Lansing, Iowa: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Lansing was founded in 1851. It's location on the Mississippi's main channel brought prosperity in the form of trade and transport to this, at that time, frontier town. Lansing was a major shipping point for the wheat that grew on the newly homesteaded farmland to the west. It quickly became the most important town in the county. |
Lansing was founded in 1851. It's location on the Mississippi's main channel brought prosperity in the form of trade and transport to this, at that time, frontier town. Lansing was a major shipping point for the wheat that grew on the newly homesteaded farmland to the west. It quickly became the most important town in the county. |
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In 1851 the town of Columbus was chosen as the county seat for Allamakee County. The promoters of Lansing sought to steal this honor away from Columbus as it was located less than a mile south of the aspiring town and therefore could overshadow thier own ventures in time. To do this Lansing conspired to have the county seat removed to Waukon |
In 1851 the town of Columbus was chosen as the county seat for Allamakee County. The promoters of Lansing sought to steal this honor away from Columbus as it was located less than a mile south of the aspiring town and therefore could overshadow thier own ventures in time. To do this Lansing conspired to have the county seat removed to Waukon, an inland village located more to the center of the county. The plan worked, Waukon gained the county seat and Columbus soon expired. Soon Lansing desired the county seat for herself and won the honor in 1861. A fine brick courthouse was built in in South Lansing at a place referred to as "The Point". Waukon wanted the seat back and petitioned for a new election on the matter in 1864 which it lost. Waukon then took the matter to the courts as their were reports of voting irregularities in the Franklin Township vote. The Courts awarded the seat of government to Waukon in 1867 and though Lansing would challenge Waukon in three more elections in the next 8 years she failed to do so. |
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Loss of the county seat was a disappointment to the city but did not curtail its predominance as a river port. Much of the false fronted business district was burned in the great fire of 1864 but new buildings of stone and masonry soon rose from the ashes. The trade in wheat brought riches to the growing town and fine Victorian houses soon rose along Diagonal Street and around the city park where the present day high school now stands. The citizens built a large and commodious school of stone. It had ten churches at one time plus the large German Public Hall in the Triangle Block. The population was 2,688 in 1870 and by 1875 was estimated to be over 4,000. The year 1875 would be the pinnacle year for Lansing as it would be for many towns and villages in the area for it was the last year of good wheat. The time of "the wheat" came to a sudden crash as the soil played out and crops failed over the entire area never to return. Lansing still had a thriving fishing and pearl button industry as well as the railroad but decline crept in slowly and one by one many of its churches closed due to lack of congregation. Still she maintained enough citizens to have both a public (Kee High School), and a parochial (St' Joseph's) high school into the the early 1950's. The German Hall disappeared as did many of it's beautiful churches, but much of the 1864 business district remains and many of it's beautiful mid Victorian homes. The "Old Stone School" is on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the "Old Courthouse". |
Loss of the county seat was a disappointment to the city but did not curtail its predominance as a river port. Much of the false fronted business district was burned in the great fire of 1864 but new buildings of stone and masonry soon rose from the ashes. The trade in wheat brought riches to the growing town and fine Victorian houses soon rose along Diagonal Street and around the city park where the present day high school now stands. The citizens built a large and commodious school of stone. It had ten churches at one time plus the large German Public Hall in the Triangle Block. The population was 2,688 in 1870 and by 1875 was estimated to be over 4,000. The year 1875 would be the pinnacle year for Lansing as it would be for many towns and villages in the area for it was the last year of good wheat. The time of "the wheat" came to a sudden crash as the soil played out and crops failed over the entire area never to return. Lansing still had a thriving fishing and pearl button industry as well as the railroad but decline crept in slowly and one by one many of its churches closed due to lack of congregation. Still she maintained enough citizens to have both a public (Kee High School), and a parochial (St' Joseph's) high school into the the early 1950's. The German Hall disappeared as did many of it's beautiful churches, but much of the 1864 business district remains and many of it's beautiful mid Victorian homes. The "Old Stone School" is on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the "Old Courthouse". |
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Revision as of 08:27, 5 May 2008
Lansing, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 Location of Lansing, Iowa | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Allamakee |
| Township | Lansing |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.2 sq mi (3.0 km2) |
| • Land | 1.1 sq mi (2.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 676 ft (206 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,012 |
| • Density | 939.4/sq mi (362.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 52151 |
| Area code | 563 |
| FIPS code | 19-43275 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0458225 |
Lansing is a city in Lansing Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,012 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Lansing is located at 43°21′41″N 91°13′24″W / 43.36139°N 91.22333°W (43.361525, -91.223378)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.0 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (7.69%) is water.
History
Lansing was founded in 1851. It's location on the Mississippi's main channel brought prosperity in the form of trade and transport to this, at that time, frontier town. Lansing was a major shipping point for the wheat that grew on the newly homesteaded farmland to the west. It quickly became the most important town in the county. In 1851 the town of Columbus was chosen as the county seat for Allamakee County. The promoters of Lansing sought to steal this honor away from Columbus as it was located less than a mile south of the aspiring town and therefore could overshadow thier own ventures in time. To do this Lansing conspired to have the county seat removed to Waukon, an inland village located more to the center of the county. The plan worked, Waukon gained the county seat and Columbus soon expired. Soon Lansing desired the county seat for herself and won the honor in 1861. A fine brick courthouse was built in in South Lansing at a place referred to as "The Point". Waukon wanted the seat back and petitioned for a new election on the matter in 1864 which it lost. Waukon then took the matter to the courts as their were reports of voting irregularities in the Franklin Township vote. The Courts awarded the seat of government to Waukon in 1867 and though Lansing would challenge Waukon in three more elections in the next 8 years she failed to do so. Loss of the county seat was a disappointment to the city but did not curtail its predominance as a river port. Much of the false fronted business district was burned in the great fire of 1864 but new buildings of stone and masonry soon rose from the ashes. The trade in wheat brought riches to the growing town and fine Victorian houses soon rose along Diagonal Street and around the city park where the present day high school now stands. The citizens built a large and commodious school of stone. It had ten churches at one time plus the large German Public Hall in the Triangle Block. The population was 2,688 in 1870 and by 1875 was estimated to be over 4,000. The year 1875 would be the pinnacle year for Lansing as it would be for many towns and villages in the area for it was the last year of good wheat. The time of "the wheat" came to a sudden crash as the soil played out and crops failed over the entire area never to return. Lansing still had a thriving fishing and pearl button industry as well as the railroad but decline crept in slowly and one by one many of its churches closed due to lack of congregation. Still she maintained enough citizens to have both a public (Kee High School), and a parochial (St' Joseph's) high school into the the early 1950's. The German Hall disappeared as did many of it's beautiful churches, but much of the 1864 business district remains and many of it's beautiful mid Victorian homes. The "Old Stone School" is on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the "Old Courthouse".
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2004, there were 1,009 people, 441 households, and 258 families residing in the city. The population density was 939.4 people per square mile (361.8/km²). There were 573 housing units at an average density of 531.9/sq mi (204.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.01% White, 0.10% African American, 0.40% Asian, 0.49% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.
There were 441 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 37.4% 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 2.17 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 27.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,482, and the median income for a family was $34,519. Males had a median income of $26,510 versus $17,596 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,372. About 4.2% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Lansing is served by Iowa Highway 9, which terminates on the Black Hawk Bridge leading to Wisconsin.
Mississippi River
Lansing is a river town, right on the main channel of the Mississippi River, and consequently has a resort-like feel from the seasonal recreational boaters.
Education
Eastern Allamakee Community School District
- Lansing Middle School
- Kee High School
- New Albin Elementary (New Albin is a small town north of Lansing. These two towns have joined together for education.)
Attractions
- Old Stone School-Built in 1864
- Commercial Fishing Museum-Displays Lansing's history as a fishing town including commercial fishing, the pearl button industry, and ice harvesting.
- Blackhawk Bridge-Built in 1931
- Mount Hosmer-Named after artist Harriet Hosmer after she climed to the peak on a visit in 1851. Visitors can drive to the top where they can enjoy beautiful views of the Mississippi River and 3 states (Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin)
- Mississippi Explorer-Enjoy a scenic guided boat ride on the Mississippi River
- Allamakee County Historical Society Museum
- Fish Farm Mounds
- Lansing Fish Days
References
External links
Template:Geolinks-US-cityscale
Municipalities and communities of Allamakee County, Iowa, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |