Albia, Iowa
Albia, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 Location of Albia, Iowa | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Monroe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.1 sq mi (8.1 km2) |
| • Land | 3.1 sq mi (8.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 968 ft (295 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 3,706 |
| • Density | 1,184.8/sq mi (457.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 52531 |
| Area code | 641 |
| FIPS code | 19-00910 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0454114 |
Albia is a city in Monroe County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,706 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe CountyTemplate:GR.
Geography
Albia is located at 41°1′36″N 92°48′19″W / 41.02667°N 92.80528°W (41.026600, -92.805262)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²), all of it land.
History
On Feb. 14, 1893, there was a coal mine explosion in Chicago and Iowa mine, about 2.5 miles west of Albia. This room and pillar mine opened around 1877, and by the time of the explosion, mining extended over 1000 yards from the hoisting shaft and the mine employed 60 miners and 20 other men. One miner was killed outright and seven died later of their injuries, after a "shot" (gunpower charge used to bring down the coal) ignited a dust explosion in the mine. This was one of only two major mine disasters in Iowa between 1888 and 1913.[1][2]
In the early 20th century, the region around Albia was dotted with coal mining camps and company towns. Of these, Buxton, 9 miles north, is the most widely studied.[3] Other former coal camps in the area include Hiteman, Bluff Creek, Lockman, Coalfield, Hocking, and Hynes.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 3,706 people, 1,531 households, and 943 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,184.8 people per square mile (457.2/km²). There were 1,708 housing units at an average density of 546.0/sq mi (210.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.92% White, 0.32% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 1,531 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,728, and the median income for a family was $41,607. Males had a median income of $33,025 versus $20,933 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,843. About 4.3% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- George Bennard - Composer of The Old Rugged Cross
- Nathan E. Kendall - Former Governor of Iowa
- Patty Judge - Current Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
References
- ^ Albert H. Fay, Coal-Mine Fatalities in the United States 1870-1914, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Washington DC, 1916, page 190.
- ^ Sixth Biennial Report of the State Mine Inspectors to the Governor of the State of Iowa for the Two Yers Ending June 30, 1893, Ragsdale, Des Moines, 1893, pages 29-35.
- ^ David M. Gradwohl and Nancy M. Osborn, Exploring Buried Buxton -- Archaeology of an Abandoned Iowa Coal Mining Town with a Large Black Population, University of Iowa Press, 1990.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Monroe County, Iowa, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |