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Mason City, Iowa

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Mason City, Iowa
City
Location of Mason City, Iowa
Location of Mason City, Iowa
Country United States
State Iowa
CountyCerro Gordo
Area
 • Total26.2 sq mi (67.8 km2)
 • Land25.8 sq mi (66.8 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)
Elevation
1,129 ft (344 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total29,172
 • Density1,131.3/sq mi (436.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
50401, 50402, 50467
Area code641
FIPS code19-50160
GNIS feature ID0458840

Mason City is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 29,172 at the 2000 census (2005 estimate 27,909) and has stayed close to 30,000 since 1995. It is the county seat of Cerro Gordo County.Template:GR It is the home of the North Iowa Area Community College and Hamilton College.

Geography

Mason City is located at 43°8′55″N 93°12′7″W / 43.14861°N 93.20194°W / 43.14861; -93.20194Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (43.148747, -93.201916)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 67.8 km² (26.2 mi²). 66.8 km² (25.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (1.45%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 29,172 people, 12,368 households, and 7,507 families residing in the city. The population density was 436.7/km² (1,131.3/mi²). There were 13,029 housing units at an average density of 195.1/km² (505.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.40% White, 1.17% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.

There were 12,368 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,852, and the median income for a family was $45,160. Males had a median income of $32,451 versus $21,756 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,899. About 7.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Architecture

Mason City is widely known for its sizable amount of Prairie School architecture, the largest concentration in one location outside of Oak Park, Illinois.

The Rock Glen and Rock Crest districts along Willow Creek feature homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Walter Burley Griffin.

Wright's Stockman House has been restored and is open to the public. Wright's Park Inn Hotel, which influenced Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius and other European Modern architects, is the only remaining hotel in the world designed by him still standing, and is in the process of being restored.

Schools

There are 12 schools in Mason City. Harding Elementary, Hoover Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, John Adams Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School, Mason City High School, Mason City Alternative High School, Madison Early Childhood Center, Washington Early Childhood Center, Newman Catholic Elementary/Middle School, and Newman Catholic High School

Transportation

The city is served by Iowa Highway 122, and U.S. Highway 65. U.S. Highway 18 now bypasses the city to the south. Interstate 35 (eight miles to the west) serves the city as well.

Mason City is home to the Iowa Traction Railroad. The IATR is one of the last surviving electric interurban railroads in the U. S., and the only one that still uses electric locomotives to haul freight in regular service.

The city also has a municipal airport, from which Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper took off on the night of February 3, 1959 after a concert at the Surf Ballroom in nearby Clear Lake, IA, only to crash in a historic event later referred to as The Day the Music Died.

Music

Mason City, above all else is known for its outstanding musical heritage, consistently producing successful performers and educators. Mason City's "favorite son" Meredith Willson grew up in Mason City, having played in the Mason City Symphonic Band as a student at Mason City High School.

One of the pillars behind the ongoing success of Mason City's musical tradition is the tenure of its music educators. The Mason City High School Instrumental Department has had only 6 Head Instructors in its 100 years of existence and similarly can be said for the Vocal Department. Alumni frequently return to teach at their alma matter, most recently Mason City Symphonic Band director Russell Kramer 88' and John Adams Middle School band director Mr. Anderson 2005.

The High School band is representing Iowa in Chicago for the National Band Confrence.

Currently, the music program at Mason City High School involves more than 25% of the student population in its numerous ensembles.

Sports

Mason City has some history of minor league sports teams despite its relatively small size.

The North Iowa Outlaws junior hockey team began play in the North American Hockey League in 2005. The former North Iowa Huskies played in the United States Hockey League until 1999.

The Mason City Bats of the very short lived Great Central League played baseball here in 1994.

Industry

The largest employer is Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. Other major industry includes door manufacturer Curries/Graham Company and the Kraft Foods plant that produces the nation's entire supply of refrigerated ready-to-eat Jell-O gelatin and Jell-O pudding snacks. Mason City is also a major production center for Portland Cement.

Media

Notable Natives

Merle Armitage - book designer, author and concert impresario.

Bil Baird - Puppeteer, grew up in Mason City; his creations were featured in The Sound of Music and are now exhibited at the MacNider Art Museum.

Steven Clay - publisher of Granary Books (New York).

Jeff Horner - High School and College Basketball standout. Continued career with the Euphany Bree in Belgium after graduation from the University of Iowa

Meredith Willson - American composer and playwright, best known as the writer of The Music Man and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, was born in Mason City. The fictional setting of "River City" in The Music Man was inspired by Willson's childhood memories of Mason City. The city features a multi-million dollar building called Music Man Square in dedication to him, as well as a footbridge bearing his name.

Mr. Kramer Band director of MCHS Band.

Dustin Honken and Angela Johnson Death Penalty Cases

- In 2004 and 2005, Dustin Honken and Angela Johnson received federal death sentences for the 1993 deaths of five people. Terri DeGeus and Greg Nicholson were witnesses in a federal drug case against them; Lori Duncan and her two children were also killed. These were the first death penalties handed down in Iowa since the state abolished the death penalty in 1963.

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