| Mount Pleasant, Iowa | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Mount Pleasant, Iowa | |
| Motto: Pursuing excellence | |
| Location of Mount Pleasant, Iowa | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Henry |
| Incorporated | July 15, 1856 [1] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Steve Brimhall |
| 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 (2010)[2] | |
| • Total | 8,668 |
| • Density | 1,125.7/sq mi (434.6/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 |
| Website | City of Mount Pleasant |
Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. [3] The population was 8,668 in the 2010 census, a decline from 8,751 in the 2000 census. [2][4] It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.
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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.[5]
In the Union Block building in 1869, Arabella A. Mansfield became the first woman in the United States awarded a license to practice law. The third floor housed the Opera House or Union Hall, a gathering place for the community, speakers included Frederick Douglass, Bronson Alcott, P.T. Barnum, Anna Dickinson, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This building is now considered one of the most endangered historic sites in Iowa.[6]
The Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute was built in 1861. However, in 1936, a fire devastated the building leaving the hospital to be closed, with very little building left.[7]
Mount Pleasant's longitude and latitude coordinates
in decimal form are 40.966977, -91.551203. [8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.7 square miles (20 km2), of which, 7.7 square miles (20 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.26%) is water.
Mount Pleasant's population density is estimated at 1123 people per square mile which is considered low for urban areas.[1]
| Mount Pleasant Historical Populations |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 758 |
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| 1860 | 3,530 | 365.7% | |
| 1870 | 4,245 | 20.3% | |
| 1880 | 4,410 | 3.9% | |
| 1890 | 3,997 | −9.4% | |
| 1900 | 4,109 | 2.8% | |
| 1910 | 3,874 | −5.7% | |
| 1920 | 3,987 | 2.9% | |
| 1930 | 3,743 | −6.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,610 | 23.2% | |
| 1950 | 5,843 | 26.7% | |
| 1960 | 7,339 | 25.6% | |
| 1970 | 7,007 | −4.5% | |
| 1980 | 7,322 | 4.5% | |
| 1990 | 7,959 | 8.7% | |
| 2000 | 8,751 | 10.0% | |
| 2010 | 8,668 | −0.9% | |
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The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,668 in the city, with a population density of 1,126/sq mi (434.6/km2). There were 3,365 housing units, of which 3,127 were occupied. [2]
The racial makeup of the city in the 2010 census was 85.7% White American, 5.0% African American, 0.4% Native Americans in the United States, 4.4% Asian American, 0.3% Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islander American, 2.4% other races and 2.5% were from two or more races. Of those 6.7% were Hispanic and Latino Americans. [9]
As of the census[10] 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 per square mile (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.
Mount Pleasant is also home to the Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion which attracts a crowd numbering over 100,000 admissions annually during an extended five-day weekend which ends on Labor Day. The reunion dates back to 1950 and pays tribute to the agricultural heritage of the American Midwest 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, antique and classic cars, the narrow-gauge Midwest Central Railroad, and electric trolleys. Country music shows featuring top-name performers, an expansive modern campground with transportation to the main grounds, and an extensive food court and numerous other offerings (run entirely by local churches and nonprofit organizations) are some of the amenities Old Threshers guests enjoy.
A meat processing plant operated by West Liberty Foods is located in Mount Pleasant. South of the city is the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility, a medium-security state prison that in the year 2010 housed approximately ±875 male and ±100 female inmates, and employed ±340 staff.[11] The Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute is also located on the same campus.
The public school system in Mount Pleasant is administered by the Mount Pleasant Community School District. The district oversees the High school, Middle school, four elementary schools, Harlan, Lincoln, Salem, and Van Allen and the WisdomQuest Education Center.[12]
The city is home to Iowa Wesleyan College, which, founded in 1842, ranks as the oldest coeducational college/university west of the Mississippi River. The P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international philanthropic organization for women, was founded on the campus in Mount Pleasant by seven Iowa Wesleyan students.
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.
U.S. Route 34 bypasses Mount Pleasant to the north, while U.S. Route 218/Iowa Highway 27 bypass the city to the east. These highways' former routes through the city are now designated as business routes.
The Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (FAA Identifier: MPZ) at an elevation of 730 ft (222.5 m) is located 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of the city. The airport started operations in March 1945. As of June 2011[ref] has 4 runways, 2 are asphalt surface 4001ft long x 75ft wide (1220m x 23m) with runway edge lights, and 2 have turf for the surface and are 1965ft long x 120ft wide (599m x 37m) marked by yellow cones.[13]
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