Lamoni, Iowa

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Lamoni is a city in Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,444 at the 2000 census. Lamoni is the home of Graceland University, affiliated with the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.)

The town is a significant historic area for the Community of Christ church with the Liberty Hall museum. In 1870 a stewardship association of church members, known as the Order of Enoch, purchased over three thousand acres (12 km²) of land in southern Iowa as a place for gathering. Church headquarters relocated to the emerging community in 1881 and Joseph Smith III made Liberty Hall his home. Four Community of Christ church presidents lived in Liberty Hall. The church was headquartered in Lamoni, Iowa, and Liberty Hall was a center of social and religious life for the community. During the next 60 years, Liberty Hall served as a home for the aged, a farmhouse, CCC Headquarters, and a private residence. Now restored to its 1900-1905 Victorian style, Liberty Hall reflects the culture of the large, middle class Smith family living in a small, mid-western town as well as the heritage of Community of Christ. Tours are available March through December.

Among the significant structures in Lamoni are the Roy A. Cheville Chapel, Closson Physical Education Center, Shaw Center for the Performing Arts, Frederick Madison Smith Library, and the Higdon Administration Building, all on the Graceland University Campus.

Recently, the Lamoni area has also become home to a sizable Amish community.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Trivia
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Lamoni is located at 40°37′21″N, 93°56′1″W (40.622563, -93.933739)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.5 km² (3.3 mi²). 8.3 km² (3.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.83%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,444 people, 818 households, and 428 families residing in the city. The population density was 294.0/km² (761.1/mi²). There were 904 housing units at an average density of 108.7/km² (281.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.86% White, 2.95% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.60% Asian, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.78% of the population.

There were 818 households out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city the population was spread out with 15.1% under the age of 18, 39.6% from 18 to 24, 13.9% from 25 to 44, 15.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,735, and the median income for a family was $41,926. Males had a median income of $27,875 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,105. About 10.5% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Trivia

The town was named after the only pacifist king in the Book of Mormon
Of the four pipe organs in Decatur County, three of them are in Lamoni: two on the university campus, and a third at the local Community of Christ congregation
Lamoni was named to the list of "Best 100 cities for Young People" in the nation by Americas Promise [1]
- "Lamoni received the 100 Best honor, in part, because of their collaborative programs on behalf of children and youth. The city is proud of its 'small town, rural work ethic' and works to ensure that young people learn responsibility, teamwork, and leadership skills in the community. One example of innovative thinking in regard to young people in Lamoni is the Across Ages mentoring program that matches at-risk middle school youth with senior adults in the community." [2]
Lamoni has produced one Major League Baseball player...pitcher Eddie Watt. (b. April 4, 1941)