Cedar Falls, Iowa should not be confused with Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
| Cedar Falls, Iowa | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Iowa#USA |
| Pushpin Relief: | yes |
| Pushpin Label: | Cedar Falls |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Coordinates: | 42.5235°N -92.4464°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Iowa |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Black Hawk |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Title1: | Platted |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Danny Laudick |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 30.29 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 29.43 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.85 |
| Area Total Km2: | 78.44 |
| Area Land Km2: | 76.23 |
| Area Water Km2: | 2.21 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Elevation Ft: | 879 |
| Elevation M: | 268 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 40713 |
| Population Rank: | 13th in Iowa |
| Population Density Km2: | 534.07 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1383.24 |
| Timezone: | CST |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 50613 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 319 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS ID |
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 40,713.[2] Cedar Falls is home to the University of Northern Iowa, a public university.
Cedar Falls along with neighboring city Waterloo, Iowa are the two principal municipalities within the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. This area is known locally as the "Cedar Valley," due to the Cedar River that traverses the vicinity.
Cedar Falls was first settled in March 1845 by brothers-in-law William R. Sturgis and Erasmus D. Adams.[3] Initially, the city was named Sturgis Falls. The city was called Sturgis Falls until it was merged with Cedar City (another city on the other side of the Cedar River), creating Cedar Falls. The city's founders are honored each year with a week long community-wide celebration named in their honor – the Sturgis Falls Celebration.[4]
Because of the availability of water power, Cedar Falls developed as a milling and industrial center prior to the Civil War. The establishment of the Civil War Soldiers' Orphans Home in Cedar Falls changed the direction in which the city developed when, following the war, it became the first building on the campus of the Iowa State Normal School (now the University of Northern Iowa).[5]
Cedar Falls is located at 42.5233°N -92.4458°W (42.523520, −92.446402).[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.61sqmi, of which 28.75sqmi is land and 0.86sqmi is water.[7]
Natural forest, prairie and wetland areas are found within the city limits at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center.
Cedar Falls is part of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metropolitan area.
As of the census of 2020, there were 40,713 people, and 15,254 households. The population density was 1401.8/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 91.2% White, 1.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 4.5% Asian, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.[8]
As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 39,260 people, 14,608 households, and 8,091 families living in the city. The population density was 1365.6PD/sqmi. There were 15,477 housing units at an average density of 538.3/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.4% White, 2.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.
There were 14,608 households, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.6% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.88.
The median age in the city was 26.8 years. 17.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 29.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.5% were from 25 to 44; 20.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.
As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 36,145 people, 12,833 households, and 7,558 families living in the city. The population density was 1277.2/mi2. There were 13,271 housing units at an average density of 468.9/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 95.14% White, 1.57% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 12,833 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.
Age spread: 18.0% under the age of 18, 30.6% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $70,226, and the median income for a family was $85,158. Males had a median income of $60,235 versus $50,312 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,140. About 5.6% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18, and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
In 1986, the City of Cedar Falls established the Cedar Falls Art and Culture Board,[11] which oversees the operation of the city's Cultural Division and the James & Meryl Hearst Center for the Arts.
The Cedar Falls Public Library is housed in the Adele Whitenach Davis building located at 524 Main Street. The 47,000 square foot (4,400 m2) structure, designed by Struxture Architects, replaced the Carniege-Dayton building in early 2004. As of the 2016 fiscal year, the library's holdings included approximately 8,000 audio materials, 12,000 video materials, and 104,000 books and periodicals for a grand total of approximately 124,000 items. Patrons made 245,000 visits which took advantage of circulation services, adult, teen, and youth programming. Circulation of library materials for fiscal year 2016 was 543,134. The library also provides public access to more than 30 public computers which provide internet access, office software suites, high resolution color printing, wi-fi, and various games. The library also offers digital loaning through Libby, Hoopla, and other platforms.[12]
The mission of the Cedar Falls Public Library is to promote literacy and provide open access to resources which facilitate lifelong learning. The library is a member of the Cedar Valley Library Consortium. Cedar Falls Public Library shares an Integrated Library System (SirsiDynix Symphony) with the Waterloo Public Library. Library management is provided by Kelly Stern, Director of the Cedar Falls Public Library.[13]
The Cedar Falls Historical Society has its offices in the Victorian Home and Carriage House Museum. It preserves Cedar Falls' history through its five museums, collection, archives, and public programs. Besides the Victorian House, the Society operates the Cedar Falls Ice House, Little Red Schoolhouse, and Behrens-Rapp Station.[14]
The city's major shopping mall is College Square Mall, built in 1969.
The Oster Regent Theatre in downtown Cedar Falls originally opened in 1910 as the Cotton Theatre. It is currently the home of the Cedar Falls Community Theatre which was founded in 1978. The company produces approximately seven to eight shows per season.[15]
The Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus hosts many professionally touring Broadway plays and musicals throughout the year. The facility's Great Hall can seat 1,680 patrons.[16]
It hosts one of three public universities in Iowa, University of Northern Iowa (UNI).
Cedar Falls Community Schools, which covers most of the city limits,[17] includes Cedar Falls High School, two junior high schools, seven elementary schools. Waterloo Community School District covers a small section of Cedar Falls.[18] There is a private Christian school, Valley Lutheran High School. Additionally there is a private Catholic elementary school at St. Patrick Catholic Church, under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque. A significant renovation occurred beginning in May 2014.[19]
The Malcolm Price Lab School/Northern University High School, was a state-funded K–12 school run by the university. It closed in 2012 following cuts at UNI.[20]
The city owns its power, gas and water, and cable TV service. Because of this, Cedar Falls Utilities provides gigabit speeds to residents, this became available on January 14, 2015. Cedar Falls has the power to do so because, unlike 19 other states, Iowa does not prohibit municipal broadband from competing with the private cable TV monopoly. In 2020, Cedar Falls Utilities was recognized by PC Magazine as having the nation's fastest internet, by a factor of three.[21]
Cedar Falls has public transportation provided by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Black Hawk County.
See also: List of University of Northern Iowa people.
Cedar Falls' sister cities are: