed in 1904 through the generosity of the Carnegie library
Carnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
fund. The stretch of Lincoln Highway that runs through Jefferson was completed circa
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1924.
Geography
Jefferson is located at 42°1′0"N 94°22′36"W (42.016749, -94.376753).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 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²), of which 5.8 square miles (15 km²) are land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.85%) 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 4,626 people, 1,954 households, and 1,234 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 794.6 people per square mile (306.9/km²). There were 2,094 housing units at an average density of 359.7 per square mile (138.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.97% White, 0.15% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% 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 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.73% of the population.
There were 1,954 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,818, and the median income for a family was $42,754. Males had a median income of $32,206 versus $21,359 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 $17,441. About 3.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Popular Culture
Jefferson, Iowa, was featured in the television series, "2424 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
" (season four, episode 18). In the episode, nuclear warheads are being moved from Illinois to Jefferson, but are intercepted during transit by Marwan's associates.
Transportation
Greene County Regional Airport (EFW) is the airport that serves Greene County and the surrounding area. Currently, the airport has no scheduled airliner passenger service, however new service to Las Vegas McCarran Airport (LAS) and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), appear to be in the works.Notable people
- Albert Head – Five times elected to the Iowa Legislature and Speaker of the House in 1887
- William Cook HansonWilliam Cook HansonWilliam Cook Hanson was a United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa....
– Federal District Judge (Southern Dist. of Iowa) appointed by Pres. John F. Kennedy; Federal Bench 1962–95 - George GallupGeorge GallupGeorge Horace Gallup was an American pioneer of survey sampling techniques and inventor of the Gallup poll, a successful statistical method of survey sampling for measuring public opinion.-Biography:...
– Developer of the Gallup poll - Darrell R. LindseyDarrell R. LindseyDarrell Robins Lindsey was a bomber pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor.-Biography:...
– Posthumous winner of the Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her... - Dick OattsDick OattsRichard "Dick" Oatts is a jazz saxophonist from Jefferson, Iowa. He became interested in saxophone due to his father Jack Oatts. To this day he still plays on the same Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone his father gave to him. He began his professional career in Minneapolis in 1972 and in 1977 he joined...
– Jazz saxophonist - Bryce PaupBryce PaupBryce Eric Paup is a former American football defensive end and linebacker, who played professionally for the Green Bay Packers , the Buffalo Bills , the Jacksonville Jaguars , and the Minnesota Vikings .-Biography:Paup grew up on a farm in Scranton, Iowa, where he played football at Scranton...
– Professional football player (1990–2000) - Loren ShriverLoren ShriverLoren James Shriver is a former NASA astronaut, aviator, and a retired US Air Force Colonel.-Career:Shriver currently holds the position of Deputy Director for Launch and Payload Processing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center...
– Astronaut
See also
- George H. Gallup HouseGeorge H. Gallup HouseThe George H. Gallup House built in 1901 is an historic octagonal house located at 703 South Chestnut Street in Jefferson, Iowa. It was the birthplace and boyhood home of Dr. George Horace Gallup, the pioneer of public opinion polling....
- Greene County CourthouseGreene County Courthouse (Iowa)The Greene County Courthouse, located in Jefferson, Iowa, United States, was built in 1918. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource...
- Raccoon River Valley TrailRaccoon River Valley TrailRaccoon River Valley Trail is a rail trail running from Waukee, Iowa, to Jefferson, Iowa. An additional loop is to be added to the RRVT, which will give the RRVT nearly of paved trails. The portion of the trail from Waukee to Herndon is part of the American Discovery Trail, which runs...
Further reading
- Stillman, B.B., Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa, Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1907 (1979 reprint)
- Franzwa, Gregory M., The Lincoln Highway, Iowa (Vol. 1), Tucson: The Patrice Press, 1995.
- Bogue, Allan G., From Prairie to Cornbelt, Farming on the Illinoise and Iowa Prairies in the Nineteenth Century, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1963.
External links
- City website
- Jefferson Telephone & Cablevision website
- City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Jefferson