| Official Name: | Dedham, Iowa |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Coordinates: | 41.9083°N -94.8233°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Carroll |
| Established Date: | 1883 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Robert Sporrer |
| Leader Title1: | City Council |
| Leader Title3: | Senate |
| Leader Name3: | Mark Segebart (R) |
| Leader Title4: | House |
| Leader Name4: | Brian Best (R) |
| Leader Title5: | U.S. Congress |
| Leader Name5: | Steve King (R) |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 1.43 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 0.55 |
| Area Land Km2: | 1.43 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 0.55 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1270 |
| Population Total: | 224 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | 156.55 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 405.80 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 51440 |
| Area Code: | 712 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 19-19450 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2394484 |
Dedham is a city in Carroll County, Iowa, United States. The population was 224 at the time of the 2020 census.[2]
Dedham got its start in the year 1881, following construction of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway through that territory. It was named for Dedham, Massachusetts.
St. Joseph Parish was founded in 1891 by German and English Catholics.[3] They built the first church in 1892 with a new, larger church coming in 1904.[3] The present church was dedicated on October 1, 1940, by Bishop Edmond Heelan.[3]
Dedham is located at the junction of Brushy and Dedham Creeks.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.58sqmi, all land.[4]
Dedham operates under a mayor-council government. The Mayor is Robert Sporrer. Along with the mayor is the five person city council. Councilpersons are: Christopher John Hoffman, Mike Heinrichs, Rod Smith, Tony Derner, and Tony Seidl. The City Clerk is Heather Badding. City elections are held every two odd numbered years. The mayor serves a two-year term, while the members of the council serve four-year terms.
| Name | Years Serving | First elected | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Sporrer | 2018–Present | 2017 | Eligible for re-election in 2019 | |
| Mike Heinrichs | 2008–Present | 2007 | Eligible for re-election in 2019 | |
| Tony Derner | 2015–Present | 2017 | Eligible for re-election in 2021 | |
| Chris Hoffman | 2018–Present | 2017 | Eligible for re-election in 2021 | |
| Rod Smith | 2016–Present | 2015 | Eligible for re-election in 2019 | |
| Tony Seidl | 2013–Present | 2013 | Eligible for re-election in 2021 |
| No. | Name | Years | Length of term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Shefford | 1883 | 1 year | Resigned; was a federal officer | |
| 2 | W.A. Lytton | 1883-1884 | 2 years | ||
| 3 | J.A. Edgett | 1884-1885 | 2 years | ||
| 4 | N.B. Coder | 1885-1886 | 2 years | ||
| 5 | J.A. Edgett | 1886-1887 | 2 years | Second Mayorship | |
| 6 | John W. Niman | 1887-1888 | 2 years | ||
| 7 | J.A. Edgett | 1888-1889 | 2 years | Third Mayorship | |
| 8 | J.A. Horton | 1889-1890 | 2 years | ||
| 9 | A.W. Basom | 1890-1892 | 3 years | ||
| 10 | J.A. Edgett | 1893-1897 | 5 years | Fourth Mayorship | |
| 11 | J.G. Caton | 1897-1898 | 2 years | ||
| 12 | J.A. Edgett | 1898-1900 | 2 years | Fifth Mayorship | |
| 13 | Fred A. Toovey | 1900-1910 | 10 years | ||
| 14 | M. Slife | 1910-1911 | 1 year | ||
| 15 | Fred A. Toovey | 1911-1922 | 11 years | Second Mayorship | |
| 16 | Reed McMurray | 1922-1924 | 2 years | ||
| 17 | A.J. Ayrhart | 1924-1926 | 2 years | ||
| 18 | H.E. Qualheim | 1926-1927 | 1 year | ||
| 19 | J.J. Klingseis | 1927-1932 | 5 years | ||
| 20 | L.W. Chain | 1932-1934 | 2 years | ||
| 21 | Fred A. Toovey | 1934-1936 | 2 years | Third Mayorship | |
| 22 | F.F. Schreck | 1936-1940 | 4 years | ||
| 23 | Ben Roderick | 1940-1942 | 3 years | ||
| 24 | Fred A. Toovey | 1943-1945 | 2 years | Fourth Mayorship | |
| 25 | J.T. Stangl | 1945-1948 | 3 years | ||
| 26 | Norbert Koester | 1948-1953 | 5 years | City elections were moved from even numbered years to odd numbered years (1951) | |
| 27 | Ed Soppe | 1954-1963 | 10 years | ||
| 28 | John Werner | 1964-1965 | 2 years | ||
| 29 | Merlin Nair | 1966-1969 | 4 years | ||
| 30 | Herman Hathcock | 1970-1973 | 4 years | ||
| 31 | Merlin Nair | 1974-December 31, 1975 | 2 years | Second Mayorship | |
| 32 | Clarence J. Rothmeyer | January 1, 1976 – May 1, 1992 | 16 years | Resigned due to health issues | |
| 33 | Russell W. Axman | May 1, 1992 – December 31, 2017 | 26 years | Longest-serving mayor in Dedham history | |
| 34 | Robert Sporrer | January 1, 2018 – September 14, 2021 | 3 Years, 8 Months | ||
| 35 | Thomas L. Seidl | January 1, 2022 – Present | Current Mayor |
As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 266 people, 101 households, and 65 families residing in the city. The population density was 458.6PD/sqmi. There were 107 housing units at an average density of 184.5/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.
There were 101 households, of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.32.
The median age in the city was 32.3 years. 29.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 21.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 270 people, 112 households, and 68 families residing in the city. The population density was 483.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 117 housing units at an average density of 202.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.
There were 113 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $37,639. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $15,417 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,505. About 7.9% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 9.4% of those 65 or over.
The public school district is the Carroll Community School District.[7]