Rolfe, Iowa
| Rolfe, Iowa | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 42°48′52″N 94°31′48″W / 42.81444°N 94.53000°WCoordinates: 42°48′52″N 94°31′48″W / 42.81444°N 94.53000°W | |
| Country |
 United States |
| State |
 Iowa |
| County | Pocahontas |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2) |
| • Land | 1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,184 ft (361 m) |
| Population (2010)[2] | |
| • Total | 584 |
| • Estimate (2012[3]) | 571 |
| • Density | 556.2/sq mi (214.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 50581 |
| Area code(s) | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-68520 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0460770 |
Rolfe is a city in Pocahontas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 584 at the 2010 census.
This city was named after the Englishman John Rolfe who married Pocahontas in Jamestown, Virginia.
History
In May 1857 a party of pioneers, consisting of Robert Struthers, W.H. Hait, A. H. Malcolm, and Guernsey Smith, came from Fort Dodge with an ox team along the Des Moines River and until they reached the NE corner of Des Moines Township. At this date there were no settlers in the county, except the few already in the south along the Lizard lake settlement. The first claims that are on record were shanties built in June 1858. Mr. WM. Hait, 23, was the first to establish his claim, 280 acres. He erected the first log house in Pocahontas county. Out of this quickly grew a thriving frontier community. In 1861 a school house was built next to the Hait cabin, the first in the county. Helen Harvey was the first teacher. These early settlers took the lead in the organization of Pocahontas County. The public offices and public buildings used for the creation of the government of Pocahontas County was located at what is now referred to as "Old Rolfe." This privilege was maintained for a period of seventeen years when the public records and offices were moved to Center township in 1876. Initially it was suggest that Rolfe be named Highland or Highland City, and the use of this name prevailed until 1860. In 1861 at the request of W. H. Hait, and with the approval of the people the town was platted and called Milton after the town of Milton, New York which was Hait's origin. Public records show that this name prevailed as late as January 2, 1866, but, when application was made for a post office this name was refused because there already was a Milton in Van Buren County. In the fall of 1862 at the suggestion of Charles Crozat Converse, who in May of that year had purchased several thousand acres of land in the county, principally Des Moines Township, the name of Rolfe was adopted that year. This name, by reason of its brevity and historic interest, received popular approval and was supposed to be a permanent fixture, but in 1882 when the railroads crossed eath other at a point four miles to the southwest of it, a fatality similar to that which happened in 1876 robbed the township of the county seat ruthlessly robbed the town of its pretty, romantic name and left it to be called by yet again another new name-Parvin. No letter however came to Parvin. Too many changes will kill any town. After this Rolfe, the pioneer town of Pocahontas County was a ghost town. Today, there remains a marker where the first courthouse in the county stood. Also, there are tall regal pines surrounding what is now known as the "Old Rolfe" cemetery. The last person buried in this cemetery was in 1940, although it is well maintained and cared for by the township trustees of Des Moines township. What happened to "Old Rolfe" when the railroad came through four miles south? It truly became empty. The people took the name and relocated with it to the intersection of the railroads.
Geography
Rolfe is located at 42°48′52″N 94°31′48″W / 42.81444°N 94.53000°W (42.814333, -94.530029).[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.05 square miles (2.72 km2), all of it land.[1]
Demographics
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1890 | 529 | — |
| 1900 | 994 | +87.9% |
| 1910 | 954 | −4.0% |
| 1920 | 1,031 | +8.1% |
| 1930 | 1,012 | −1.8% |
| 1940 | 1,122 | +10.9% |
| 1950 | 997 | −11.1% |
| 1960 | 819 | −17.9% |
| 1970 | 767 | −6.3% |
| 1980 | 796 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 721 | −9.4% |
| 2000 | 675 | −6.4% |
| 2010 | 584 | −13.5% |
| Source:"American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. and Iowa Data Center | ||
2010 census
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 584 people, 248 households, and 159 families residing in the city. The population density was 556.2 inhabitants per square mile (214.8 /km2). There were 305 housing units at an average density of 290.5 per square mile (112.2 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.3% White, 0.5% African American, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.
There were 248 households of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.9% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.72.
The median age in the city was 46 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.
2000 census
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 675 people, 296 households, and 185 families residing in the city. The population density was 643.9 people per square mile (248.2/km²). There were 326 housing units at an average density of 311.0 per square mile (119.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.63% White, 0.44% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 296 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 27.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,861, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $19,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,426. About 9.7% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
- ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
External links
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