Peosta, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Peosta is a city in Dubuque County
, Iowa
, United States
, and an exurb
of the city of Dubuque
. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,377 in the 2010 census, an increase of 111.5% from 651 in the 2000 census. Peosta experienced a 70% increase in population (estimated) from 2000 to 2007, making it the state's 10th-fastest growing city during that period. Peosta is currently the seventh-largest city in Dubuque County, but it will likely soon pass Farley
(pop. 1,537) and Epworth
(pop. 1,860) to become the fifth-largest. The community is home to a large industrial park
, the largest campus of Northeast Iowa Community College
, and a handful of new commercial businesses. However, the city is increasingly becoming a bedroom community, much like nearby Asbury
, made up of spacious new subdivisions
.
tribe that once lived in Dubuque County. Chief Peosta, of the Mesquakie tribe, was a close friend of Julien Dubuque
, one of the first European settlers in the area. Dubuque was also the founder of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, and was allegedly married to Chief Peosta's daughter, who was reportedly named "Potosa".
For most of its history, and even as recently as 1990, Peosta was a quiet rural
town of around 100 people. The groundwork for later growth was laid in the 1960s, when the new 4-lane U.S. Highway 20
opened along the city's southern edge, providing quick access to Dubuque. The city was also aided by the opening of Northeast Iowa Technical Institute (later NICC) in 1979. However, it wasn't until the city's industrial park began to flourish in the 1990s that the population began to soar. Peosta grew from a tiny 128 people in 1990 to over 1,300 today, and it continues to climb rapidly. This 1000% growth in 20 years has helped attract new businesses and services to Peosta as well. The city now boasts two elementary schools, its own community center, hotel
, church, industrial park, and expanding neighborhoods.
form of government
, employing a full-time city clerk, and part-time city council
(mayor
and 5 at-large
city council members). The city clerk is Karen Snyder, the current mayor is Jim Weydert, and the council members are: Dick Avenarius, Tom Ingles, Dennis McDonald, Brian Recker, and Ray Stephan. The city council meets at 7 P.M. on the second Tuesday of the month at the Peosta Community Centre.
Peosta has 3 city departments: Public Safety (police
& fire
), Public Works
, and Parks & Recreation
. The Parks & Recreation Dept. operates the Peosta Community Centre and Peosta's city park.
In the Iowa General Assembly
, Peosta is represented by Senator Tom Hancock
(D-Epworth) in the Iowa Senate
, and Representative Ray Zirkelbach (D-Monticello) in the Iowa House of Representatives
. At the federal level, it is within Iowa's 1st congressional district
, represented by Bruce Braley
(D-Waterloo) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Peosta, and all of Iowa, are represented by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley
(R) and Tom Harkin
(D).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
, warehousing, and shipping
companies form the main part of the economy. Most of the companies in the city are relatively new, which has led to a significant number of commuters driving to Peosta's employers from Dubuque, Asbury, or Dyersville
. Some of the larger employers in the city include: Captive Plastics, First Gear, Mi-T-M, Bodine Electric, and the Swiss Colony
. Also, Northeast Iowa Community College employs hundreds of people at its Peosta Campus.
of 2000, there were 651 people, 223 households, and 183 families residing in the city. The population density
was 482.9 people per square mile (186.2/km²). There were 223 housing units at an average density of 165.4 per square mile (63.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.92% White, 0.15% African American, 0.31% Asian, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
There were 223 households out of which 49.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples
living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.24.
Age/gender spread: 34.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 38.2% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $56,250, and the median income for a family was $56,797. Males had a median income of $38,500 versus $23,516 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,499. About 1.2% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
. Elementary school
students are zoned to Peosta Elementary School (in Peosta) for grades K-5. Middle school
students are zoned to Drexler Middle School in Farley, Iowa
, and high school
students are zoned to Western Dubuque High School
, in nearby Epworth, Iowa
.
Like many other rural communities in Iowa, Peosta also has a private school. Seton Catholic Elementary School- Peosta is one of three buildings that comprise Seton Catholic Elementary School, and is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
. For grades 1-2, students go to the building in nearby Epworth, for grades 3-5, students attend the building in Peosta, and for grades 6-8, students go to the building in Farley. For high school, parochial students attend Beckman High School in Dyersville, Iowa
or Wahlert High School
in Dubuque, Iowa
.
For higher education, Peosta benefits from a campus of Northeast Iowa Community College
, which includes large nursing, welding, business, and computer programs, among other majors. Most of the students at the school transfer to other 4-year colleges, including many to the 3 small colleges in Dubuque: Clarke College
, Loras College
, and University of Dubuque
.
Dubuque County, Iowa
Dubuque County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 93,653 in the 2010 census, an increase from 89,143 in the 2000 census. The county seat is the city of Dubuque. Dubuque County is coterminous with the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the seventh...
, 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...
, and an exurb
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
of the city of Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,377 in the 2010 census, an increase of 111.5% from 651 in the 2000 census. Peosta experienced a 70% increase in population (estimated) from 2000 to 2007, making it the state's 10th-fastest growing city during that period. Peosta is currently the seventh-largest city in Dubuque County, but it will likely soon pass Farley
Farley, Iowa
Farley is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,334 at the 2000 census, but is now estimated to be 1,415...
(pop. 1,537) and Epworth
Epworth, Iowa
Epworth is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,428 at the 2000 census, but is now estimated to be 1,589 ....
(pop. 1,860) to become the fifth-largest. The community is home to a large industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
, the largest campus of Northeast Iowa Community College
Northeast Iowa Community College
Northeast Iowa Community College serves the Iowa counties of Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek, Dubuque, and Delaware counties. It also includes sections of Bremer, Buchanan, Jones, Jackson, and Mitchell counties. The college is commonly referred to as NICC. There are two...
, and a handful of new commercial businesses. However, the city is increasingly becoming a bedroom community, much like nearby Asbury
Asbury, Iowa
Asbury is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, and a suburb of the city of Dubuque. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,450 at the 2000 census, but is now 4,170. Asbury is the second-largest city in Dubuque County, surpassing Dyersville,...
, made up of spacious new subdivisions
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
.
History
Peosta is named after the leader of a local Native AmericanNative 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...
tribe that once lived in Dubuque County. Chief Peosta, of the Mesquakie tribe, was a close friend of Julien Dubuque
Julien Dubuque
Julien Dubuque was a French Canadian from the area of Champlain, Quebec who arrived near what now is known as Dubuque, Iowa - which was named after him. He was one of the first men to settle in the area. He initially received permission from the Meskwaki Native American tribe to mine the lead in...
, one of the first European settlers in the area. Dubuque was also the founder of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, and was allegedly married to Chief Peosta's daughter, who was reportedly named "Potosa".
For most of its history, and even as recently as 1990, Peosta was a quiet rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
town of around 100 people. The groundwork for later growth was laid in the 1960s, when the new 4-lane U.S. Highway 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
opened along the city's southern edge, providing quick access to Dubuque. The city was also aided by the opening of Northeast Iowa Technical Institute (later NICC) in 1979. However, it wasn't until the city's industrial park began to flourish in the 1990s that the population began to soar. Peosta grew from a tiny 128 people in 1990 to over 1,300 today, and it continues to climb rapidly. This 1000% growth in 20 years has helped attract new businesses and services to Peosta as well. The city now boasts two elementary schools, its own community center, hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, church, industrial park, and expanding neighborhoods.
Law and government
Peosta has a mayor-councilMayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
form of government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, employing a full-time city clerk, and part-time city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
(mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and 5 at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
city council members). The city clerk is Karen Snyder, the current mayor is Jim Weydert, and the council members are: Dick Avenarius, Tom Ingles, Dennis McDonald, Brian Recker, and Ray Stephan. The city council meets at 7 P.M. on the second Tuesday of the month at the Peosta Community Centre.
Peosta has 3 city departments: Public Safety (police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
& fire
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
), Public Works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
, and Parks & Recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
. The Parks & Recreation Dept. operates the Peosta Community Centre and Peosta's city park.
In the Iowa General Assembly
Iowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
, Peosta is represented by Senator Tom Hancock
Tom Hancock
Tom Hancock is the Iowa State Senator from the 16th District. A Democrat, he has served in the Iowa Senate since 2005. He is retired from the United States Postal Service....
(D-Epworth) in the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
, and Representative Ray Zirkelbach (D-Monticello) in the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
. At the federal level, it is within Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers the northeastern part of the state. The district includes Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport and Waterloo....
, represented by Bruce Braley
Bruce Braley
Bruce Braley is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district lies in northeastern Iowa and includes Davenport, Bettendorf, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Dubuque, and Clinton....
(D-Waterloo) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Peosta, and all of Iowa, are represented by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley
Chuck Grassley
Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley is the senior United States Senator from Iowa . A member of Republican Party, he previously served in the served in the United States House of Representatives and the Iowa state legislature...
(R) and Tom Harkin
Tom Harkin
Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin is the junior United States Senator from Iowa and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives ....
(D).
Geography
Peosta's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 42.449157, -90.846420.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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Economy
Peosta is home to a large and growing industrial park. The city's manufacturingManufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
, warehousing, and shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
companies form the main part of the economy. Most of the companies in the city are relatively new, which has led to a significant number of commuters driving to Peosta's employers from Dubuque, Asbury, or Dyersville
Dyersville, Iowa
Dyersville is a city in eastern Delaware and western Dubuque Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,035 at the 2000 census and was estimated to be 4,167 in 2006....
. Some of the larger employers in the city include: Captive Plastics, First Gear, Mi-T-M, Bodine Electric, and the Swiss Colony
Swiss Colony
Colony Brands, Inc. is a mail-order and electronic retail company known for its cheese, sausage, chocolate, fruitcakes, and other food products. The company also features extensive offerings in furniture, home decor, apparel, entertainment products, and electronics...
. Also, Northeast Iowa Community College employs hundreds of people at its Peosta Campus.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 1,377 in the city, with a population density of . There were 456 housing units, of which 438 were occupied.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 651 people, 223 households, and 183 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 482.9 people per square mile (186.2/km²). There were 223 housing units at an average density of 165.4 per square mile (63.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.92% White, 0.15% African American, 0.31% Asian, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
There were 223 households out of which 49.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% 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, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.24.
Age/gender spread: 34.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 38.2% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $56,250, and the median income for a family was $56,797. Males had a median income of $38,500 versus $23,516 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 $17,499. About 1.2% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Education
All public school students living in Peosta are zoned to schools in the Western Dubuque Community School DistrictWestern Dubuque Community School District
The Western Dubuque Community School District, is a school district based in Farley, Iowa . The district, which operates schools in western Dubuque County, is the largest school district in Iowa...
. Elementary school
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
students are zoned to Peosta Elementary School (in Peosta) for grades K-5. Middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
students are zoned to Drexler Middle School in Farley, Iowa
Farley, Iowa
Farley is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,334 at the 2000 census, but is now estimated to be 1,415...
, and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
students are zoned to Western Dubuque High School
Western Dubuque High School
Western Dubuque High School is a four-year public high school located in Epworth, Iowa. It is one of two high schools in the Western Dubuque Community School District, and enrolls 770 students in grades 9-12...
, in nearby Epworth, Iowa
Epworth, Iowa
Epworth is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,428 at the 2000 census, but is now estimated to be 1,589 ....
.
Like many other rural communities in Iowa, Peosta also has a private school. Seton Catholic Elementary School- Peosta is one of three buildings that comprise Seton Catholic Elementary School, and is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northeastern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States. It includes all the Iowa counties north of Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, and Clinton counties. ...
. For grades 1-2, students go to the building in nearby Epworth, for grades 3-5, students attend the building in Peosta, and for grades 6-8, students go to the building in Farley. For high school, parochial students attend Beckman High School in Dyersville, Iowa
Dyersville, Iowa
Dyersville is a city in eastern Delaware and western Dubuque Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,035 at the 2000 census and was estimated to be 4,167 in 2006....
or Wahlert High School
Wahlert High School
Wahlert Catholic High School is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic high school in the city of Dubuque, Iowa. It is one of four high schools in Dubuque, the others being Central Alternative High School, Hempstead High School and Dubuque Senior High School. Wahlert is the central Catholic high...
in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
.
For higher education, Peosta benefits from a campus of Northeast Iowa Community College
Northeast Iowa Community College
Northeast Iowa Community College serves the Iowa counties of Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek, Dubuque, and Delaware counties. It also includes sections of Bremer, Buchanan, Jones, Jackson, and Mitchell counties. The college is commonly referred to as NICC. There are two...
, which includes large nursing, welding, business, and computer programs, among other majors. Most of the students at the school transfer to other 4-year colleges, including many to the 3 small colleges in Dubuque: Clarke College
Clarke College
Clarke University is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, United States, with a general attendance of approximately 1,200 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
, Loras College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
, and University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
The University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian university located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,600 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of three four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, and is...
.
External links
- Official City Website
- City-Data Comprehensive statistical data and more about Peosta