Fort Dodge, Iowa
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Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, situated on the Des Moines River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 25,136.
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Geography
Fort Dodge is located at 42°30'24" North, 94°10'49" West (42.506803, -94.180271)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 38.4 km² (14.8 mi²). 37.7 km² (14.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.89% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 25,136 people, 10,470 households, and 6,376 families residing in the city. The population density is 666.6/km² (1,726.1/mi²). There are 11,168 housing units at an average density of 296.2/km² (766.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.47% White, 3.79% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 2.94% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 10,470 households out of which 29.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% are married couples living together, 11.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% are non-families. 33.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $33,361, and the median income for a family is $42,555. Males have a median income of $31,253 versus $23,360 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,018. 11.6% of the population and 7.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.2% of those under the age of 18 and 7.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Major industries
The major industries of Fort Dodge are: gypsum and limestone mining, drywall manufacturing, trucking, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and retail.
Gypsum rock is processed into drywall and plaster products at several Fort Dodge manufacturing facilities. Drywall was patented by a Fort Dodge resident, and the gypsum used to create the Cardiff Giant hoax of the late 19th century was mined at Fort Dodge.
Fort Dodge is the home of Fort Dodge Animal Health, a major producer of pharmaceuticals for veterinarians.
At least three major national trucking companies (primarily flatbed carriers serving the drywall industry) are based out of Fort Dodge.
Fort Dodge serves as a retail center for North-Central Iowa.
The Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, 1,250-bed medium security state prison, opened in 1998.
For most of the 20th century, meatpacking was a major industry in Fort Dodge. The last two large meatpacking plants (owned by IBP and Hormel) closed during the 1980s.
Cultural
Cultural Attractions in Fort Dodge are the Fort Museum which has a replica of the Cardiff Giant, which was a fossilized giant humanoid "discovered" at Cardiff, New York that later proved to be a hoax. The Fort Museum is a full scale recreation of a military outpost on the prairie from the 19th century. Also in Fort Dodge is the Blanden Memorial Art Museum, the first museum of art in the state of Iowa. The Blanden, opened June 5, 1932, is renowned as one of the finest small museums in the nation for its extensive permanent collection as well as popular touring exhibits.
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