Panora, Iowa

Panora is a city in Guthrie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,091 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Des Moines metropolitan area.

History
Panora was platted in 1851. Panora is the oldest community in Guthrie County and was its county seat until 1876 when Guthrie Center became the county seat.

Geography
Panora is located along the Middle Raccoon River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.80 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,124 people, 460 households, and 286 families residing in the city. The population density was 624.4 PD/sqmi. There were 522 housing units at an average density of 290.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 0.2% African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 460 households, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.8% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 43.2 years. 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.8% male and 55.2% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,175 people, 470 households, and 287 families residing in the city. The population density was 652.1 PD/sqmi. There were 504 housing units at an average density of 279.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.87% White, 0.43% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.43% Pacific Islander, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 470 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.97.

Age spread: 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $41,583. Males had a median income of $28,558 versus $22,692 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,510. About 4.8% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Nutriom operates a facility in Panora which converts the equivalent of approximately 24 million eggs each year into a powder which can later be combined with water and heated to create scrambled eggs.

Arts and culture


The Guthrie County Historical Village and Museum is a 4.5 acre museum in Panora, which includes historic buildings, implements, and rail cars.

Art in the Village Square occurs in Panora's Town Square Park in June, and includes live music and artwork.

Lake Panorama Days occurs each August, and includes a parade, street dance, and water skiing show at Lake Panorama.

Parks and recreation
Lenon Mill Park campgrounds, located on the Middle Raccoon River, is part of the larger 1236 acre Lenon Mill Park and Wildlife Area.

The trailhead for the Raccoon River Valley Trail is located at in Panora.

Veterans Auditorium was built during the 1930s, and was dedicated by WHO radio sports announcer Ronald Reagan. Veterans Auditorium is the only extant structure of the original Panora-Linden High School building, which was removed from the National Listing of Historic Places upon its destruction in 1991. The Panora Community Center is attached to Veterans Auditorium.

Government
In August 2023, councilmember Curtis Thornberry became interim mayor.

Education
Panorama Community School District provides co-ed classes for grades K–12 to the towns of Panora, Linden, Yale, Jamaica, Bagley, and Lake Panorama. Schools located in Panora include Panorama Elementary School, which serves grades K–5, and Panorama Middle School/High School, which opened in 1974, and serves grades 6–12.

Notable people

 * William L. Carberry, college football player and coach.
 * Aubrey W. Dirlam, served as Speaker, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
 * Kip Janvrin, native of Panora, American decathlete and track and field coach at the University of Central Missouri who set the World Masters Athletics (M40) decathlon world record in 2005.