Thornton, Iowa

Thornton, Iowa
City
Location of Thornton, Iowa
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Cerro Gordo
Area
• Total	1.25 sq mi (3.24 km2)
• Land	1.25 sq mi (3.24 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,188 ft (362 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	422
• Estimate  (2012)	419
• Density	337.6/sq mi (130.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	50479
Area code	641
FIPS code	19-77880
GNIS feature ID	0462227

Thornton is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 422 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Thornton is located at 42°56′42″N 93°23′3″W (42.944972, -93.384115).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.25 square miles (3.24 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1900	299	—
1910	271	−9.4%
1920	317	+17.0%
1930	383	+20.8%
1940	398	+3.9%
1950	441	+10.8%
1960	449	+1.8%
1970	410	−8.7%
1980	442	+7.8%
1990	431	−2.5%
2000	422	−2.1%
2010	422	+0.0%
2014	410	−2.8%
2015	408	−0.5%
Source:"American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. and Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 422 people, 188 households, and 125 families residing in the city. The population density was 337.6 inhabitants per square mile (130.3/km²). There were 204 housing units at an average density of 163.2 per square mile (63.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.6% White, 0.5% African American, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 188 households of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.72.

The median age in the city was 45.3 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 20.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

Matt Ingebretson is the mayor of Thornton.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 422 people, 183 households, and 124 families residing in the city. The population density was 338.6 people per square mile (130.3/km²). There were 193 housing units at an average density of 154.8 per square mile (59.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.58% White, 0.24% Native American, 0.71% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 183 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% 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 2.81.

Age spread: 21.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,125, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $30,893 versus $19,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,622. About 5.0% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

As of the 2008-2009 school year, Thornton is part of West Fork Schools, along with students from then neighboring towns of Meservey, Sheffield, Chapin, Rockwell, Swaledale, and the surrounding area.

The Thornton school building was built in 1936 after the previous school burned in a large fire. In 1955, a large addition, including a gymnasium, library, offices, and additional classrooms was added. In 1963, the building became the high school, and later the Jr.-Sr. High, for the combined Meservey-Thornton school district. Due to declining enrollments, in 1983 the Meservey building was closed and the Thornton facility was again used for grades K-12. In 1988, Meservey-Thornton began whole-grade sharing with Sheffield-Chapin school district, and the building was used as an elementary and middle-school.

The Meservey-Thornton mascot was the "Lancers". When the high school classes moved to Sheffield in 1988, the Lancer mascot was retained for the middle-school sports teams. However, with the S-C and M-T districts formally merging in 2007, the Lancer mascot was officially retired with a parade in July, 2007.

Due to declining enrollment, the former S-C, M-T, and neighboring Rockwell-Swaledale school districts entered a whole-grade sharing agreement to become the West Fork school district in 2008, with the "Warhawks" as the new mascot. The Thornton building closed after the 2007-08 season after 72 years of service, and all students now attend Sheffield and Rockwell. Each remaining school will have K - 3, Rockwell will house 4 - 8 and Sheffield 9 - 12.

On July 5, 2008, an all-school reunion was held to commemorate the closing of the Thornton School.