Hedrick, Iowa Explained

Official Name:Hedrick, Iowa
Settlement Type:City
Motto:"Where Friends Meet"[1]
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Keokuk
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:4.03
Area Land Km2:4.03
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:1.56
Area Land Sq Mi:1.56
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:728
Population Density Km2:180.43
Population Density Sq Mi:467.27
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:820
Coordinates:41.1714°N -92.3078°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:52563
Area Code:641
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:19-35670
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2394345
Website:Hedrick, Iowa

Hedrick is a city in Keokuk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 728 at the time of the 2020 census.[3]

History

In 1882, the Burlington and Western Railway a narrow gauge line, and its competitor, the Iowa Central Railway, built competing east–west lines through the area. These crossed the Rock Island tracks here, so it was a natural location for a station and town.[4]

Hedrick was incorporated on April 23, 1883.[5] It was named for General Hedrick.[6]

The Burlington and Western was widened to standard gauge in 1902 and merged into the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy a year later. The Minneapolis and St. Louis took over the Iowa Central around the same time, and the Burlington line was abandoned in 1934.

By 1991 several businesses in the community's main street closed, and the economy had declined. The school serving the town closed that year.[7]

In 2023, the city was struck by an EF-4 rated tornado.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.53sqmi, all of it land.[8]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 764 people, 310 households, and 211 families living in the city. The population density was 499.3PD/sqmi. There were 356 housing units at an average density of 232.7/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.3% White, 1.2% African American, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 310 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 37.7 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 832 people, 335 households, and 233 families living in the city. The population density was 543.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 371 housing units at an average density of 240.7sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 98.92% White, 0.12% Native American, 0.12% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.

There were 335 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,714, and the median income for a family was $37,917. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $20,476 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,166. About 9.0% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Few businesses are open in the old historic business district; most businesses open to the public are located along Highway 149.

Arts and culture

Hedrick is notable for its well-preserved brick Main Street and its depot, formerly serving the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway (east-west) and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (north-south).

Notable person

Education

Hedrick is in the Pekin Community School District,[11] which operates schools in Pekin.

The former Hedrick Community School District was involuntarily dissolved by the State of Iowa on July 1, 1991,[12] due to not meeting state requirements to be a certified school in that state.[13] It was the first school district in Iowa to be closed involuntarily by the state government.[14] Students in Hedrick itself were rezoned to Pekin schools.[7]

References

  1. Web site: Hedrick, Iowa. Hedrick, Iowa. August 31, 2012. January 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150110161116/http://www.hedrickiowa.com/hindex.html. dead.
  2. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. March 16, 2022.
  3. Web site: 2020 Census State Redistricting Data . census.gov . United states Census Bureau . 12 August 2021.
  4. David Lotz and Charles Franzen, 'Rails to a County Seat', The Print Shop, Washington Iowa, 1989; pages 37, 47-52.
  5. Web site: Hedrick, Iowa . City-data.com. August 31, 2012.
  6. Book: The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States . Govt. Print. Off. . Gannett, Henry . 1905 . 153.
  7. News: Vobejda, Barbara. MAIN STREET FACES 'ECONOMIC TRIAGE'. Washington Post. 1991-03-25. 2018-06-19.
  8. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . 2012-05-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . 2012-01-25 .
  9. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-05-11.
  10. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  11. "PEKIN." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on June 18, 2018.
  12. "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on January 14, 2019.
  13. Web site: Teacher Layoffs and School Budget Cuts. National Education Association . August 31, 2012.
  14. Web site: More financial questions raised over closed Russell School District. 2009-09-08. Radio Iowa. 2017-01-09.

External links