Nevada, Iowa

City in Iowa, USA

Nevada, Iowa

City

Location of Nevada, Iowa

Coordinates: 42°01′16″N 93°27′55″W﻿ / ﻿42.02111°N 93.46528°W﻿ / 42.02111; -93.46528
Country| USA
State| Iowa
County| Story
Area

[1]

• Total

| 5.78 sq mi (14.97 km2)
• Land| 5.77 sq mi (14.94 km2)
• Water| 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation

[2]

| 958 ft (292 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 6,925
• Density| 1,200.17/sq mi (463.41/km2)
Time zone| UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code|

50201

Area code| 515
FIPS code| 19-55695
GNIS feature ID| 2395178[2]
Website| cityofnevadaiowa.org

Nevada (/nɪˈveɪdə/ niv-AY-də) is a city in, and the county seat of Story County, Iowa, United States.[3] The population was 6,925 in the 2020 census, an increase from 6,658 in 2000.[4] Nevada is part of the Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a part of the larger Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area. Nevada is the second-most populous city in Story County. The city's name is pronounced differently from the U.S. state of Nevada.[5]

## History

[edit]

Nevada City Hall

Downtown Nevada

Nevada was platted in 1853 along the banks of the West Indian Creek.[6] A local settler, Mr. Thrift, named the town after his daughter, Sierra Nevada, who was named after the Sierra Nevada mountain range.[7] On October 11, 1853, Theodore E. and Hannah Alderman moved into the first structure in Nevada. This structure served as Pioneer Store, post office, and courtroom.[8] Their son Ulysses Sherman Alderman later served on the Iowa House of Representatives.[9] A post office has been in operation in Nevada since 1854.[10]

Historic properties in Nevada include Briggs Terrace Evergreen Lane Property,[11] completed in 1879,[12] and the Nevada Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.[13] In 2019, the district became the 54th Main Street Iowa community, part of the larger Main Street Programs in the United States.[14]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.08 square miles (13.16 km2), of which 5.06 square miles (13.11 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[15]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 350| | —
1870| 982| | 180.6%
1880| 1,541| | 56.9%
1890| 1,662| | 7.9%
1900| 2,472| | 48.7%
1910| 2,138| | −13.5%
1920| 2,668| | 24.8%
1930| 3,133| | 17.4%
1940| 3,353| | 7.0%
1950| 3,763| | 12.2%
1960| 4,227| | 12.3%
1970| 4,952| | 17.2%
1980| 5,912| | 19.4%
1990| 6,009| | 1.6%
2000| 6,658| | 10.8%
2010| 6,798| | 2.1%
2020| 6,925| | 1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[16][4]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2020,[17] there were 6,925 people, 2,880 households, and 1,806 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,203.0 inhabitants per square mile (464.5/km2). There were 3,133 housing units at an average density of 544.3 per square mile (210.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.5% White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 6.3% of the population.

Of the 2,880 households, 29.4% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 6.6% were cohabitating couples, 25.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 20.2% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 37.3% of all households were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 39.8 years. 25.8% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.4% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 and 44; 25.5% were from 45 and 64; and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[18] of 2010, there were 6,798 people, 2,761 households, and 1,811 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,343.5 inhabitants per square mile (518.7/km2). There were 2,990 housing units at an average density of 590.9 per square mile (228.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 1.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 2,761 households, of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 6,658 people, 2,716 households, and 1,787 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,594.7 inhabitants per square mile (615.7/km2). There were 2,882 housing units at an average density of 690.3 per square mile (266.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.97% White, 0.59% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.

There were 2,716 households, out of which 33.07% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92.

Age spread: 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,527, and the median income for a family was $48,700. Males had a median income of $32,635 versus $24,680 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,392. About 3.9% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

## Media

[edit]

### Newsprint

[edit]

The Nevada Journal publishes a weekly newspaper which comes out on Thursday, and the "Story Today" released on Wednesday. The Nevada Journal provides in-depth coverage of local and regional issues as well as sports and is the official newspaper for the City of Nevada.[20]

National news coverage is provided on a daily basis by the Des Moines Register and the Ames Tribune.

### Radio and television

[edit]

While Nevada has no broadcast stations of its own, it is well served from the Ames-Des Moines television and radio markets.

Nevada is featured in John Darnielle's 2017 novel Universal Harvester.

## Transportation

[edit]

Nevada is served by US Highway 30 which was known as the Lincoln Highway and Lincoln Way in town.

Entering Nevada, Iowa, on the Lincoln Highway.

It bisects Nevada north and south through the business district. A new US Highway 30 bypass was built in the 1970s to the south of the city and Lincoln Way through town was reduced to county road status. Iowa Highway 133 now connects the business district to the new US Highway 30 to the south. Nevada is also served well by a network of paved farm to market county roads.

Nevada was served by the Chicago and North Western Railroad. The Union Pacific Railroad now owns the line which crosses the city east to west north of the business district. Up until the mid-1980s, all railroad crossings except for a new one in the northwest section of town were protected by WRRS center harp style wigwag signals. Shortly thereafter, these signals were replaced with standard flashers and gates due to safety concerns and lack of available wigwag parts.

Nevada was also served by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad's "Spine Line" between Minneapolis, MN and Kansas City, MO. This north-south line jogged east-west through southern Nevada. It then veered north again and crossed under the C&NW mainline east of Nevada. An agency station was maintained until 1980 when the Rock Island went bankrupt and ceased to function.

The C&NW purchased the Rock Island "Spine Line" which offered better and more direct connections for Minneapolis and Kansas City. Since the two rail lines did not directly interchange east of town where the C&NW crosses over the Rock Island, a new connection on the west side of Nevada was built. It goes from the C&NW east-west main line to connect with the former Rock Island on the southwest side of Nevada.[21] The junction on the Spine Line was referred to as "Chicago Junction" while the junction on the east-west mainline was referred to as "Kansas City Junction". This new line necessitated the building of an overpass for the old Lincoln Highway on the west side of Nevada.

The Union Pacific Railroad purchased the Chicago and North Western Railroad in 1995. Rail traffic on both the east-west mainline and the "Spine Line" along with interchange traffic has increased considerably in the years since the purchase.

## Education

[edit]

Nevada Community School District operates public schools. The school colors are purple and gold, and the mascot is a cub.

* Central Elementary School[22]
* Nevada Community Middle School[23]
* Nevada Community High School[24]
* Nevada Community Resource Center[25]

## In popular culture

[edit]

The 2017 novel Universal Harvester by American novelist and singer-songwriter John Darnielle is set primarily in Nevada.[26]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Mary Clem, mathematician and human computer, staff member at Iowa State University
* Dayton Countryman (1918–2011), Iowa Attorney General[27]
* Neva Patterson (1920–2010), actress[28]
* Paul Rhoads (born 1967) college football coach, former head coach at Iowa State University
* John Scott, Civil War Colonel and Lt. Governor of Iowa[29]
* Billy Sunday, baseball player and evangelist
* Michael Wacha, baseball player for the San Diego Padres, grandson of a local family

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nevada, Iowa
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ a b "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
5. ^ McCabe, Francis (October 18, 2018). "You Say Nevada, I Say Nevada…". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
6. ^ Payne, William Orson (1911). History of Story County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. S. J. Clarke publishing Company. p. 357.
7. ^ The Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration for the State of Iowa (1939). Iowa: A Guide to the Hawkeye State. p. 476.
8. ^ "The Nevada Representative". nevada.historyarchives.online. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
9. ^ "Representative Ulysses Sherman Alderman". Iowa General Assembly. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
10. ^ "Story County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
11. ^ "Nevada Evening Journal". nevada.historyarchives.online. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
12. ^ "Evergreen Lane - Nevada, Iowa | Travel Iowa | #ThisIsIowa".
13. ^ "Search".
14. ^ "Historic Nevada joins prestigious Main Street Iowa Program".
15. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
16. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
17. ^ "2020 Census". United States Census Bureau.
18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
20. ^ "City of Nevada website". Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2004.
21. ^ The North Western; pp 231-4; H. Roger Grant; 1996
22. ^ "Nevada Central Elementary".
23. ^ "Nevada Middle School".
24. ^ "Nevada High School".
25. ^ "Nevada Community Resource Center".
26. ^ Tidemann, Michael (March 28, 2017). "Book review: 'Universal Harvester' a literary harvest set in Iowa". Des Moines Register. Estherville, Iowa. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
27. ^ 'Dayton Counytryman-obituary,' Sioux City Journal, September 16, 2011
28. ^ Nelson, Valerie J. (December 16, 2010). "Neva Patterson dies at 90; actress played Cary Grant's fiancee in An Affair to Remember". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
29. ^ "EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT". pubs.lib.uiowa.edu. Retrieved October 22, 2023.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Nevada Community Historical Society, Inc. (2003). Voices from the Past: The Story of Nevada, Iowa, Its Community and Families. Unknown press (Nevada Community Historical Society, Inc., PO Box 213, Nevada, Iowa 50201-0213; 515-382-6684)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nevada, Iowa.

* Iowa portal

* City of Nevada website
* City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Nevada
* "Nevada. A city and the county-seat of Story County, Iowa" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Story County, Iowa, United States

County seat: Nevada

Cities|

* Ames
* Cambridge
* Collins
* Colo
* Gilbert
* Huxley
* Kelley
* Maxwell
* McCallsburg
* Nevada
* Roland
* Sheldahl‡
* Slater
* Story City
* Zearing

Map of Iowa highlighting Story County

Townships|

* Collins
* Franklin
* Grant
* Howard
* Indian Creek
* Lafayette
* Lincoln
* Milford
* Nevada
* New Albany
* Palestine
* Richland
* Sherman
* Union
* Warren
* Washington

Unincorporated
communities|

* Fernald
* Iowa Center

Ghost towns/neighborhoods|

* Ontario

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Iowa portal
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County seats of Iowa

* Adel
* Albia
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* Allison
* Anamosa
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* Audubon
* Bedford
* Bloomfield
* Boone
* Burlington
* Carroll
* Cedar Rapids
* Centerville
* Chariton
* Charles City
* Cherokee
* Clarinda
* Clarion
* Clinton
* Corning
* Corydon
* Council Bluffs
* Cresco
* Creston
* Dakota City
* Davenport
* Decorah
* Denison
* Des Moines
* Dubuque
* Eldora
* Elkader
* Emmetsburg
* Estherville
* Fairfield
* Forest City
* Fort Dodge
* Fort Madison
* Garner
* Glenwood
* Greenfield
* Grundy Center
* Guthrie Center
* Hampton
* Harlan
* Ida Grove
* Independence
* Indianola
* Iowa City
* Jefferson
* Keokuk
* Keosauqua
* Knoxville
* Le Mars
* Leon
* Logan
* Manchester
* Maquoketa
* Marengo
* Marshalltown
* Mason City
* Montezuma
* Mount Ayr
* Mount Pleasant
* Muscatine
* Nevada
* New Hampton
* Newton
* Northwood
* Onawa
* Orange City
* Osage
* Osceola
* Oskaloosa
* Ottumwa
* Pocahontas
* Primghar
* Red Oak
* Rock Rapids
* Rockwell City
* Sac City
* Sibley
* Sidney
* Sigourney
* Sioux City
* Spencer
* Spirit Lake
* Storm Lake
* Tipton
* Toledo
* Vinton
* Wapello
* Washington
* Waterloo
* Waukon
* Waverly
* Webster City
* West Union
* Winterset

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