| Official Name: | Laurens, Iowa |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pocahontas |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 1.96 |
| Area Land Km2: | 1.96 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 0.76 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 0.76 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1264 |
| Population Density Km2: | 644.79 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1669.75 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 399 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1309 |
| Coordinates: | 42.8472°N -94.8494°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 50554 |
| Area Code: | 712 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 19-43725 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0458243 |
Laurens is a city in Pocahontas County, Iowa, United States. Its population was 1,264 at the 2020 census.[2]
Laurens was platted in 1881. It was named in honor of Henry and John Laurens, father and son, two French Huguenots who became residents of Charleston, South Carolina, and were loyal to the Colonies during the Revolution.[3]
Laurens is located at 42.8472°N -94.8494°W (42.847105, -94.849542).[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.73sqmi, all land.[5]
At the 2010 census there were 1,258 people in 571 households, including 332 families, in the city. The population density was 1723.3PD/sqmi. There were 677 housing units at an average density of 927.4/sqmi. The racial makup of the city was 97.5% White, 0.3% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4%.[6]
Of the 571 households 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.9% were non-families. 36.8% of households were one person and 16.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.80.
The median age was 45.6 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 21.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.
At the 2000 census there were 1,476 people in 656 households, including 400 families, in the city. The population density was 1999.4sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 711 housing units at an average density of 963.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makup of the city was 98.68% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.41% Asian, and 0.75% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic [0.01% Brazilian] [0.02 French] or Latino of any race.[7] Of the 656 households 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 36.9% of households were one person and 22.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.84.
24.0% are under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median household income was $33,188 and the median family income was $43,661. Males had a median income of $31,063 versus $19,716 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,711. About 4.8% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Laurens is home to the Laurens–Marathon Community School District.[8] It was a part of the Laurens Community School District until its consolidation into Laurens–Marathon on July 1, 1976.[9] All grades are located in one building in Laurens. In 2000 the enrollment was 423 for all grades, and there were about 40 full-time teaching staff. High school students from Laurens–Marathon have attended Pocahontas Area High School since 2017.[10]
Laurens was the home of Alvin Straight, a 73-year-old man famous for travelling on a lawnmower. His story was made into the film The Straight Story (1999), directed by David Lynch and starring Richard Farnsworth (who received an Oscar-nomination for his performance) and Sissy Spacek. It was filmed partly in Laurens. "Laurens, Iowa" is also the title of an instrumental song in its soundtrack.[11]
Laurens, France, became a sister city to Laurens, Iowa, during the preparations for the 2007 quasquicentennial (125th anniversary).