Alden, Iowa

Alden, Iowa
City
Location of Alden, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°31′1″N 93°22′33″W / 42.51694°N 93.37583°WCoordinates: 42°31′1″N 93°22′33″W / 42.51694°N 93.37583°W
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Hardin
Area[1]
• Total	1.73 sq mi (4.48 km^2)
• Land	1.71 sq mi (4.43 km^2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km^2)
Elevation	1,112 ft (339 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	787
• Estimate (2012[3])	777
• Density	460.2/sq mi (177.7/km^2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	50006, 50043
Area code(s)	515
FIPS code	19-01045
GNIS feature ID	0454120

Alden is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 787 at the 2010 census.

History

Alden was laid out in 1855.^[4] It was named for its founder, Henry Alden, a native of Massachusetts.^[5]

Geography

Alden's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 42.516867, -93.375809.^[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.73 square miles (4.48 km²), of which, 1.71 square miles (4.43 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²) is water.^[1]

Demographics

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	±%
1880	495	—
1890	512	+3.4%
1900	709	+38.5%
1910	699	−1.4%
1920	840	+20.2%
1930	793	−5.6%
1940	682	−14.0%
1950	829	+21.6%
1960	838	+1.1%
1970	876	+4.5%
1980	953	+8.8%
1990	855	−10.3%
2000	904	+5.7%
2010	787	−12.9%
2014	763	−3.0%
2015	764	+0.1%
Source:"American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. and Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census[7]

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 787 people, 338 households, and 214 families residing in the city. The population density was 460.2 inhabitants per square mile (177.7/km²). There were 368 housing units at an average density of 215.2 per square mile (83.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.5% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 338 households of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 41.6 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 904 people, 351 households, and 250 families residing in the city. The population density was 526.2 people per square mile (202.9/km²). There were 372 housing units at an average density of 216.5 per square mile (83.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.68% White, 0.22% Asian, 1.66% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.09% of the population.

There were 351 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,966, and the median income for a family was $39,524. Males had a median income of $29,489 versus $22,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,011. About 6.7% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Library

The front of the Alden Public Library

Alden is believed to have the smallest endowed Carnegie Library built in the United States.^[9] It was built at a cost of $9,000, and was a gift from Andrew Carnegie on November 3, 1913.^[10]

The original Library was built in 1914 with the grant from the Carnegie Foundation. The Library was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The building served Alden for 85 years. In 1998 a Capital Campaign was started to raise $550,000 for an addition that would double the size of the library.

Notable natives

• Gordon Jones, actor

References

1. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
2. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
3. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
4. Moir, William J. (1911). Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa. Unigraphic. p. 273.
5. History of Hardin County, Iowa. Union Publishing Company. 1883. p. 517.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
8. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
9. Ralph Christian. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Alden Public Library" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
10. "Carnegie Libraries of Iowa Project-Alden Public Library". University of Iowa. Retrieved 2016-11-07.

External links

• Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library