Okoboji, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Okoboji is a city in Dickinson County
, Iowa
, United States
, along the eastern shore of West Okoboji Lake
in the Iowa Great Lakes
region. The population was 820 at the 2000 census. Pikes Point State Park is located within the city limits. Okoboji is served by KUOO
-FM and KUQQ-FM.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 820 people, 427 households, and 240 families residing in the city. The population density
was 460.0 people per square mile (177.9/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 529.6 per square mile (204.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.66% White, 0.12% African American, 0.73% Native American, 0.12% from other races
, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 427 households out of which 16.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples
living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.50.
In the city the population was spread out with 14.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $54,659. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $24,018 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,297. About 2.6% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
, have contributed to its growing popularity. Okoboji has also become a recognizable name around the country due to the sales of many products that proudly display the town name in bold letters. It is not uncommon to spot an Okoboji t-shirt or sweatshirt on nearly every college campus in the Midwest. Visitors to Okoboji will immediately notice bumper stickers, mugs and sweatshirts touting the fictitious University of Okoboji
where many locals claim to have received an education.
Dickinson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,667 in the county, with a population density of . There were 12,849 housing units, of which 7,554 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 eastern shore of West Okoboji Lake
West Okoboji Lake
West Okoboji Lake is a natural body of water, approximately in area, in Dickinson County in northwest Iowa in the United States. It is part of the chain of lakes known as the Iowa Great Lakes. The area was long inhabited by the Santee or Dakota Sioux...
in the Iowa Great Lakes
Iowa Great Lakes
The Iowa Great Lakes are a group of natural glacial lakes in Dickinson County in northwestern Iowa in the United States. The three principal lakes of the group are Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake, and East Okoboji Lake. They are the largest natural lakes in the state of Iowa. The largest, Spirit...
region. The population was 820 at the 2000 census. Pikes Point State Park is located within the city limits. Okoboji is served by KUOO
KUOO
KUOO is a radio station that broadcasts an Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Spirit Lake, Iowa, USA, it serves the Iowa Great Lakes Area. KUOO is owned by Community First Broadcasting ....
-FM and KUQQ-FM.
Geography
Okoboji is located at 43°23′15"N 95°8′17"W (43.387620, -95.138025).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 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all of it land.
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 820 people, 427 households, and 240 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 460.0 people per square mile (177.9/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 529.6 per square mile (204.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.66% White, 0.12% African American, 0.73% Native American, 0.12% 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 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 427 households out of which 16.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% 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, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.50.
In the city the population was spread out with 14.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $54,659. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $24,018 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 $29,297. About 2.6% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Tourism
Okoboji is a major summer tourism area. A growing number of resorts around the Iowa Great Lakes and the proximity of other tourist-friendly sites, such as Arnolds Park and Spirit LakeSpirit Lake, Iowa
Spirit Lake is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,261 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dickinson County.The town is located along the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region....
, have contributed to its growing popularity. Okoboji has also become a recognizable name around the country due to the sales of many products that proudly display the town name in bold letters. It is not uncommon to spot an Okoboji t-shirt or sweatshirt on nearly every college campus in the Midwest. Visitors to Okoboji will immediately notice bumper stickers, mugs and sweatshirts touting the fictitious University of Okoboji
University of Okoboji
The University of Okoboji is a fictitious university in the state of Iowa in the United States. The university was the creation of three brothers in the early 1970s, who printed t-shirts with an "official" school crest...
where many locals claim to have received an education.