Clarion, Iowa

Clarion, Iowa
City
Location of Clarion, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°43′52″N 93°43′52″W / 42.73111°N 93.73111°W / 42.73111; -93.73111Coordinates: 42°43′52″N 93°43′52″W / 42.73111°N 93.73111°W / 42.73111; -93.73111
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Wright
Area[1]
• Total	3.26 sq mi (8.44 km2)
• Land	3.26 sq mi (8.44 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,171 ft (357 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	2,850
• Estimate (2012[3])	2,789
• Density	874.2/sq mi (337.5/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	50525-50526
Area code(s)	515
FIPS code	19-13620
GNIS feature ID	0455428

Clarion is a city in and the county seat of Wright County, Iowa, United States.^[4] The population was 2,850 at the 2010 census.

Clarion is the birthplace of the four-leaf clover emblem used by the 4-H Clubs of America, conceived of in 1907 by the local school superintendent, O.H. Benson.

Geography

Clarion is located at 42°43′52″N 93°43′52″W / 42.73111°N 93.73111°W / 42.73111; -93.73111 (42.731112, -93.731095).^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.26 square miles (8.44 km²), all of it land.^[1]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 2,850 people, 1,185 households, and 752 families residing in the city. The population density was 874.2 inhabitants per square mile (337.5 /km²). There were 1,346 housing units at an average density of 412.9 per square mile (159.4 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.0% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.9% of the population.

There were 1,185 households of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.5% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% 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 2.94.

The median age in the city was 41.3 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 20.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 2,968 people, 1,255 households, and 786 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,081.6 people per square mile (418.2/km²). There were 1,355 housing units at an average density of 493.8 per square mile (190.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.67% White, 0.20% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 5.53% from other races, and 0.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.80% of the population.

There were 1,255 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.89.

Age spread: 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,026, and the median income for a family was $47,083. Males had a median income of $28,281 versus $23,077 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,431. About 5.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Housing

The city offers a wide array of housing. The city is in the process of annexing over 300 acres (1.2 km²) of land into the city limits to be used for housing developments. There is currently a Southpointe Housing Subdivision that has a couple lots remaining for new housing in a newly developed area of Clarion.

Industry

Clarion has seen industrial expansion creating additional jobs. The development of the Clarion Industrial Park has led to the opening of a new factory, Clarion Packaging LLC, that has built a 114,000 sq ft (10,600 m²). egg carton factory that manufactures egg cartons out of recycled paper. The project added 80 new jobs to the community. There is a 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m²). speculative building available. The industrial park features a new paved access road, sewer and water on site, railroad on site, and is conveniently located just 2 blocks south of Highway 3.

Hagie Manufacturing is located on Central Avenue. The company, incorporated by Ray Hagie, is responsible for designing and building the first high clearance sprayer. Today, the Clarion company boasts of manufacturing the fastest self-propelled sprayers in the world. The sprayers also feature 120-foot (37 m) long booms, the new standard in the industry. Just in the last three years the company has more than doubled sales and the number of employees, currently at 260. They are expanding with a 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m²). addition being built to the north to allow for another assembly line. The expansion will add 60 more jobs and is anticipated to be complete by January 1, 2008.

Some of the other industrial companies in Clarion include EDS, Monsanto Company, Team Effort, SportsGraphics, Stronghold, Wright County Egg, and North Central Cooperative.

Tourism/historical sites

Heartland Museum is located on the western edge of Clarion on Highway 3. Features include the large agriculture hall with lots of antique farm equipment, balcony level farm toy displays, and displays from other communities in Wright County. One of the newest exhibits is the Early Farming display. The museum is home to Alvina Sellers' Iowa Hat Lady collection of over 6,000 hats. Alvina was from Clarion and gave 5,636 programs including an appearance in the David Letterman Show. The Artist Teddy Bear Museum was completed in 2005 to accommodate the fourth Teddy Bear Reunion in the Heartland in Clarion. The celebration has been held every 5 years since 1990. Another feature of the museum is the period streetscapes that recreate businesses in Clarion from years gone by. The Wright County Historical Library in the museum is a history and research library of information all about Wright County located in the 1920s-1930s streetscape. The Heartland Museum also has a newly renovated community room available for rent and is home to the Clarion Historical Society and Clarion Arts Council.

The 4-H Schoolhouse Museum is another attraction located on Highway 3 in Gazebo Park. The restored Rock Island Depot is home to the Clarion Partnership for Growth (Chamber and Development Commission).

Commerce

Clarion's downtown features several buildings built in the 1800s. The center of the business district is the Wright County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Clarion's downtown includes several businesses of various types.

Education

The Clarion-Goldfield and Dows Community School Districts are in a 10 year whole grade sharing agreement, begun in 2005. The agreement maintains separate P/K-5 elementary schools in Clarion and Dows. Grades 6-12 are combined at Clarion. The districts have an enrollment of over 1,000 students. The Clarion-Goldfield School District covers 254 square miles (660 km²) in Wright, Humboldt, and Hancock counties. The Dows School District covers 101 square miles (260 km²) in Wright and Franklin counties.

In 1981 Clarion and Goldfield began a whole grade sharing agreement that included sharing the high school, this was expanded to include the middle school in 1986. The two districts passed a consolidation (99% and 89% approval) to merge the two districts into the Clarion-Goldfield Community School District.

Clarion-Goldfield High School was built in 1969. A new weight room was built in 2003 by the Clarion-Goldfield Sports Boosters. In 2004 an addition and renovation project was completed building an addition to the north and a new art room, pottery room, business room, 2 computer labs, wrestling room, 4 locker rooms, and geothermal heating and cooling to the north northwest half of the facility. In 2007 another project was completed that included a south addition and extensive renovations to create new and renovated facilities for a library media center, ICN room, computer lab, chemistry/physics lab, renovated biology lab, 7 new classrooms, expanded and renovated offices, new main entrance, and a hallway/entrance to the east. The project included extensive renovations and new geothermal heating and cooling to the southeastern portion of the building. A wind turbine was built on the northeast corner of the property in 2007. Plans for the future include a 650 seat auditorium addition.

The Clarion-Goldfield Elementary and Middle School complex began with a 3 story high school building built in 1913, located on what is now the circle drive. In 1937, the 2 story elementary school was built as it stands today. In the late 1950s a building project was completed that included a northwest addition to the elementary school, an east addition to the elementary school, and what is now the middle school was built as a north addition to the high school that also connected the two facilities. The high school was moved to the new building in NE Clarion in 1971. The facility then became a P/K-8 facility. In 1993 the 1913 portion of the building was demolished, the middle school was capped and a new front entrance built. An addition was built to the north of the elementary school including a multipurpose room (gymnasium/cafeteria), library media center, ICN room, 2 computer labs, and additional classrooms. The 1937 elementary school and east addition was extensively renovated at this time. In 2002 a north addition was built to the middle school, adding 4 additional classrooms. In 2007 an extensive renovation project was completed to the middle school and northwest elementary addition that also included a small addition to the southwest, near the front entrance. In 2003 a new playground was completed.

Clarion-Goldfield is a Class 2A school in the North Central Conference (Iowa) that includes Algona, Bishop Garrigan, Clarion-Goldfield, Clear Lake, Eagle Grove, Hampton-Dumont, Humboldt, Iowa Falls-Alden, St. Edmond, and Webster City. School colors are red and black and the mascot is the Cowboys/Cowgirls. The school song is sung to the tune of Illinois Loyalty.

Library

The Clarion Public Library was built in 1908. In 2009, an addition to the north side of the building was added. Also, a renovation project was finished that included doubling the square footage of the building. During the renovation, the original 1908 ceiling was revealed, along with a small attic that contained relics from the early 1900s.

Healthcare

Wright Medical Center is located in the city and was recently been awarded such prestigious awards as the Firestarter Award by the Studer Group and the Summit Award by Press Ganey Associates. In 2006 a major expansion and renovation project was completed making facilities state-of-the-art. The hospital enjoys patient satisfaction ratings of 99% and serves patients from a 75-mile (121 km) radius of Clarion. WMC employs about 380 people and has continued to experienced significant growth making it the 2nd largest "small hospital" in the state. Plans are currently underway for a large addition to be built to the south. The addition will include a new maternity center, women's clinic, specialty clinic, administrative offices, and a conference center on the lower level. The current maternity center will be renovated into additional operating rooms, the current specialty clinic will become expanded area for the family practice clinic. The project also includes renovations to the radiology area of the facility, which is already underway. Wright County Public Health & Hospice is another healthcare provider in Clarion.

Recreation

In 2006 the new Clarion Aquatic Center was completed and opened in June. The aquatic center features 2 large slides, 2 deep-water drop-slides, zero-depth beach-style entrance with play features, 6-lane lap swimming area, and 2 diving boards. Clarion has 3 city parks - the Aquatic Center Park (locally referred to as "Tornado Park") which is located next to the Aquatic Center, Firemen's Park, and Gazebo Park. Lake Cornelia is located just North of town and features a natural glacier lake, large conservation park including modern camping sites. There is a new walking/biking trail around Lake Cornelia with another one, the Vita Course, located in Northeast Clarion. Clarion also has a skating rink and movie theatre.

Notable people

• Lee Handley, professional baseball player

• Glen Buxton, guitarist for Alice Cooper

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clarion, Iowa.

• Clarion, Iowa
• Clarion-Goldfield Community School District
• Heartland Museum
• Clarion Public Library

v t e Municipalities and communities of Wright County, Iowa, United States County seat: Clarion Cities Belmond Clarion Dows‡ Eagle Grove Galt Goldfield Rowan Woolstock Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties