Arnolds Park, Iowa

Arnolds Park, Iowa
City
Location of Arnolds Park, Iowa Location of Arnolds Park, Iowa
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Dickinson
Area
• Total	1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2)
• Land	1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,424 ft (434 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,126
• Estimate (2012)	1,180
• Density	717.2/sq mi (276.9/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	51331
Area code(s)	712
FIPS code	19-03025
GNIS feature ID	0454240
Website	City of Arnolds Park

Arnolds Park is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,126 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 1,162 population in the 2000 census.

Geography

Arnolds Park is located at (43.365636, -95.129805).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.57 square miles (4.07 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	251		—
1910	273		8.8%
1920	478		75.1%
1930	597		24.9%
1940	855		43.2%
1950	1,078		26.1%
1960	953		−11.6%
1970	970		1.8%
1980	1,051		8.4%
1990	953		−9.3%
2000	1,162		21.9%
2010	1,126		−3.1%
Est. 2014	1,207		7.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,126 people, 590 households, and 334 families residing in the city. The population density was 717.2 inhabitants per square mile (276.9/km²). There were 1,516 housing units at an average density of 965.6 per square mile (372.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.1% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.

There were 590 households of which 11.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.4% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.90 and the average family size was 2.38.

The median age in the city was 56.6 years. 10.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17% were from 25 to 44; 35.4% were from 45 to 64; and 32.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.5% male and 48.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,162 people, 580 households, and 349 families residing in the city. The population density was 896.1 people per square mile (345.1/km²). There were 1,147 housing units at an average density of 884.5 per square mile (340.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.50% White, 0.26% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.

There were 580 households out of which 17.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.50.

In the city the population was spread out with 15.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,441, and the median income for a family was $43,594. Males had a median income of $29,211 versus $20,766 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,072. About 3.9% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

File:Passengers leaving the 'Hiawatha' at Arnold's Park, West Okobji Lake, by Frank F. Roblin 2.jpg

Passengers leaving the 'Hiawatha' at
Arnold's Park on West Okobji Lake (1883)

Arnolds Park is in the center of the Iowa Great Lakes resort region. It is home to a historic amusement park, also called Arnolds Park, which features Legend, An ACE Coaster Landmark. Legend, which carried its first riders in 1927, is believed to be the 13th oldest wooden roller coaster in the U.S. In 2012 the amusement park was selected as one of the fifteen best in the Midwest region by Midwest Living magazine.

Other major landmarks of the city include the Central Emporium shopping mall and the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum and the Iowa Rock'N'Roll Hall of Fame.

Rock "N" Roll has a storied history in the area. The old Roof Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park, on West Lake Okoboji, for example, once attracted the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, the Guess Who and even country music legend, Johnny Cash, according to The Daily Globe, a Worthington, Minnesota-based newspaper. The Coney Island-style dance hall was housed in a two-story wooden structure (a funhouse was located on the first floor).

Before it was destroyed by fire, one musician who played The Garden said BJ Thomas, during a pre-show rehearsal, tossed sheet music, in Burt Bacharach’s own handwriting, to the band so they could rehearse, "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head." Musical magic seemed to happen all the time in Arnolds Park, and a story like this is just another chapter in the endless lore of the Lakes.

Located in Arnolds Park is the Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin Museum, a site of the 1857 "Spirit Lake Massacre", a violent conflict between European settlers and Native Americans. Next to the cabin is the small Pillsbury Point State Park.

Notable people

• Maynard Reece (born 1920) artist, won the Federal Duck Stamp competition a record five times

External links

• Official City Website
• Iowa Great Lakes Region
• City-Data Comprehensive statistical data and more about Arnolds Park