Clear Lake, Iowa Explained

Official Name:Clear Lake, Iowa
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Coordinates:43.1364°N -93.38°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:US
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Cerro Gordo
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Title1:City Administrator
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:34.63
Area Total Sq Mi:13.37
Area Land Km2:27.92
Area Land Sq Mi:10.78
Area Water Km2:6.71
Area Water Sq Mi:2.59
Elevation M:377
Elevation Ft:1237
Population Total:7687
Population As Of:2020
Population Density Km2:275.34
Population Density Sq Mi:713.15
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:50428
Area Code:641
Leader Title2:City Attorney
Leader Title3:City Clerk
Leader Title4:Tourism Director
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:19-14025
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0455465

Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,687 at the 2020 census.[2] The city is named for the large lake on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate 35 with many restaurants, hotels and truck stops.

History

The region around the lake that would later be called Clear Lake was a summer home to the Dakota and Winnebago American Indians. During a land survey of northern Iowa done in 1832 by Nathan Boone, the son of the famous explorer Daniel Boone, a map was made showing the lake and other bodies of water in the area.[3]

In 1851, Joseph Hewitt and James Dickirson brought their families to camp on the east side of Clear Lake, soon building a cabin, and began a friendship with the Winnebago natives. By 1853, many more white settlers had also came to settle in the area. By the year 1855, the first Clear Lake school was built as well as the first steam saw mill. In that year a hotel was built by James Crow.[3]

By 1870, the town had 775 residents and by 1871 the streets were graded and sidewalks were made of raised boards, sure signs of a thriving new city.[3] The city of Clear Lake was incorporated on May 26, 1871. The first bandstand in Clear Lake was built in 1877 at the City Park. The town continued to grow and built its first library in 1889. In 1909, Bayside Amusement park opened for the first time. The first North Iowa Band Festival was organized by John Kopecky, among others, in 1932.[3]

In 1933, the Surf Ballroom opened up on the site of the old Tom Tom ballroom that had been destroyed by fire. The opening dance night saw approximately 700 couples attend. In 1947, the Surf Ballroom burned down; a new Surf Ballroom was built across the street the following year. The Bayside Amusement park closed down in 1958.[3]

The Day the Music Died

See main article: The Day the Music Died.

In the early hours of February 3, 1959, a Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper, who had been performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, took off from the local runway in nearby Mason City, on its way to the next show in Moorhead, Minnesota.

The plane crashed soon after take off, killing everyone aboard. The event was later eulogized by folk singer Don McLean in his 1971 song "American Pie", which led to the crash being nicknamed "The Day the Music Died".

In June 1988, around 600 people gathered to witness the dedication of the monument to the three musicians. Clear Lake also renamed Second Place North to "Buddy Holly Place".[3]

Geography

Clear Lake is located at (43.136479, −93.379927).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.44sqmi, of which 10.8sqmi is land and 2.64sqmi is water.[5]

Climate

Clear Lake, Iowa has a hot/warm summer humid continental climate (Dfa).

Demographics

Clear Lake is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census

As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 7,777 people, 3,507 households, and 2,087 families residing in the city. The population density was 720.1PD/sqmi. There were 4,423 housing units at an average density of 409.5/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 3,507 households, of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.5% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 46.3 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 31.9% were from 45 to 64; and 20.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 8,161 people, 3,461 households, and 2,239 families residing in the city. The population density was 782.4sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 4,156 housing units at an average density of 398.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 96.99% White, 0.27% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.86% of the population.

There were 3,461 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.86.

Age spread:23.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,097, and the median income for a family was $45,589. Males had a median income of $30,266 versus $21,356 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,213. About 5.0% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Education

There are three schools in the local public school district, Clear Lake Community School District. Clear Creek Elementary School hosts preschool,[11] kindergarten, and grades 1–5; Clear Lake Middle School hosts grades 6–8; and Clear Lake High School hosts grades 9–12.[12] Lakeside Alternative, an alternative school program, is run jointly with the Garner–Hayfield–Ventura Community School District in neighboring Ventura, Iowa.[13]

Clear Lake Classical, a preK–8 Classical Christian school,[14] is the only private school in the city.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Clear Lake is located along Interstate 35 approximately halfway between the Twin Cities and Des Moines, Iowa. U.S. Highway 18 runs east–west through the northern side of the city until it meets Interstate 35; at this interchange, Iowa Highway 122 begins and continues to the east. U.S. 18 proper continues to the south, overlapping an approximately 3.5-mile stretch of Interstate 35 and Iowa Highway 27 (part of the Avenue of the Saints). Just south of the city, U.S. 18 and Iowa 27 break from Interstate 35 and continue to the east.[15]

The North Iowa Area Council of Governments operates Region 2 Transit, which provides city and regional demand responsive public bus transit.[16] Jefferson Lines, a private intercity bus service, maintains a stop in Clear Lake with service to locations throughout the Midwest.[17]

Mason City Municipal Airport is located immediately to the east of Clear Lake.[18]

Two freight rail lines run through the city. Canadian Pacific Railway operates a line parallel to U.S. 18, which stops at a minor grain facility; trackage rights are given to the Iowa Northern Railway. Progressive Rail maintains the Iowa Traction Railway, a shortline railroad which runs between Clear Lake and Mason City.[19]

Utilities

The city's electric power and natural gas utilities are provided by Alliant Energy.[20] Since 2004, Alliant Energy has operated a natural gas—fired electricity generation plant southeast of the city.[21]

Sewage treatment is provided by the Clear Lake Sanitary District, a local government entity separate from the city government. Wastewater travels through pump stations within the city before being routed to a treatment plant to the south. There, it is filtered, processed through a sequencing batch reactor, and disinfected with ultraviolet light. Some of the resulting treated effluent is routed to the nearby Alliant Energy plant for cooling purposes.[22]

Telephone, cable television, and internet services are provided by local provider CL Tel[23] and Mediacom.[24]

Water supply services are provided by the city. The city's water is drawn from shallow wells in the Cedar Valley Formation.[25]

Waste collection services are also provided by the city and operated by local company Absolute Waste Removal.[26] Further processing is performed at the Landfill of North Iowa to the east.[27]

Health care

MercyOne Medical Center North Iowa[28] in neighboring Mason City is the nearest hospital. Both MercyOne[29] and Iowa Specialty Hospital [30] operate clinics within the city.

In September 2020, construction began on a wellness center near Clear Lake High School for joint use by Clear Lake Community School District and the community.[31]

Notable people

See also

External links


Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files . United States Census Bureau . March 16, 2022.
  2. Web site: 2020 Census State Redistricting Data . census.gov . United states Census Bureau . August 12, 2021.
  3. Web site: Clear Lake Historical Society . Historical events . December 1, 2010.
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. . April 23, 2011 . February 12, 2011 .
  5. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . May 11, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120601072332/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . June 1, 2012.
  6. Web site: U.S. Census website . . May 11, 2012.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website. . January 31, 2008 .
  8. http://www.cruiseclearlake.com/ Lady of the Lake Cruise
  9. http://www.clearlakeiowa.com/vi/attractions.htm/ Attractions
  10. Web site: Lake Theatre - Everything's Better At The Lake - Everything's Better At The Lake . 2024-07-29 . Lake Theatre - Everything's Better At The Lake . en-US.
  11. News: New preschool in Clear Lake scheduled to open in Fall 2019 . McNett . Jared . April 11, 2019 . Mason City Globe Gazette . September 30, 2019.
  12. Web site: Schools . Clear Lake Community School District . September 30, 2019.
  13. Web site: Lakeside Alternative . September 30, 2019.
  14. Web site: About . Clear Lake Classical.
  15. Iowa Department of Transportation . Highway and Street Map of Clear Lake, Iowa . PDF . Clear Lake Iowa . Iowa Department of Transportation . October 6, 2019.
  16. Web site: Region 2 Transit . October 6, 2019 . Iowa Department of Transportation.
  17. Web site: Buses to Iowa . October 6, 2019 . Jefferson Lines.
  18. Web site: Home . Mason City Municipal Airport . October 6, 2019.
  19. Iowa Department of Transportation . Iowa Grain Facilities Rail Map . Iowa . PDF . Iowa Department of Transportation . October 6, 2019.
  20. Web site: Communities we serve . Alliant Energy . September 7, 2021.
  21. News: Horgen . Jan . May 19, 2004 . Globe Gazette . Power starts flowing from Emery Generating Plant . September 7, 2021.
  22. Web site: Treatment . Clear Lake Sanitary District . September 7, 2021.
  23. Web site: Here for You! . CL Tel . September 7, 2021.
  24. Web site: Utility Billing Department . City of Clear Lake . September 7, 2021.
  25. Web site: Water Department . City of Clear Lake . September 7, 2021.
  26. Web site: Absolute Waste Removal . Absolute Waste Removal . September 7, 2021.
  27. Web site: About . Landfill of North Iowa . September 7, 2021.
  28. Web site: About Us . MercyOne . September 9, 2021.
  29. Web site: MercyOne Clear Lake Family Medicine . MercyOne . September 9, 2021.
  30. Web site: Gabrielson Clinic - Clear Lake . Iowa Specialty Hospital . September 9, 2021.
  31. News: Jirgens . Alex . September 16, 2020 . KIMT . Ground officially broken on Clear Lake's shared school district-community wellness center . September 9, 2021.
  32. News: Blodgett . Todd . Todd Blodgett’s pro-Mohawk comments ruffle Globe-Gazette editor’s fur, is fired from nearly-kaput newspaper for second time since 2017 . January 3, 2023 . North Iowa Today . NIT Publisher . December 28, 2021 . Todd Blodgett’s pro-Mohawk comments ruffle Globe-Gazette editor’s fur, is fired from nearly-kaput newspaper for second time since 2017.
  33. Web site: Richard Hayward Bio . Little Feat . October 1, 2019.
  34. Web site: KAYNOR, William Kirk . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . December 1, 2010.
  35. Web site: Our Founder . McGraw Foundation . October 1, 2019.