Iowa Falls, Iowa

Iowa Falls is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. Iowa Falls is the home of Ellsworth Community College. It is also a regional transportation center, located along U.S. Routes 20 and 65 and the Canadian National and Union Pacific Railroads. The population was 5,106 at the time of the 2020 census.

History
Iowa Falls was laid out and platted in 1856. Prior to being named Iowa Falls, the area had been known as Rocksylvania. However, due to the difficulty of pronunciation and spelling, it was then changed to Iowa Falls. It was named from the falls on the Iowa River.

The Illinois Central Railroad was built through Iowa Falls in 1866.

The Metropolitan Opera House was built in 1899, it presented plays, operas, and vaudeville in the town during the first half of the twentieth century, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Iowa Falls Popcorn Stand, located in Estes Park, is the oldest popcorn stand in Iowa that is still running. It was first opened on May 29, 1948 as "Louie's Korn Krib."

Geography
Iowa Falls is located at 42.51667°N, -93.26667°W (42.5221, -93.2673).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.44 sqmi, of which 5.36 sqmi is land and 0.08 sqmi is water.

Iowa Falls is located at the point where the Iowa River flows through a limestone gorge 70 ft deep between bluffs that rise another 50 ft. The falls themselves were also known as the "rapids of the Iowa." The falls are now submerged by a dam built in 1926 that is 26 ft feet high and 200 feet long and serves a hydroelectric power station that currently generates 1.5MW.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Iowa Falls has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 5,238 people, 2,207 households, and 1,295 families living in the city. The population density was 977.2 PD/sqmi. There were 2,462 housing units at an average density of 459.3 /sqmi. The racial makup of the city was 94.0% White, 2.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9%.

Of the 2,207 households 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.3% were non-families. 37.1% of households were one person and 18.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age was 40.9 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 5,193 people, 2,215 households, and 1,331 families living in the city. The population density was 1,043.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,412 housing units at an average density of 484.5 /sqmi. The racial makup of the city was 97.34% White, 1.21% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.42% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04%.

Of the 2,215 households 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 34.6% of households were one person and 18.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.81.

The age distribution was20.3% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% that were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median household income was $32,141 and the median family income was $42,279. Males had a median income of $31,216 versus $21,004 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,330. About 7.1% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Iowa Select Farms, Iowa's largest hog producer, is headquartered in Iowa Falls.

Education
Iowa Falls Community School District operates public schools.

Radio and Cable broadcasting
KIFG (Iowa River Radio) 95.3 FM, 1510 AM. An over-the-air cable system existed in Iowa Falls, similar to one in Iron Mountain, Michigan. A list of channels and what they rebroadcast:

Notable people

 * Nick Collison, NBA basketball player
 * Joseph Gomer, Tuskegee airman
 * Kurt Ploeger, former NFL player
 * Bill Riley Sr., television personality
 * Randy Schultz former NFL player
 * Jim Trickey, football player
 * Christopher Whitesell, writer
 * Jim Whitesell, basketball coach
 * John Whitesell, Hollywood director
 * Patrick Whitesell, Hollywood agent and co-CEO of WME Entertainment
 * Sean Whitesell, actor, writer, producer
 * Jeff Hansen, pig farmer, founder of Iowa Select Farms