West Branch, Iowa
Encyclopedia
West Branch is a city in Cedar
and Johnson
counties in the U.S. state
of Iowa
. The population was 2,342 as of July 2009, a 7% growth since the 2000 census
. It is the birthplace of the only American president born in Iowa, Herbert Hoover
.
The Johnson County portion of West Branch is part of the Iowa City, Iowa
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
The city of West Branch was first settled in the mid-19th century by Quakers from Ohio. Its name is derived from the meeting place of the West Branch Quakers, and the location of the city on the west branch of the Wapsinonoc Creek. Most of Main Street is part of the West Branch Commercial Historic District
.
Before the Civil War, areas in and around West Branch were stops of the Underground Railroad
. Abolitionist John Brown
once stayed at the Maxson farm east of West Branch. In 2008, archaeologists found evidence of unmarked graves in nearby North Liberty Cemetery while investigating an account of 17 escaped slaves who died before reaching Canada.
President Herbert Hoover
was born in West Branch in 1874. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum was dedicated here by Hoover and his close friend, President Harry Truman, in 1962. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, which includes the Library-Museum, the Hoover Birthplace Cottage and the gravesites of President and Lou Henry Hoover, was authorized by Congress on August 12, 1965.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.
West Branch is located approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Iowa City
, and 40 miles (64.4 km) west of Davenport
.
of 2000, there were 2,341 people, 840 households, and 572 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,106.8 people per square mile (426.7/km²). There were 876 housing units at an average density of 443.1 per square mile (170.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.71% White, 0.37% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.
There were 840 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $51,667. Males had a median income of $31,949 versus $26,379 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,577. About 4.5% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
The city's industrial park is home to a major distribution center of Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble
. The building is 550000 square feet (51,096.7 m²) and as of 2007, is undergoing an expansion. The industrial park is also home to Plastic Products, Wausau and, Acciona Windpower North America.
As of November 2007, construction was completed on Acciona Energía's
wind turbine generator engineering and assembly plant, the first in North America. Production began at the plant in December 2007.
West Branch is home to the Herbert Hoover National Historical Site
, run by the National Park Service
and Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
, run by the National Archives and Records Administration
. The library holds the documentary legacy of Rose Wilder Lane
and her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder
.
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.It was named as one of the most endangered historic properties in Iowa by the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance
in 2008.
Oliphant Street Field, the playing field for the West Branch High School football team, is situated just northwest of downtown. Colloquially known as "the Little Rose Bowl", it was constructed by the Works Progress Administration
by excavating a sloped field, yielding a playing field with natural seating on three sides.
Scattergood Friends School
, a Quaker boarding school, is located east of the city.
records this as the 37th most points scored by one team in Iowa history.
The Bears are also known for having a very strong boys golf program. From 1989-1997, West Branch did not lose a regular season dual meet. Their teams hold five state championships (1976, 1989–92), and have been the breeding grounds for professionals Dave Rummells
and Sean McCarty. McCarty is one of the more decorated golfers in Iowa's history, having won three state individual titles and one runner-up. Rummells finished in the top-25 money winnings on the PGA Tour
in 1989.
The West Branch Bears boys golf team won four state championships, and the football team won three state championships, in 1989, 1991 and 1992.
Cedar County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,956 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,064 housing units, of which 7,511 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and Johnson
Johnson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 130,882 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,967 housing units, of which 52,715 were occupied.-2000 census:...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The population was 2,342 as of July 2009, a 7% growth since the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is the birthplace of the only American president born in Iowa, Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
.
The Johnson County portion of West Branch is part of the Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Iowa City metropolitan area
The Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Iowa anchored by the city of Iowa City...
.
History
West Branch Commercial Historic District
The downtown district of West Branch, Iowa is part of the West Branch Commercial Historic District. Multiple architectural styles are represented. The 1907 Winery Building, which served as West Branch's post office and later a full-service gas station, collapsed on June 11, 2010...
.
Before the Civil War, areas in and around West Branch were stops of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. Abolitionist John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
once stayed at the Maxson farm east of West Branch. In 2008, archaeologists found evidence of unmarked graves in nearby North Liberty Cemetery while investigating an account of 17 escaped slaves who died before reaching Canada.
President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
was born in West Branch in 1874. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum was dedicated here by Hoover and his close friend, President Harry Truman, in 1962. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, which includes the Library-Museum, the Hoover Birthplace Cottage and the gravesites of President and Lou Henry Hoover, was authorized by Congress on August 12, 1965.
Geography
West Branch is located at 41°40′23"N 91°20′45"W (41.673076, -91.345815).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 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.
West Branch is located approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
, and 40 miles (64.4 km) west of Davenport
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
.
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 2,341 people, 840 households, and 572 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 1,106.8 people per square mile (426.7/km²). There were 876 housing units at an average density of 443.1 per square mile (170.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.71% White, 0.37% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.59% 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 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.
There were 840 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% 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, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $51,667. Males had a median income of $31,949 versus $26,379 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 $19,577. About 4.5% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
West Branch has been one of 36 communities in the Main Street Iowa program since being accepted on June 1, 2006. The program encourages downtown economic development through historic preservation.The city's industrial park is home to a major distribution center of Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
. The building is 550000 square feet (51,096.7 m²) and as of 2007, is undergoing an expansion. The industrial park is also home to Plastic Products, Wausau and, Acciona Windpower North America.
As of November 2007, construction was completed on Acciona Energía's
Acciona Energy
Acciona Energy, a subsidiary of Acciona based in Madrid, is a Spanish company developing renewable energy projects, including small hydro, biomass, solar energy and thermal energy, and the marketing of biofuels. It also has assets in the field of co-generation and wind turbine manufacture...
wind turbine generator engineering and assembly plant, the first in North America. Production began at the plant in December 2007.
Museums
Herbert Hoover National Historical Site
The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site buildings and grounds in West Branch, Iowa, are preserved by the National Park Service to commemorate the life of the 31st President of the United States. The site is also known as Herbert Hoover Birthplace...
, run by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
and Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is the Presidential library of Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States. Located in West Branch, Iowa, next to the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, the library is one of thirteen presidential libraries run by the National...
, run by the National Archives and Records Administration
National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records and with increasing public access to those documents, which comprise the National Archives...
. The library holds the documentary legacy of Rose Wilder Lane
Rose Wilder Lane
Rose Wilder Lane was an American journalist, travel writer, novelist, and political theorist...
and her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder was an American author who wrote the Little House series of books based on her childhood in a pioneer family...
.
Landmarks
The Gruwell and Crew General StoreGruwell and Crew General Store
The Gruwell and Crew General Store is one of the oldest buildings in West Branch. Mayor S.C. Gruwell and J.C. Crew built the structure in 1894, it operated as a music store, harness shop, shoe repair shop, and as a variety store. In 1964 the West Branch Heritage Foundation converted it to a museum....
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.It was named as one of the most endangered historic properties in Iowa by the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance
Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance
Preservation Iowa, formerly called the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance , was founded in 1989 by members of the public concerned about the destruction of significant historic sites and buildings in the state of Iowa....
in 2008.
Oliphant Street Field, the playing field for the West Branch High School football team, is situated just northwest of downtown. Colloquially known as "the Little Rose Bowl", it was constructed by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
by excavating a sloped field, yielding a playing field with natural seating on three sides.
Education
The West Branch Community School District has about 800 students and includes three schools: Hoover Elementary, West Branch Middle School and West Branch High School.Scattergood Friends School
Scattergood Friends School
Scattergood Friends School educates students in grades nine through twelve. It is in Cedar County, Iowa, two miles east and one half mile south of the town of West Branch. Founded in 1890 by Iowa Wilburite Quakers to provide a "guarded education" for their own children, it is owned and operated...
, a Quaker boarding school, is located east of the city.
High school sports
West Branch is known for a rich football tradition. From 1990 through 1997, West Branch High School won 62 consecutive regular season games. This is the second longest winning streak in the state of Iowa, following only Harlan High School's 66 consecutive wins. In addition, West Branch won 36 consecutive games (including postseason) from 1991 until the 1993 Iowa State football playoffs. During the winning streak, West Branch won against Clear Creek-Amana by scoring 81 points. the Iowa High School Athletic AssociationIowa High School Athletic Association
The Iowa High School Athletic Association is the regulating body for male Iowa high school interscholastic athletics and is a full member of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Its female counterpart, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, is an associate member...
records this as the 37th most points scored by one team in Iowa history.
The Bears are also known for having a very strong boys golf program. From 1989-1997, West Branch did not lose a regular season dual meet. Their teams hold five state championships (1976, 1989–92), and have been the breeding grounds for professionals Dave Rummells
Dave Rummells
Dave Rummells is an American professional golfer.Rummells was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and raised in West Branch, Iowa. He played college golf at the University of Iowa. He turned professional in 1981....
and Sean McCarty. McCarty is one of the more decorated golfers in Iowa's history, having won three state individual titles and one runner-up. Rummells finished in the top-25 money winnings on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in 1989.
The West Branch Bears boys golf team won four state championships, and the football team won three state championships, in 1989, 1991 and 1992.
Notable people
- Marv CookMarv CookMarvin Eugene Cook is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1989 NFL Draft. A 6'4", 234-lb. tight end from the University of Iowa, Cook played in 7 NFL seasons from 1989 to 1995 for the Patriots, the Chicago Bears, and...
, footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player - Herbert HooverHerbert HooverHerbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
(1874–1964) 31st President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
1929–33 - Dave RummellsDave RummellsDave Rummells is an American professional golfer.Rummells was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and raised in West Branch, Iowa. He played college golf at the University of Iowa. He turned professional in 1981....
, PGA TourPGA TourThe PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
golfer - Hector Ibarra, a 6th and 7th grade science teacher, was inducted into the National Teacher's Hall of Fame in 1998. His program, "Operation Appreciation," which teaches students science through hands-on community service projects, won the National Science Foundation President's Award.