Worthington, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Worthington is a city in Dubuque County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 381 at the 2000 census
. Iowa Highway 136's route takes it through Worthington, which is north of Cascade
and south of Dyersville
.
to Cedar Rapids, Iowa
. In 1858, an Englishman named Amos Worthington came to the area to establish a general store. By November 1858 the area became an unincorporated town known as the village of Worthington. By May of the following year regular rail service was established. A plat of Worthington was established with the Dubuque county recorder in 1858.
In 1861, Worthington sold his store to a William Moore and left for Cincinnati, Ohio
. Eventually this store became known as the Heffner and Lattner Store. Settlers also began arriving in the area, with a number of people setting up businesses.
Soon a Baptist Church was established in Worthington, with James Hill as Pastor. In 1868 Father Kortenkamp of St. Francis parish in Dyersville, Iowa decided that Worthington was large enough to merit its own Catholic parish, and St. Paul's Catholic Church
was begun.
On October 1, 1892, a number of local citizens filed a petition in the District Court of Iowa in and for Dubuque County asking for Worthington to be formally incorporated as a town. On November 23, the court called for village inhabitants Peter Baum, W. Lattner, G.A. Dando, Louis Hoppleu, and Theodore Ament to act as commissioners. As commissioners they were to call for a special election of all qualified people in the proposed area to vote on the matter of being incorporated. This election was held on January 2, 1893. There were 42 votes cast — 32 were for the proposal and ten were against. Eight days later, on January 10, 1893, the Clerk of the District Court reported that the election was held.
The notice of the incorporation election was posted in the Dyersville Commercial for several weeks, with the last notice being published on February 17, 1893. Then on March 6, 1893 the results of the election were formally certified by the District Court Clerk — finalizing the incorporation of Worthington, Iowa. The formal date of incorporation of Worthington was set as January 2, 1893 when the special election had taken place.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 381 people, 144 households, and 112 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,228.9 people per square mile (474.5/km²). There were 147 housing units at an average density of 474.1 per square mile (183.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.48% White, 0.52% from other races
.
There were 144 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was US$36,250, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $18,846 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,119. About 4.1% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
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...
. The population was 381 at 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...
. Iowa Highway 136's route takes it through Worthington, which is north of Cascade
Cascade, Iowa
Cascade is a city in Dubuque County and Jones County, Iowa, United States. The Dubuque County portion is part of Dubuque Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Jones County portion is part of Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,958 at the 2000 census, but is now...
and south of 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....
.
History
The land on which Worthington is currently located was originally purchased by David Lovelace from the United States Government. The Dubuque South-Western Railroad — the local branch of the Chicago-Milwaukee and St. Paul lines — was contracted to establish a line from FarleyFarley, 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...
to Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
. In 1858, an Englishman named Amos Worthington came to the area to establish a general store. By November 1858 the area became an unincorporated town known as the village of Worthington. By May of the following year regular rail service was established. A plat of Worthington was established with the Dubuque county recorder in 1858.
In 1861, Worthington sold his store to a William Moore and left for Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. Eventually this store became known as the Heffner and Lattner Store. Settlers also began arriving in the area, with a number of people setting up businesses.
Soon a Baptist Church was established in Worthington, with James Hill as Pastor. In 1868 Father Kortenkamp of St. Francis parish in Dyersville, Iowa decided that Worthington was large enough to merit its own Catholic parish, and St. Paul's Catholic Church
Saint Paul's Catholic Church (Worthington)
Saint Paul's Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church This parish is located in Worthington, Iowa, and is part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. St. Paul's is linked with the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa - with whom it shares a pastor. The church today is...
was begun.
On October 1, 1892, a number of local citizens filed a petition in the District Court of Iowa in and for Dubuque County asking for Worthington to be formally incorporated as a town. On November 23, the court called for village inhabitants Peter Baum, W. Lattner, G.A. Dando, Louis Hoppleu, and Theodore Ament to act as commissioners. As commissioners they were to call for a special election of all qualified people in the proposed area to vote on the matter of being incorporated. This election was held on January 2, 1893. There were 42 votes cast — 32 were for the proposal and ten were against. Eight days later, on January 10, 1893, the Clerk of the District Court reported that the election was held.
The notice of the incorporation election was posted in the Dyersville Commercial for several weeks, with the last notice being published on February 17, 1893. Then on March 6, 1893 the results of the election were formally certified by the District Court Clerk — finalizing the incorporation of Worthington, Iowa. The formal date of incorporation of Worthington was set as January 2, 1893 when the special election had taken place.
Geography
Worthington is located at 42°23′48"N 91°7′10"W (42.396745, -91.119529).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 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 381 people, 144 households, and 112 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 1,228.9 people per square mile (474.5/km²). There were 147 housing units at an average density of 474.1 per square mile (183.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.48% White, 0.52% 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...
.
There were 144 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% 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, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was US$36,250, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $18,846 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 $14,119. About 4.1% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.