Shenandoah, Iowa Explained

Official Name:Shenandoah, Iowa
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:Counties
Subdivision Name2:Page
Fremont
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:9.67
Area Land Km2:9.67
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:3.73
Area Land Sq Mi:3.73
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:4925
Population Density Km2:509.44
Population Density Sq Mi:1319.31
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:1004
Coordinates:40.7583°N -95.3719°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:51601-51603
Area Code:712
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:19-72525
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2395872

Shenandoah is a city in Page and Fremont counties in Iowa, United States. The population was 4,925 at the time of the 2020 U.S. Census.[2] Once referred to as the "seed and nursery center of the world," Shenandoah is the home to Earl May Seed Company and the radio station KMA, founded by Earl E. May.[3] The early live radio stations gave many performers their start, including The Everly Brothers and Charlie Haden.

History

Shenandoah, originally known as Fair Oaks, was platted in 1870, shortly after the arrival of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad into the neighborhood. Its name is derived from the local valley's resemblance to the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia.[4]

In 1885, a smallpox epidemic in Shenandoah prompted the closing of schools, and the cancellation of church services and public meetings. Quarantine orders were established for households with smallpox, and guards were posted outside affected homes.[5] On June 11, J.C. Wilson was employed as quarantine officer. During this time, Shenandoah musician W.F. Strong composed a piano arrangement called "Quarantine Polka".[6]

Geography

Shenandoah is located along Fourmile Creek near its confluence with the East Nishnabotna River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.75sqmi, all of it land.[7]

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 5,150 people, 2,310 households, and 1,366 families living in the city. The population density was 1373.3PD/sqmi. There were 2,611 housing units at an average density of 696.3/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0%.[8]

Of the 2,310 households 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 37.0% of households were one person and 19% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age was 44.4 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 23% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 5,546 people, 2,421 households, and 1,486 families living in the city. The population density was 1599.6sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,645 housing units at an average density of 762.9/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 97.91% White, 0.11% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72%.[9]

Of the 2,421 households 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.2% of households were one person and 17.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84.

Age spread: 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median household income was $29,435 and the median family income was $39,110. Males had a median income of $31,657 versus $18,588 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,301. About 11.0% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Tarkio Sloths

Recent excavations of at least three Jefferson's ground sloths, Megalonyx jeffersonii, have been coordinated by the Iowa Museum of Natural History along West Tarkio Creek near Shenandoah.[10]

Minor league baseball

Shenandoah was home to minor league baseball. The Shenandoah Pin Rollers played as members of the Class D level Southwest Iowa League in 1903 and Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League (MINK) in 1910 and 1911.[11]

Media

The Southwest Iowa Herald (formerly the Valley News) Shenandoah and its neighbor city Clarinda's community newspaper. Published every Wednesday and distributed to homes throughout Page and Fremont Counties, the Southwest Iowa Herald is the community's oldest continually-operated business. Its predecessors include the award-winning Evening Sentinel. Its website can be found at valleynewstoday.com.

The radio stations KMA AM and KFNF were early pioneering radio stations attracting listeners throughout the Mid-West and drawing thousands of visitors to the city in the 1920s. The radio station KMA-FM 99.1 is in the same complex as KMA. Both stations share a simulcast, except for sporting events and other special programming.

Education

Shenandoah Community School District Operates Public Schools

Iowa Western Community College Shenandoah Campus

Transportation

Jefferson Lines provides intercity bus service in Shenandoah, on a route between Kansas City and Sioux Falls.[12]

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 . 12 August 2021.
  3. Earl May Website "Our Story" https://www.earlmay.com/our-story/
  4. Book: History of Page County, Iowa . S.J. Clarke Publishing Company . Kershaw, W. L. . 1909 . 381.
  5. Web site: shenandoah_clerk_records.htm . 2024-04-10 . genealogytrails.com.
  6. Web site: Quarantine Polka, originally composed in 1885 by W.F. Strong during a smallpox quarantine and arrang - Woodwind Quartet - Digital Sheet Music . 2024-04-10 . www.sheetmusicplus.com . en.
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010. United States Census Bureau. 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.
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-05-11.
  9. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  10. The Tarkio Valley Sloth Project, Web site: The Tarkio Valley Sloth Project · Project Summary . 2009-09-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090101073804/http://slothcentral.com/?page_id=2 . 2009-01-01 .
  11. Web site: Shenandoah, Iowa Encyclopedia. Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. Web site: Iowa Bus Stops. September 28, 2023.
  13. Birkby, Evelyn (1991). "Jessie Young". Neighboring on the Air : Cooking with the KMA Radio Homemakers. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. pp. 38–39. .