Glenwood, Iowa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Glenwood is a city in Mills County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,358 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mills County^GR6.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Residents
4 Demographics
5 Landmarks
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Glenwood is located at 41°2′44″N, 95°44′33″W (41.045581, -95.742371)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.7 km² (2.6 mi²). 6.7 km² (2.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.38% is water.

[edit] History

Located in a hollow of the Loess Hills along the banks of Keg Creek, Glenwood was originally founded by Mormons in the late 1840s as Coonsville. The town was the scene of anti-Mormon mob violence, became the county seat of Mills County in 1851, and was renamed Glenwood after the bulk of Mormons left for Utah in 1852. Towards the end of the Civil War, an Iowa Veteran's Orphans Home was located here where evangelist Billy Sunday spent time as a child. In the 1870s, the Orphan's Home became the Iowa Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, later the Iowa Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, then the Glenwood State Hospital-School, and presently the Glenwood Resource Center.

The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad was completed through town in 1869 and by the late 19th century Glenwood was widely known as Iowa's center of fruit production, particularly apples, and hosted an annual Apple Carnival. Other industries at that time included an iron foundry, an expansive marble and stone works, and a large cannery on Locust Street that distributed its products under the brand-name "The Glenwood". After World War II the town became a meat-packing center and during the early 1950s was considered home to America's largest Kosher packing house with most of its product shipped to New York and the East Coast. The packinghouse eventually became part of Swift & Company before it closed in the 1980s. The BNSF, Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, and U.S. Route 34 all pass through town and Interstate 29 is located a few miles to the west on the lowlands of the Missouri River.

[edit] Residents

In addition to Billy Sunday, other residents of Glenwood have included Beulah Botts, one of the many actresses who portrayed Aunt Jemima for promotional purposes, historian Donald Jackson, whose 1942 fictional book "Archer Pilgrim" was based on his experiences growing up outside of town, Congressman Otha Wearin, former baseball player Curt Kaufman, and post-modern journalist and music producer Chad Radford.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,358 people, 1,863 households, and 1,276 families residing in the city. The population density was 798.7/km² (2,067.7/mi²). There were 1,946 housing units at an average density of 290.1/km² (751.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.26% White, 0.62% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.

There were 1,863 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.09.

Population spread: 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,682, and the median income for a family was $46,555. Males had a median income of $29,918 versus $24,368 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,790. About 6.8% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Landmarks

The Girls Cottage at the Glenwood Resource Center was built in 1912. At present it is used for offices by the Glenwood Community School District and remains one of the town's most distinguising landmarks.
The IIFMC Hospital at the Glenwood Resource Center was constructed during the 1890s with conical towers, Romanesque arched balconies, an Italianate cupola, and still-impressive interior spiral staircase. The three-story brick building is presently used as offices by the Glenwood Resource Center.
The IIFMC Fire Station at the Glenwood Resource Center was built in 1903 with a Dutch Colonial parapeted roof.
The three-story JV Hinchman Building at Sharp and Walnut Streets was completed in 1882 by Hoosier druggist turned financier Joseph Hinchman.
The 1920 Glenwood State Bank building at 12 North Walnut was designed by Danish immigrant architect J. Chris Jensen of Council Bluffs and is notable locally for its Greek Revival marble facade. For many years this was the location of Hamilton's Men's Clothes and is now home to Glenwood Land Surveying Services.
The First Christian Church at 305 First Street was built in 1867 at a cost of $1,800. It has been a private residence for many years.
411 Sharp: Two story Italianate commercial building was built in 1874 and features prominent window hoods.
The Glenwood Public Library at 109 North Vine was one of the many libraries built with financial aid from Andrew Carnegie and was constructed in 1906. The library was expanded in 1982 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Hubbell Home at 202 Locust was built in the early 20th century and remains interesting for its Queen Anne Style, prominent dormer windows, and adjacent stable long since converted into a garage.
The Robinson Block at 102 South Walnut was constructed during the early 20th century and features a variety of 19th century architectural elements, including a second-story bay window.
The Buffington Block at 420 1st Street was built during the 1890s with one of the town's most distinguished cornices and seven second-story Italianate arched windows. A Ben Franklin Stores operated here during much of the late 20th century.
The Wheeler's Super Service Station at 102 South Vine was constructed during the 1920s to serve traffic along the Bluegrass Highway which became U.S. Route 34. The one-story brick building is unusual locally for its Moderne architecture.
The Glenwood Opera House Block at 412-416 1st Street was built in 1891 with a variety of Richardsonian Romanesque elements, first began showing motion pictures in 1908, became the Rex Theater by the 1920s, and continues to show movies to the present day. Live performances ended sometime during the mid-20th century.