Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 Mount Pleasant, Iowa | |
 Location of Mount Pleasant, Iowa | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Henry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.7 sq mi (20.0 km2) |
| • Land | 7.7 sq mi (19.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 715 ft (218 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 8,751 |
| • Density | 1,137.3/sq mi (439.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 52641 |
| Area code | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-54705 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0459328 |
Mount Pleasant is a city in Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,751. It is the county seat of Henry CountyTemplate:GR. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.
The city is home to Iowa Wesleyan College, which, founded in 1842, ranks as the oldest coeducational college/university west of the Mississippi River. The P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international philanthropic organization for women, was founded on the campus in Mount Pleasant by seven Iowa Wesleyan students.
Mount Pleasant is also home to the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion which attracts a crowd numbering over 100,000 admissions annually during an extended five-day weekend which ends on Labor Day. The reunion dates back to 1950 and pays tribute to the agricultural heritage of the American Midwest in an extensive, highly interactive manner, with live-action exhibition-style displays centering on restored mechanical equipment, particularly steam engines, farm tractors, stationary gas engines, antique and classic cars, and the popular narrow-gauge trains and electric trolleys. Country music shows featuring top-name performers, an expansive modern campground with transportation to the main grounds, and an extensive food court and numerous other offerings (run entirely by local churches and nonprofit organizations) are some of the amenities Old Threshers guests enjoy.
A meat processing plant operated by West Liberty Foods is located in Mount Pleasant. South of the city is the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility, a medium-security state prison that houses approximately 960 inmates, predominantly men, and employs 340 staff.[1] The Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute is also located on the same campus.
Geography
Mount Pleasant is located at 40°58′1″N 91°33′4″W / 40.96694°N 91.55111°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (40.966977, -91.551203)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.7 square miles (20.0 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.26%) is water.
History
In 1869, Mount Pleasant was the scene of a National Almanac-sponsored solar eclipse expedition, under the command of James Craig Watson. The total solar eclipse occurred on August 7, 1869.[citation needed] In the Union Block building in 1869, Arabella A. Mansfield became the first woman in the United States awarded a license to practice law. The third floor housed the Opera House or Union Hall, a gathering place for the community, speakers included Frederick Douglass, Bronson Alcott, P.T. Barnum, Anna Dickinson, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This building is now considered one of the most endangered historic sites in Iowa.[1] The Mount Pleasant State Hospital was built in 1861. However, in 1936, a fire devastated the building leaving the hospital to be closed, with very little building left. [2]
Transportation
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Mount Pleasant, operating its California Zephyr daily in both directions between Chicago, Illinois, and Emeryville, California, across the bay from San Francisco.
A municipal airport is located on the southeastern city limits.
U.S. Route 34 bypasses Mount Pleasant to the north, while U.S. Route 218/Iowa Highway 27 bypass the city to the east. These highways' former routes through the city are now designated as business routes.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 8,751 people, 3,119 households, and 1,940 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,137.3 people per square mile (439.4/km²). There were 3,355 housing units at an average density of 436.0/sq mi (168.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.46% White, 3.19% African American, 0.32% Native American, 3.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.
There were 3,119 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 110.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,558, and the median income for a family was $46,063. Males had a median income of $31,524 versus $22,628 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,824. About 8.3% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- James Van Allen, considered America's foremost space scientist[3]
- Tom Vilsack, former governor of Iowa, and current United States Secretary of Agriculture[4]
- Arabella Mansfield, first female lawyer in the United States of America
- Dana Holgorsen, offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma State football team
References
- ^ IHPA Most endangered, http://www.iowapreservation.org/endangered.php
- ^ www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/mountpleasant
- ^ Van Allen, James A. "What Is A Space Scientist? An Autobiographical Example (Parentage, Boyhood, and Early Education)". Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ^ Vilsack Dropping Out Boston Globe, February 23, 2007
External links
Municipalities and communities of Henry County, Iowa, United States | ||
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| Unincorporated community | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |