Denison, Iowa Explained

Denison, Iowa
Settlement Type:City
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:USA
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Crawford
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Pam Soseman
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:17.03
Area Land Km2:16.96
Area Water Km2:0.07
Area Total Sq Mi:6.57
Area Land Sq Mi:6.55
Area Water Sq Mi:0.03
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:8373
Population Density Km2:493.80
Population Density Sq Mi:1278.91
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:1257
Coordinates:42.0161°N -95.3528°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:51442
Area Code:712
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:19-19945
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2394514

Denison is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River, and located in both Denison Township and East Boyer Township. The population was 8,373 at the time of the 2020 census.[2] It is the county seat of Crawford County.[3]

History

Denison was laid out in 1856; the town was incorporated in 1875.[4] Denison was named for its founder, J. W. Denison.[5] [6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.57sqmi, of which, 6.54sqmi is land and 0.03sqmi is water.[7]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Denison has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 8,298 people, 2,816 households, and 1,866 families living in the city. The population density was 1268.8PD/sqmi. There were 2,968 housing units at an average density of 453.8/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 70.6% White, 2.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 23.0% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.1%.[8]

Of the 2,816 households 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.1% of households were one person and 13.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.36.

The median age was 32.6 years. 29% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 21.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 7,339 people, 2,674 households, and 1,756 families living in the city. The population density was 1185.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,837 housing units at an average density of 458.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup as reported by the Census was 86.92% White, 1.59% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 9.02% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.36% of the population.

Racial diversity in Dension has been increasing since the mid-1980s. According to a New York Times article, 20% of Denison's high-school age children were nonwhite in 2005, compared to approximately 50% of kindergarteners.[10]

Of the 2,674 households 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 28.9% of households were one person and 15.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was26.0% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median household income was $33,187 and the median family income was $41,362. Males had a median income of $30,145 versus $20,538 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,391. About 6.1% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Sites in Denison listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:

Government

Denison is governed by a mayor and a five-member city council[11] [12]

The Denison Mayor is the chief executive officer of the city and presiding officer of the city council.[13] The Denison Mayor serves a 2-year term.[12] The current mayor of Denison is Pam Soseman. (Elected: November 2019 | Term: December 31, 2021) [14]

Denison City Council members serve overlapping four-year terms.[15] The council consists of one representative from each of the city's three wards, plus two at-large representatives.

Denison's City Manager is Ned Ahart.[16]

The City of Denison is organized into the following departments: Administration, Public Works, Library, Aquatic Center, Fire Department, Police Department, and Conference Center.

Education

The Denison Community School District operates area public schools.[17]

Notable people

Further reading

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 . 12 August 2021.
  3. Web site: Find a County . 2011-06-07 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . May 31, 2011 . mdy .
  4. Book: History of Western Iowa, Its Settlement and Growth . Western Publishing Company . 1882 . 470–471.
  5. Book: The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States . Govt. Print. Off. . Gannett, Henry . 1905 . 104.
  6. Book: Chicago and North Western Railway Company. A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. 1908. 63.
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . 2012-05-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . January 12, 2012 . mdy .
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-05-11.
  9. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 . mdy .
  10. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/14/books/14grim.html?ex=1164517200&en=7926bd0a5998b0f8&ei=5070 In This Small Town in Iowa the Future Speaks Spanish
  11. Web site: American Legal Publishing - Online Library. Municipal Code of Denison, Iowa.
  12. Web site: Chapter 15. Municipal Code of Denison, Iowa. April 21, 2014. February 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150203001752/http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Iowa/denison_ia/administrationboardsandcommissions/chapter15mayor?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:denison_ia$anc=JD_15.01. dead.
  13. Web site: Powers and Duties. Municipal Code of Denison, Iowa. City of Denison, Iowa.
  14. Web site: Locally Elected Officials. 4 May 2020.
  15. Web site: Number and Term of Council. Municipal Code of Denison, Iowa. City of Denison, Iowa. 21 April 2014.
  16. Web site: Garcia takes over as city manager on Monday . denisonfreepress.com . 12 November 2023.
  17. Web site: FY20_DENISON. Iowa Department of Education. 2020-07-31. October 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201020021404/https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_DENISON_0.pdf. dead.
  18. Web site: CONNER, James Perry. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. March 19, 2011.
  19. Book: Journal of the House of the General Assembly of the State of Iowa . Iowa General Assembly . 1959 . 1779, 1780.
  20. Web site: Iowa Governor Leslie Mortier Shaw. National Governors Association. 2011-08-02.