Mount Pleasant, Iowa
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| Mount Pleasant, Iowa | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Henry |
| Area | |
| - Total | 7.7 sq mi (20.0 km²) |
| - Land | 7.7 sq mi (19.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 715 ft (218 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 8,751 |
| - Density | 1,137.3/sq mi (439.1/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 52641 |
| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-54705 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0459328 |
Mount Pleasant is a city in Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,751. It is the county seat of Henry County[1].
The city is home to Iowa Wesleyan College, which, founded in 1842, ranks as America's oldest coeducational college or university located west of the Mississippi River. The P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international women's philanthropic organization, was founded on the campus in Mount Pleasant by seven Iowa Wesleyan students.
Mount Pleasant is also home to the annual Midwest Old Threshers Reunion which attracts tens of thousands of people during an extended five-day weekend ending on Labor Day. The Midwest Old Threshers Reunion dates back to 1950 and pays tribute to the Midwest's agricultural heritage in an extensive, highly interactive manner, with live-action exhibition-style displays centering on restored mechanical equipment, particularly steam engines, farm tractors, stationary gas engines, and the popular narrow-gauge trains and electric trolleys.
A meat processing plant operated by West Liberty Foods is located in Mount Pleasant. South of town is Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility, a medium-security state prison that houses approximately 960 inmates, predominantly men, and employs 340 staff.[1] The Mental Health Institute is also located on the same campus.
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[edit] Geography
Mount Pleasant is located at (40.966977, -91.551203)[2].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.7 square miles (20.0 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.26%) is water.
[edit] History
In 1869, Mount Pleasant was the scene of a National Almanac-sponsored solar eclipse expedition, under the command of James Craig Watson. The total solar eclipse occurred on August 7, 1869.[citation needed]
[edit] Transportation
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Mount Pleasant, operating its California Zephyr daily in both directions between Chicago, Illinois, and Emeryville, California, across the bay from San Francisco.
A municipal airport is located on the southeastern city limits of town.
U.S. Highway 34 bypasses the town to the north, while U.S. Highway 218/Iowa Highway 27 bypass the town to the east. The former routes in town are now designated as business routes.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 8,751 people, 3,119 households, and 1,940 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,137.3 people per square mile (439.4/km²). There were 3,355 housing units at an average density of 436.0/sq mi (168.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.46% White, 3.19% African American, 0.32% Native American, 3.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.
There were 3,119 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 110.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,558, and the median income for a family was $46,063. Males had a median income of $31,524 versus $22,628 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,824. About 8.3% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notable residents
Mary Eunice Harlan, the daughter of Iowa Senator James Harlan and wife of Abraham Lincoln's son Robert Todd Lincoln, was from Mount Pleasant. James Van Allen, considered America's foremost space scientist, was born in Mount Pleasant and graduated valedictorian of his Mount Pleasant Public High School class. [4] Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack lived in Mount Pleasant before being elected Governor and served as Mayor of the city after the assassination of Ed King during a city council meeting. Vilsack was a candidate for the 2008 Presidential nomination in the Democratic Party, but ended his bid on February 23, 2007[5].
[edit] References
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Van Allen, James A.. What Is A Space Scientist? An Autobiographical Example (Parentage, Boyhood, and Early Education). Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
- ^ Vilsack Dropping Out Boston Globe, February 23, 2007
[edit] External links
- Mount Pleasant, Iowa is at coordinates Coordinates:
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