Marshalltown, Iowa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marshalltown, Iowa | |
 |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| Counties | Marshall |
| Founded | |
| Incorporated | |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Gene Beach (D) |
| Area | |
| - City | 18 sq mi (46.7 km²) |
| - Land | 18 sq mi (46.7 km²) |
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0.1 km²) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - City | 26,009 |
| - Density | 1,442.6/sq mi (557.0/km²) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Website: http://www.ci.marshalltown.ia.us | |
Marshalltown is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. It is the county seat of Marshall CountyGR6 and the home of Marshalltown Community College.
Contents |
[edit] History
Founded in 1853 by Henry Anson[1], named after Marshall, Michigan but due a previous town in Iowa being named Marshall, the town was named Marshalltown instead.
[edit] Geography
Marshalltown is located at (42.041742, 92.914580)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.7 km² (18.0 mi²) in Central Marshall County. 46.7 km² (18.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.11%) is water. Neighboring counties include Hardin and Grundy to the North, Tama County to the east, Jasper to the south, and Story County to the west.
Marshalltown High School is located on 1602 South 2nd Avenue, Marshalltown, Iowa. As of 2006, it has eight tennis courts, and the largest gymnasium in the state[citation needed], known as the "Roundhouse," which seats over 4000 people and a baseball/ softball complex home to the 2A and 4A Boys State Baseball tournament until 2004.
Marshalltown Community College is located at the southern edge of town near the junction of US Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 14.
[edit] Transportation
A municipal airport serves the county approximately four miles north of town. The closest commercial flights are in Des Moines; 50 miles to the southwest. Marshalltown has Taxicab service (Cabs of Marshalltown 641-753-3341), Airport Express shuttle car service ( 641-753-3308 )to Des Moines International Airport, local bus service (called Marshalltown Municipal Transit {MMT), Trailways Coach Nationwide also serves Marshalltown. U.S. Highway 30 bypasses the town to the south; while Iowa Highway 14 runs through the center of town. An expressway, Iowa Highway 330 runs to Des Moines.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 26,009 people, 10,175 households, and 6,593 families residing in the city. The population density was 557.0/km² (1,442.7/mi²). There were 10,857 housing units at an average density of 232.5/km² (602.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.79% White, 1.34% African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.57% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.55% of the population.
There were 10,175 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,688, and the median income for a family was $45,315. Males had a median income of $32,800 versus $23,835 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,113. About 8.8% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Marshalltown has a relatively high Hispanic population, and particularly so as compared to most other towns in Iowa, due to the Swift's Meat Packing Plant in Marshalltown, which employs many Hispanics who have moved to Marshalltown in recent years.
[edit] Industry
- Fisher Controls - manufacturer of process control valves and accessories
- The Marshalltown Company - manufacturer of American archaeology's tool of choice, the Marshalltown trowel.
- Lennox - manufacturer of furnaces and air-conditioners
- Swift - meatpacking plant
[edit] Sister Cities
Marshalltown has two official sister cities. These are Minami Alps in the Yamanashi prefecture of Japan and Budyonnovsk in Stavropol Krai, Russia.
The unofficial sister city of Marshalltown is Villachuato, Mexico. There is a symbiotic relationship between Marshalltown and Villachuato. Villachuato supplies about half of the workers to the Swift meatpacking plant, which would likely shut down without a continued supply of workers from this community, both documented and undocumented, due to a dwindling and aging native born population in Marshalltown and Iowa in general. The community of Villachuato would likewise suffer without the income from the plant. [2] In 2001, then Mayor Floyd Harthun of Marshalltown saw first hand the degree of interdependence between the two communities when he visited their sister city Villachauto. In the mayor's words, "I was being self serving. We need people." In addition to noting that about a third of the license plates in Villachuato were from Marshall County, Iowa, he also learned of the essential role of money sent by Villachuatans living in Marshalltown in providing electricity, underground water, road paving projects, and in restoring the town church and town plaza.[3]
[edit] Notable residents
- Cap Anson, born in Marshalltown, baseball player in the Baseball Hall of Fame[4]
- Jerry Burke, born in Marshalltown, pianist and organist from The Lawrence Welk Show
- Jeff Clement, born in Marshalltown, 2002 Graduate of Marshalltown High School, baseball player for University of Southern California, drafted to the Seattle Mariners in 2005.
- Mary Beth Hurt, born in Marshalltown, actress
- Toby Huss, born in Marshalltown, actor
- Jean Seberg, born in Marshalltown, actress
- (John) Blue Montgomery, born in Marshalltown. 1992 Graduate of Marshalltown High School. Professional Snowboarder (1994-1999). Co-Founder and President of Seattle based Capita Super Corporation.
- Lee Paul Sieg, born in Marshalltown, former president of the University of Washington
- Michelle Vieth, born in Marshalltown, Mexican soap opera actress star
- Billy Sunday, resident of Marshalltown, major league baseball player and evangelist
- Chad D. Nelson, born in Marshalltown, co-founder of the ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association)
- Clifford B. Hicks, born in Marshalltown, Editor of Popular Mechanics magazine, children's book author
- Hardcore punk band Modern Life Is War
- Rock band Scarred by Insanity
[edit] Marshalltown in the news
In 1996, the Swift meatpacking plant was raided by the INS and 148 Latinos were arrested and deported.[5]
Again on December 12, 2006 the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E) staged a coordinated predawn raid at the Swift and Co meat packing plant in Marshalltown and at 5 other Swift plants in western states, interviewing workers and hauling hundreds off in buses. [6] As a result, students in Marshalltown schools have expressed fears that federal agents will come to the schools, with teachers working to calm those fears. Many students have lost a loved one, and are concerned that they will also be taken away. [7] According to reports, many Marshalltown families have been split up, and many children are now without parents.[8] In one case, the mother of a breastfeeding child was detained, and initial attempts by church officials to find the status of the nursing mother have been unsuccessful. The baby is refusing to eat.[9]
According to the Des Moines Register, the timing of the raid is a key issue. The raid took place on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is a national symbol and religious icon for Mexicans. On this day, many Latinos pay tribute to her as a symbol of hope and protection.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/80GA/Legislation/SR/00000/SR00019/Current.html
- ^ "Unofficial sister cities: Meatpacking labor migration between Villachauto, Mexico, and Marshalltown, Iowa" Mark A. Grey and Anne C. Woodrick
- ^ "Strangers on the Prairie Christopher Conte, Governing Magazine, January 2002
- ^ [1969] (1979) in Reichler, Joseph L.: The Baseball Encyclopedia, 4th edition, New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8.
- ^ Preparing the Way: Hispanic Ministry and Community transformation in Marshalltown, Iowa Anne C. Woodrick
- ^ "U.S. Raids 6 Meat Plants in ID Case", article New York Times by Julia Preston, December 13, 2006
- ^ "Students Fear Federal Agents Will Come To Schools; Teachers Work To Calm Students' Fears"KCCI TV Des Moines, Iowa, 12/13/06
- ^ a b "KEY ISSUES: 'What a sad day it is,' woman's husband says; The immigration raid at Swift leaves families with grief and the community with questions. IMPACT ON FAMILIES"Des Moines Register, 12/13/16
- ^ "Breastfeeding baby's mom among those detained" Des Moines Register, 12/13/06
[edit] External links
- Marshalltown official website
- Marshalltown area Chamber of Commerce
- Times-Republican official website
- Census Data
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
