Waterloo, Iowa

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Waterloo
City
East Side of Downtown Waterloofrom the West bank of the Cedar River.
East Side of Downtown Waterloo
from the West bank of the Cedar River.
Location in the State of Iowa
Location in the State of Iowa
Waterloo is located in USA
Waterloo
Waterloo
Location in the United States
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country United States
State  Iowa
County Black Hawk
Incorporated 1868
Government
 • Mayor Buck Clark
Area[1]
 • City 63.23 sq mi (163.76 km2)
 • Land 61.39 sq mi (159.00 km2)
 • Water 1.84 sq mi (4.77 km2)
Elevation 883 ft (269 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • City 68,406
 • Estimate (2014[3]) 68,364
 • Rank 6th in Iowa
 • Density 1,113.6/sq mi (430.0/km2)
 • Metro 169,895
Time zone CST (UTC−6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC−5)
ZIP codes 50701-50707
Area code(s) 319
FIPS code 19-82425
GNIS feature ID 468951
Website www.ci.waterloo.ia.us

Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States.[4] As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406;[5] a recent 2014 Census estimates the population at 68,364, making it the sixth-largest city in the state.[3] Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two cities.

History

Waterloo was originally known as Prairie Rapids Crossing. The town was established, according to the original researcher as reported by staff of the Grout Museum in Waterloo, near two Meskwaki American tribal seasonal camps alongside the Cedar River. It was first settled in 1845 when George and Mary Melrose Hanna and their children arrived on the east bank of the Red Cedar River (now just called the Cedar River). They were followed by the Virden and Mullan families in 1846. Evidence of these earliest families can still be found in the street names Hanna Blvd., Mullan Avenue and Virden Creek.

On December 8, 1845 the Iowa State Register and Waterloo Herald was the first newspaper published in Waterloo.[6]

The name "Waterloo" supplanted the original name, "Prairie Rapids Crossing" shortly after Charles Mullan petitioned for a post office in the town. Since the signed petition did not include the name of the proposed post office location, Mullan was charged with selecting the name when he submitted the petition. Tradition has it that as he flipped through a list of other post offices in the United States, he came upon the name "Waterloo." The name struck his fancy, and on December 29, 1851, a post office was established under that name. The town was later called the same, and Mullan served as the first postmaster from December 29, 1851 until August 11, 1854.

There were two extended periods of rapid growth over the next 115 years. From 1895 to 1915, the population increased from 8,490 to 33,097, a 290% increase. From 1925 to 1960, population increased from 36,771 to 71,755. The 1895 to 1915 period was a time of the rapid growth in manufacturing, rail transportation and wholesale operations. During this period the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company moved to Waterloo and shortly after Rath Packing Company moved from Dubuque. Another major employer throughout the first two-thirds of the 20th century was the Illinois Central Railroad. Among the others was the less-successful brass era automobile manufacturer, the Maytag-Mason Motor Company.[7]

On June 7, 1934, bank robber Tommy Carroll had a shoot-out with the FBI when he and his wife stopped to pick up gas. Accidentally parking next to a police car and wasting time dropping his gun and picking it back up, Carroll was forced to flee into an alley where he was shot. Carroll was then taken to Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, where he died shortly after.

Waterloo suffered particularly hard in the agricultural recession of the 1980s, due to the major employers at the time being heavily rooted in agriculture. In particular, John Deere, the area's largest employer, cut 10,000 jobs, and the Rath meatpacking plant closed altogether, losing 2500 jobs. It is estimated Waterloo lost 14% of its population during this time.[8] Today the city enjoys a broader industrial base, as city leaders have sought to diversify the industrial and commercial mix. Deere remains a strong presence in the city, but employs only roughly one-third the number of people it did at its peak.

Flood of 2008

June 12, 2008

June 2008 saw the worst flooding in the Waterloo – Cedar Falls area had ever recorded; other major floods include the Great Flood of 1993. The flood control system constructed in the 1970s–90s largely functioned as designed.

For those areas not protected by the system, the Cedar River poured out of its banks and into parking lots, backyards and across the rich Iowa farmland surrounding the city. Although much damage was done, the larger, downstream city of Cedar Rapids was much harder hit.

An area of the west side of the down-town and an area near the former Rath Packing facility were impacted not directly by water coming from the river but were the result of storm run-off draining towards the river but then being trapped on the backside of the flood levy system. These areas did not have lift stations or alternate pumping capacity sufficient to force this water to the river side of the control system. Areas where lift stations had been constructed (Virden Creek and East 7th Street ) to pump this storm run-off into the swollen river remained largely dry (the east and north sides of down-town). Several areas experienced water seeping into basements due to high water-table levels.

Historical Crests

According to the National Weather Service the ten highest crests of the Cedar River recorded at East 7th Street in downtown Waterloo:[9]

(1) 27.01 ft on June 11, 2008
(2) 21.86 ft on March 29, 1961
(3) 21.67 ft on April 8, 1965
(4) 20.78 ft on July 23, 1999
(5) 20.60 ft on June 2, 1993

(6) 20.54 ft on April 2, 1993
(7) 20.15 ft on June 29, 1969
(8) 20.00 ft on March 16, 1929
(9) 19.50 ft on April 2, 1933
(10) 19.26 ft on March 31, 1962

Crests reported in the 1960s and prior were before completion of major flood control projects and therefore may not be directly comparable.

Geography

Location of Waterloo, Iowa

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 63.23 square miles (163.76 km2), of which, 61.39 square miles (159.00 km2) is land and 1.84 square miles (4.77 km2) is water.[1]

The average elevation of Waterloo is 846 feet above sea level. The population density is 1101 people per square mile, considered low for an urban area.[10]

Climate

Waterloo has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) of extreme summer heat and extreme winter cold, but adequate rainfall and snowfall. Places Rated recognizes Waterloo as having one of the harshest local climates in the United States of America not in a hot desert, Alaska, or a high-mountain location due to seasonal extremes and severe storms. The record low and high temperatures for April (see below) alone allow one to get frostbite and heatstroke in the same month.

Monthly Normal, Record High and Low Temperatures, and precipitation
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Rec High °F 65 (18 °C) 66 (19 °C) 87 (31 °C) 100 (38 °C) 94 (34 °C) 103 (39 °C) 105 (41 °C) 105 (41 °C) 98 (37 °C) 95 (35 °C) 80 (27 °C) 67 (19 °C)
Norm High °F 25.8 (−3.4 °C) 31.9 (−0.1 °C) 45 (7.2 °C) 59.7 (15.3 °C) 72.2 (22.3 °C) 81.7 (27.6 °C) 85 (29.4 °C) 82.8 (28.2 °C) 75.3 (24.1 °C) 62.5 (16.9 °C) 45 (7.2 °C) 30.7 (−0.7 °C)
Norm Low °F 6.3 (−14.3 °C) 13.2 (−10.4 °C) 24.9 (−3.9 °C) 35.8 (2.1 °C) 48.1 (8.9 °C) 58.1 (14.5 °C) 62.2 (16.8 °C) 59.5 (15.3 °C) 49.8 (9.9 °C) 37.8 (3.2 °C) 25.1 (−3.8 °C) 12.5 (−10.8 °C)
Rec Low °F −41 (−41 °C) (−81 (−63 °C) wc) −47 (−44 °C) −34 (−37 °C) −4 (−20 °C) 22 (−6 °C) 38 (3 °C) 42 (6 °C) 38 (3 °C) 22 (−6 °C) 11 (−12 °C) −17 (−27 °C) −29 (−34 °C)
Precip (in) 0.84 (21.3 mm) 1.05 (26.7 mm) 2.13 (54.1 mm) 3.23 (82 mm) 4.15 (105.4 mm) 4.82 (122.4 mm) 4.2 (106.7 mm) 4.08 (103.6 mm) 2.95 (74.9 mm) 2.49 (63.2 mm) 2.1 (53.3 mm) 1.11 (28.2 mm)
Source: USTravelWeather.com[11]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870 4,337 —
1880 5,630 29.8%
1890 6,674 18.5%
1900 12,580 88.5%
1910 26,693 112.2%
1920 36,230 35.7%
1930 46,191 27.5%
1940 51,743 12.0%
1950 65,198 26.0%
1960 71,755 10.1%
1970 75,533 5.3%
1980 75,985 0.6%
1990 66,467 −12.5%
2000 68,747 3.4%
2010 68,406 −0.5%
Est. 2014 68,364 [3] −0.1%
Iowa Data Center

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 68,406 people, 28,607 households and17,233 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,114.3 inhabitants per square mile (430.2/km2). There were 30,723 housing units at an average density of 500.5 per square mile (193.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.3% White, 15.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.6% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.6% of the population.

There were 28,607 households of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.8% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 35.9 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 68,747 people, 28,169 households, and 17,746 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,131.9 inhabitants per square mile (437.0/km2). There were 29,499 housing units at an average density of 485.7 per square mile (187.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 79.2% White, 14.5% African American, 1.1% Asian, 1.9% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 28,169 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.97.

Age spread: 24.7% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.[13]

The median income for a household in the city was $34,092, and the median income for a family was $42,731. Males had a median income of $31,491 versus $22,569 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,558. About 10.0% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Metropolitan area

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of Black Hawk, Bremer, and Grundy counties. The area had a 2000 census population of 163,706 and a 2008 estimated population of 164,220.[14]

Waterloo is next to Cedar Falls, home to the University of Northern Iowa. Small suburbs include Evansdale, Hudson, Raymond, Elk Run Heights, Gilbertville, and Washburn.

The largest employers in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls MSA, according to the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, as of October 2006 include (in order): John Deere, Covenant Medical Center, Tyson Fresh Meats, the University of Northern Iowa, Allen Hospital, Waterloo Community Schools, Omega Cabinets and Bertch Cabinets. The complete list can be found at: http://www.cvedc.com/index_facts.html

Arts and culture

Waterloo Center for the Arts

The Waterloo Center for the Arts (WCA) is a regional center for visual and performance arts. The WCA is owned and operated by the City of Waterloo with oversight by the advisory Waterloo Cultural and Arts Commission. The Center is located at 225 Commercial Street in Waterloo. It is also an anchor for the Waterloo Cultural and Arts District (a State of Iowa designation).[15]

The permanent collection at the WCA includes artwork featuring the largest collection of Haitian Art in the country, Midwest Regionalist Art (including works by Grant Wood & Thomas Hart Benton), Mexican Folk Art, International Folk Art, American Decorative Arts, and Public Art.[15]

President Barack Obama gave a speech here on August 14, 2012 during the 2012 presidential election, which he won on November 6 of that year. Originally scheduled for 7:45 pm, the speech was delayed by about 15 minutes, when the President made an unannounced stop in neighboring Cedar Falls for a beer in a pub.[16][17][18]

The Phelps Youth Pavilion

Included in the WCA is the Phelps Youth Pavilion (PYP) which opened in 2009. The PYP is an interactive children’s museum where art launches a world of wonder, discovery & learning for children and adults. PYP also provides additional gallery and studio space. An outdoor riverfront plaza and amphitheater is scheduled for completion in 2011.[15]

Hope Martin Theatre

The WCA also houses the Waterloo Community Playhouse, the oldest community theatre in Iowa operating since 1916, and the Black Hawk Children's Theatre started in 1982. Both perform in the Hope Martin Theatre which opened in 1965. The theatre's administrative offices are located across the street in the historic Walker Building.[19]

Grout Museum District

Grout Museum District sign Waterloo IA pic1.JPG
Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum (2011)
Rensselaer Russell House (1973)
Snowden House (February 2011)

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See also: Grout Museum

Established in 1932, the district started with an endowment set up in the will of Henry W. Grout.[20] The district is a nonprofit educational entity that is active in engaging the students and all people from the surrounding communities. The district is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.[21]

Grout Museum of History and Science

The first museum which would grow into the museum district was displayed for many years in the building that was the local YMCA. The current building was completed and opened to the public as a not for profit museum in 1956.[21]

Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum

Opened in November 2008 at a cost of $11 million funded in part by a grassroots campaign by average citizens.[21]

Rensselaer Russell House Museum

The Rensselaer Russell House, located at 520 W. 3rd Street in Waterloo, Iowa. Built in 1858, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rensselaer and Caroline Russell built the house utilizing Italianate architecture in 1861 for $5,878.83.[21]

Bluedorn Science Imaginarium

The Carl A. and Peggy J. Bluedorn Science Imaginarium opened in 1993 and provides both interactive exhibits and formal demonstrations in various fields of science.[21]

Snowden House

A two-story brick Victorian era house listed on the National Register of Historic Places was built in 1875. The house was once used as the Waterloo Woman's Club.

Library

Waterloo has one central public library. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, there were 278,431 patron visits resulting in a circulation of 470,486 items. The total collection consisted of 138,540 items. The library's reference services, supported by eight full-time-equivalent librarians, answered 64,308 questions. The library's 78 public access computers provided over 100,000 sessions for patrons.[22]

The library is governed by a board of trustees, nominated by the city mayor and confirmed by the city council: Karol Erdmann, Ivy Hagedorn, Jan Hahn, Kathleen Wernimont and Warren Wortham.[23] The library is directed by Sheryl McGovern, MLS.[24]

The Waterloo Public Library is located in a renovated Great Depression era building that served as a post office and federal building. The building was renovated in the late 1970s for use as a library.[25] In 2011, the Waterloo Public Library celebrates 30 years at its current Commercial Street location.

Two New Deal-funded murals by artist Edgar Britton are on display at the library. "Exposition" is an image of the National Cattle Congress, and "Holiday" is of a picnic."[25]

Government

See also: Waterloo Police Department

Waterloo is administered by the mayor and council system of government. One council member is elected from each of Waterloo's five wards, and two are elected at-large. The current mayor is Buck Clark, his predecessor was Timothy J. Hurley.

Education

Hawkeye Community College is located in Waterloo. Neighboring Cedar Falls is home to the University of Northern Iowa.

The three public high schools in the city are Waterloo West High School, Waterloo East High School, and Expo High School. West's school mascot is the "Wahawk", a contraction of Waterloo and Black Hawk (the city and county names), and its colors are old rose and black. Its most famous alumnus is former amateur wrestler and coach Dan Gable. Its current principal is Dr. Gail Moon.[26] East's school mascot is the "Trojan", a warrior from the ancient city Troy, and its colors are orange and black. Marla Padget is the current principal.[27] Expo is an alternative high school. Its current principal is Brenton Shavers.[28] Waterloo's only private high school is Columbus Catholic High School, which is supported by the Catholic parishes of Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Columbus' mascot is the "Sailor", a connection to the school's namesake Christopher Columbus, and its school colors are green and white. There is also a wide array of elementary and junior high schools in the area, with open enrollment available.

Media

Radio

FM stations
AM stations

Television

Print

Infrastructure

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Transportation

Waterloo is located at the north end of Interstate 380. U.S. Highways 20, 63, and 218 and Iowa Highway 21, also run through the metropolitan area. The Avenue of the Saints runs through Waterloo.

American Airlines provides non-stop air service to and from Chicago from the Waterloo Regional Airport as of April 3, 2012. As of October 27, 2014, American Airlines runs two flights to/from Chicago O'Hare (ORD). Departures to Chicago are early morning and mid/late afternoon. Arrivals are early/mid-afternoon and evening.

Waterloo is served by a metropolitan bus system (MET). MET serves most areas of Cedar Falls and Waterloo. Most routes meet at the central bus station in downtown Waterloo. The system operates Monday – Saturday. During the week the earliest bus is at 5:45 am from downtown Waterloo and the last bus arriving downtown at 6:40 pm. Service is more limited on Saturdays.

Waterloo is served by one daily intercity bus arrival and departure to Chicago and Des Moines. Service is provided by Burlington Trailways. New service to/from Mason City and Minneapolis/St. Paul provided by Jefferson Lines started in the Fall of 2009.[29]

There are currently five taxi operators in Waterloo and Cedar Falls. They are: First Call, Yellow, City Cab, Cedar Valley Cab, and Dolly's Taxi. The Chicago Central railroad runs through Waterloo.

Utilities

The MidAmerican Energy Company supplies the Waterloo residents and businesses with electricity and natural gas. The Waterloo Water Works supplies potable water with a capacity of 50,400,000 GPD (gallons per day) with an average use of 13,400,000 GPD and a peak use of 28,800,000 GPD. News reports indicate that 18.5% of the system's output in 2013, or 851 million gallons, was unaccounted for.[30] Sanitation service (sewage) is operated by the city of Waterloo with a capacity of 36,500,000 GPD and an average use of 14,000,000 GPD.[31]

Healthcare

Waterloo is home to two hospitals, Covenant Medical Center, which has 366 beds, and Allen Memorial Hospital with 234 beds. Neighboring Cedar Falls is home to Sartori Memorial Hospital with 83 beds. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls metropolitan area has 295 physicians, 69 dentists, 52 chiropractors, 24 vision specialists and 21 nursing/retirement homes.[32]

Notable people

The Five Sullivan Brothers

International relations

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the United States

Twin towns – Sister cities

Waterloo, Iowa is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877–1925 (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.93.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-iowa/waterloo-weather.asp
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Vote-2012-President-Obama-Campaigns-in-Waterloo-166204856.html
  17. ↑ http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/iowa/excitement-builds-for-obama-s-waterloo-iowa-appearance/article_04010aa3-1197-5181-94c5-9ff98eb0673f.html
  18. ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/obama-stops-for-just-one-more-beer/
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Waterloo Public Library Annual Report
  23. ↑ http://www.waterloo.lib.ia.us/library-information/library-board
  24. ↑ About the Library Director – Waterloo Public Library
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Waterloo Public Library History and Mission Statement
  26. ↑ http://westhigh.waterloo.k12.ia.us/
  27. ↑ http://easthigh.waterloo.k12.ia.us/
  28. ↑ http://expo.waterloo.k12.ia.us/
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Fox, Margalit. "William M. Birenbaum, College Leader, Dies at 87", The New York Times, October 8, 2010. Accessed October 10, 2010
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Suzanne Stephen biography on the Karlheinz Stockhausen website (Accessed July 10, 2010)
  49. ↑ John R. Satterfield, We Band of Brothers: The Sullivans & World War II (Parkersburg, IA: Mid-Prairie Books, 1995). ISBN 0-931209-58-7
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Historic


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