Russell, Iowa

Russell is a city in Lucas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 554 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 559 population in 2000.[5][6]

Russell, Iowa
City
Location of Russell, Iowa
Coordinates: 40°58′57″N 93°11′55″W
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Lucas
Incorporated	April 25, 1887 [1]
Area [2]
• Total	1.04 sq mi (2.69 km^2)
• Land	1.04 sq mi (2.69 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	1,027 ft (313 m)
Population  (2010)[3]
• Total	554
• Estimate  (2019)[4]	536
• Density	516.88/sq mi (199.57/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	50238
Area code(s)	641
FIPS code	19-69285
GNIS feature ID	0460861

History

Russell was incorporated as a city on April 25, 1887.[1]

The town was originally settled by German and Irish settlers in the 1850s. By the early 1860s the town of Russell had been made into a farming community and provided a source of food for surrounding communities. After being incorporated, a railway and railroad grain-tower were constructed along the town's edge allowing excess produce to be travelled elsewhere on the frontier.

In the 1935, the town suffered a fire on the town square that burned down the eastern side and killed 3 people.

Geography

Russell is located at 40°58′57″N 93°11′55″W (40.982388, -93.198642).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.04 square miles (2.69 km²), all land.[8]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	175		—
1880	345		97.1%
1890	443		28.4%
1900	636		43.6%
1910	612		−3.8%
1920	633		3.4%
1930	571		−9.8%
1940	642		12.4%
1950	566		−11.8%
1960	577		1.9%
1970	591		2.4%
1980	593		0.3%
1990	531		−10.5%
2000	559		5.3%
2010	554		−0.9%
Est. 2019	536	[4]	−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 554 people, 212 households, and 146 families residing in the city. The population density was 532.7 inhabitants per square mile (205.7/km²). There were 250 housing units at an average density of 240.4 per square mile (92.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.4% African American, 2.2% Native American, and 0.5% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 212 households, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the city was 39.4 years. 29.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 559 people, 239 households, and 144 families residing in the city. The population density was 539.7 people per square mile (207.5/km²). There were 265 housing units at an average density of 255.8 per square mile (98.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.57% White, 0.18% Native American, 0.36% Asian, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.36% of the population.

There were 239 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% 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 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,125, and the median income for a family was $29,688. Males had a median income of $26,094 versus $16,406 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,093. About 16.5% of families and 23.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

The city is within the Chariton Community School District,[11] which operates Chariton High School.

The Russell Community School District at one time maintained its own K-12 school, with a five-member board of education overseeing operation of the district. Athletic teams were known as the Trojans.

The Russell School District was forced to close in 2008, making it the second time this happened in the state of Iowa; the other was Hedrick in 1990. The Iowa Board of Education cited the district's financial problems, which left Russell school officials unable to provide students with a first-rate education.[12] Students were eventually sent to schools in the Albia, |Chariton and Wayne of Corydon school districts.

Notable people

• Rich Arnold (born 1945), Iowa House Representative 1995–current (2011)[13]
• George McGill (1879–1963), United States Senator from Kansas 1930–39[14]
• Paul McKinley Iowa Senator 2001–current (2011)[15]
• In the 1970s, author Richard Bach used to fly through the Midwest in a biplane, landing at various small towns and selling airplane rides. At the beginning of his autobiographical book, "The Bridge Across Forever", Bach lands at Russell, Iowa and sells rides to some of the residents. At the end of the day, he suddenly realizes that he has nothing more to learn from barnstorming and that the rides he has sold earlier that day in Russell are the last rides he will ever sell again.

References

1. "LIST OF INCORPORATED CITIES" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State - Matt Schultz. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
5. "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
6. "Data from the 2010 Census". State Data Center of Iowa. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
11. "Chariton." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on June 18, 2018.
12. "Education Board Closes Russell School District," KCRG-TV9, March 12, 2008. Accessed 05-11-2012.
13. "Representative Richard D. 'Rich' Arnold". Project Vote Smart. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
14. "McGILL, George". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
15. "Iowa Senate Republicans Caucus". Republican Party of Iowa. Retrieved 2011-08-07.

External links

• City-Data Comprehensive statistical data and more about Russell