Independence, Iowa
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Independence is a city located in Buchanan County, Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,014. It is the county seat of Buchanan CountyTemplate:GR.
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Geography
Independence is located at 42°28'13" North, 91°53'38" West (42.470191, -91.893898)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.9 km² (3.8 mi²). 9.6 km² (3.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.39% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 6,014 people, 2,432 households, and 1,588 families residing in the city. The population density is 625.9/km² (1,621.8/mi²). There are 2,610 housing units at an average density of 271.6/km² (703.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 97.97% White, 0.28% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,432 households out of which 30.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% are married couples living together, 9.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% are non-families. 30.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.35 and the average family size is 2.93.
In the city the population is spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,554, and the median income for a family is $45,951. Males have a median income of $31,161 versus $21,597 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,683. 7.0% of the population and 5.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.5% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
Independence was founded in 1847 near the center of present-day Buchanan County. The original town plat was a simple nine-block grid on the east side of the Wapsipinicon River. The town was founded as an alternative to Quasqueton (then called Quasequetuk), which was the county seat prior to 1847. The village of Independence had fewer than 15 persons when the county seat was transferred there.
On the west side of the Wapsipinicon a six story grist mill was built. The New Haven Mill operated for decades, and still stands on this site. In 1864 Independence was incorporated. The growing town quickly enveloped neighboring New Haven, a village which had grown up along the west bank of the river.
A courthouse was built in 1857. For a short while (1890-1894), Independence was a horse-racing town. Several large hostelries, including the Gedney Hotel, soon sprouted. The famous horses Allerton and Axtell were bred at Independence. The burgeoning community was soon home to mansions, churches, and even a trolley-car service. It is claimed Independence was known as the "Lexington of the North". A financial panic in 1893 led to the closing of the race-track. Today the site of the race track is a corn field.
The town lost most of its importance when the railroad terminus at Independence was pushed further west to Waterloo. The north-south railroad tracks were pulled up; the Reynolds Mansion was converted to the Iowa Insane Asylum; and the giant grist mill was converted to a (somewhat crumbling) museum, the upper floors off-limits to visitors due to structural damage.
The current courthouse was built in 1938.