Carter Lake, Iowa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Carter Lake is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,248 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Carter Lake is located at 41°17′34″N, 95°54′50″W (41.292647, -95.913989)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²). 4.7 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (9.95%) is water.

[edit] History

Eppley Airfield terminals. The houses immediately behind are in Carter Lake, Iowa (with the lake visible to the right). The bluffs are in Omaha.

Carter Lake is the only city in Iowa located west of the Missouri River. This is due to a flood that occurred in March of 1877, which redirected the course of the river 2km (1.25mi) to the southeast. The remnants of the old river course, which were called Saratoga Bend, became an oxbow-shaped lake, for which the town is named today.

Soon after the formation of the lake, the site became a flourishing recreational area. It included, "a boathouse at the foot of Locust street, hotels and club houses were numerous and the lake was the scene of many a pleasant rowing and fishing party."^[1]

After extensive litigation between Iowa and Nebraska, in 1892 the United States Supreme Court finally ruled that Carter Lake belonged to Iowa (145 U.S. 519).

Legally considered part of Council Bluffs, residents lacked the basic city services enjoyed by residents east of the Missouri but were still subject to city taxes. The community successfully seceded in the 1920's, intending to become part of Omaha, but the Nebraska city didn't want to pay to extend sewers or water lines either and in 1930 Carter Lake was incorporated as its own municipality.

During the late 1930's and 1940's the Chez Paree nightclub and casino operated openly and quite illegally, as Carter Lake gained the reputation as the biggest gambling spot between Chicago and Reno.

Carter Lake creates a geographic oddity for travelers going to Eppley Airfield which it surrounds on the south and west. Consequently travelers going from downtown Omaha must go through Iowa in order to reach the airport. Conversely, travelers from the mainland of Iowa must cross Missouri River bridges into Nebraska in order to reach the airport. Travelers coming through North Omaha or East Omaha can reach the airport by staying in Nebraska the entire time. Iowa Highway 165 which passes through Carter Lake is 0.5 miles long and is maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation and has Iowa welcome signs on either side. Nebraska does not return the favor since 165 turns into Abbott Drive on both sides which is an Omaha municipal road.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there are 3,248 people, 1,221 households, and 914 families residing in the city. The population density is 696.7/km² (1,799.7/mi²). There are 1,292 housing units at an average density of 277.1/km² (715.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 96.71% White, 0.25% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.86% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 2.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,221 households out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% are married couples living together, 13.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% are non-families. 20.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.66 and the average family size is 3.04.

Age/Gender Breakdown: 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $37,851, and the median income for a family is $42,794. Males have a median income of $30,946 versus $23,309 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,758. 7.1% of the population and 4.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.