Marengo, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Marengo is a city in and the county seat
of Iowa County
, Iowa
, United States
. It has served as the county seat since August 1845, even though it was not incorporated until July 1859. The population was 2,528 in the 2010 census, a decline from 2,535 in the 2000 census.
in decimal form are 41.797227, -92.069550.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.78%) is water.
The Iowa River
passes north of town.
The racial makeup of the city in the 2010 census was 97.3% White American
, 0.6% African American
, 0.6% Native Americans in the United States
, 0.4% Asian American
, 0.0% Native Hawaiians
or Pacific Islander American
, 0.4% other races and 0.7% were from two or more races. Of those 2.8% were Hispanic and Latino Americans
.
of 2000, there were 2,535 people, 1,057 households, and 658 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,210.5 people per square mile (468.3/km²). There were 1,135 housing units at an average density of 542.0 per square mile (209.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.11% White, 0.28% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.28% from other races
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 1,057 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,509, and the median income for a family was $47,153. Males had a median income of $32,986 versus $21,401 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,425. About 6.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
, constructed in 1904-1905, and Marengo is believed to be the smallest town in the United States to have a received a donation from Andrew Carnegie
for the construction of a library. The Library recently underwent a renovation and addition, which was completed in May 2007.
The Iowa Valley Tigers were the dominant 1985 State Champions in Track and Field for Class 2A, winning 45 points over the second place team's 31.50. This included Matt Zuber's Class 2A records in the long jump
(24'-3") and the 110 meter high hurdles (14.1 sec).
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 Iowa County
Iowa County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,355 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,258 housing units, of which 6,677 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...
. It has served as the county seat since August 1845, even though it was not incorporated until July 1859. The population was 2,528 in the 2010 census, a decline from 2,535 in the 2000 census.
Geography
Marengo's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 41.797227, -92.069550.
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 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.78%) is water.
The Iowa River
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
passes north of town.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 2,528 in the city, with a population density of . There were 1,154 housing units, of which 1,059 were occupied.The racial makeup of the city in the 2010 census was 97.3% White American
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 0.6% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.6% Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.4% Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.0% Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S...
or Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 0.4% other races and 0.7% were from two or more races. Of those 2.8% were Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
.
2000 census
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 2,535 people, 1,057 households, and 658 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 1,210.5 people per square mile (468.3/km²). There were 1,135 housing units at an average density of 542.0 per square mile (209.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.11% White, 0.28% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.28% 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 1.14% of the population.
There were 1,057 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% 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, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,509, and the median income for a family was $47,153. Males had a median income of $32,986 versus $21,401 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 $17,425. About 6.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Library
The Marengo Public Library is a Carnegie libraryCarnegie 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...
, constructed in 1904-1905, and Marengo is believed to be the smallest town in the United States to have a received a donation from Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
for the construction of a library. The Library recently underwent a renovation and addition, which was completed in May 2007.
Education
Local public schools in Marengo include Iowa Valley Elementary School and Iowa Valley Junior Senior High School, part of the Iowa Valley Community Schools. The Iowa Valley Junior High and High School teams are the Tigers.The Iowa Valley Tigers were the dominant 1985 State Champions in Track and Field for Class 2A, winning 45 points over the second place team's 31.50. This included Matt Zuber's Class 2A records in the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
(24'-3") and the 110 meter high hurdles (14.1 sec).
Notable people
- Cliff ClevengerCliff ClevengerCliff Clevenger was a United States Representative from Ohio. He was born on a ranch near Long Pine, Brown County, Nebraska. He moved in 1895 with his parents to Lacona, Warren County, Iowa, where he attended the public schools. He engaged in the mercantile business at Marengo, Iowa, 1901-1903...
was a U.S. Representative from OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
who had a business in Marengo - Cindy Gerard, award-winning romanceRomance novelThe romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
author, lives outside Marengo. - Paul HinrichsPaul HinrichsPaul Edwin Hinrichs [Herky] is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the 1951 season. Listed at 6' 0", 180 lb., he batted and threw right-handed....
, born in Marengo, was a relief pitcher in Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League... - Bradley KasalBradley KasalBradley Kasal is a Sergeant Major in the United States Marine Corps who received the Navy Cross for heroic actions performed as the First Sergeant of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines during a firefight in Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq on November 13, 2004.On May 1, 2006, in a...
, born in Marengo, is a Sergeant Major in the U.S. Marine Corps and recipient of the Navy Cross - Jeremiah Henry MurphyJeremiah Henry MurphyJeremiah Henry Murphy was a two-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district....
practiced law in Marengo and was later a U.S. representative - John N. W. RumpleJohn N. W. RumpleJohn Nicholas William Rumple was a one-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district....
a U.S. representative served as Mayor and in other capacities - Rick WanamakerRick WanamakerRick Wanamaker is an American track and basketball athlete, known principally for winning the decathlon in the 1971 Pan American Games and for blocking a shot against Lew Alcindor in the 1969 NCAA national basketball semi-finals.Rick Wanamaker attended Iowa Valley High School in Marengo, where he...
, Pan-American Games gold medallist and national champion in the decathlonDecathlonThe decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
was born in Marengo, and attended high school in Marengo. - Clarence WhitehillClarence WhitehillClarence Whitehill was a leading American bass-baritone. He sang on both sides of the Atlantic and is best remembered for his association with the music dramas of Richard Wagner....
, born in Marengo, was a noted opera singer
External links
- City website
- Iowa Valley Community Schools
- Iowa County Fair
- Marengo Public Library
- City-Data Comprehensive statistical data and more about Marengo