Sac City, Iowa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sac City is a city in Sac County, Iowa, beautifully situated on the rolling hills along the valley of the North Raccoon River, in one of the prime agricultural regions of the United States. The population was 2,368 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sac County^GR6.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Today
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Sac City is located at 42°25′16″N, 94°59′42″W (42.421154, -94.995083)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²). 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.20% is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,368 people, 1,082 households, and 642 families residing in the city. The population density was 186.6/km² (483.0/mi²). There were 1,209 housing units at an average density of 95.3/km² (246.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.61% White, 0.34% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.

There were 1,082 households out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 29.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,300, and the median income for a family was $39,139. Males had a median income of $25,409 versus $19,137 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,229. About 7.9% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Sac City was first platted in 1855 by John F. Duncombe of Fort Dodge, Iowa. The town was so named because the Sac and Fox Indians (sometimes known as the Sauk and Fox; the names "Sac" and "Sauk" are interchangeable) were in possession of the land at the time of the Louisiana Purchase. The City of Sac City was incorporated nineteen years later, in 1874.

Judge Eugene Criss, credited with being the father of Sac City, left Wisconsin and crossed the Mississippi River in the early months of 1855 by covered wagon. He was in search of waterpower and had the desire to establish a settlement in a new and untried country. Deciding upon the North Raccoon River to begin his settlement, Judge Criss proceeded to erect the first log cabin in Sac City, establish himself in the hotel business, as well as keep a stage station and general store for nearby settlers.

As early as 1859, there was talk of building a railroad through Sac County, but the first railroad didn't come through Sac City until 1879. The railroad companies refused to lay tracks through undeveloped or mildly developed areas, and Sac City didn't meet the requirements. The railroad companies demanded communities be far enough advanced to provide a quick return to capital before they would construct a steam and iron highway through the area. When it came, the railroad benefited Sac City incredibly. The Chicago & Northwestern connected Sac City, Wall Lake, Auburn, Odebolt, Lake View, Early, and Schaller as well as the cities where crops were sold.

The first Sac County Fair was held in 1871 on ten acres of ground east of Sac City that had been purchased by the Sac County Agricultural Society the same year. The fair was one of the biggest events of the year and brought people in wagons and buggies from miles around to see the harness races, livestock exhibits, produce, needlework, and art goods.

The Sac City Chautauqua Association was organized in December of 1904 with 120 members. The Association brought many fine programs to the community, and because transportation was still slow and laborious, many families stayed in tents on the grounds for the entire Chautauqua session, about eight or nine days. At first the meetings were held in a tent, but by 1908, the citizens of Sac City built a Chautauqua Building in which to hold their meetings. This building is one of three Chautauqua Buildings still standing in the State of Iowa.

[edit] Today

Now in the 21st century Sac City has celebrated its Sesquicentennial and is a safe and family-oriented community with a wonderful mixture of old and new: award winning schools, a recreation center with indoor pool, a new outdoor swimming pool and aquatic park, a recently built public library, and beautiful tree-lined streets filled with turn-of-the-20th-century architecture, from grand Victorian homes to the historic Sac County courthouse.

The business district is complimented by specialty shops, antique stores, and fine restaurants. Sac City is home to a wood products manufacturer, metal fabrication plant, wholesale garden products distributor, popcorn distributor (featuring their famous flavored popcorn), textile firms and a healthy variety of other businesses.