Marengo, Iowa
Town
Iowa County Courthouse
Iowa County Courthouse
Motto: 
"Our town make it yours"
Location of Marengo, Iowa
Location of Marengo, Iowa
Coordinates: 41°47′50″N 92°4′10″W / 41.79722°N 92.06944°W / 41.79722; -92.06944
Country United States
State Iowa
CountyIowa
Area
[1]
 • Total2.18 sq mi (5.64 km2)
 • Land2.12 sq mi (5.48 km2)
 • Water0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation
738 ft (225 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,435
 • Density1,151.30/sq mi (444.47/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
52301
Area code319
FIPS code19-49395
GNIS feature ID0458801
Websitewww.marengoiowa.com

Marengo is a town in and the county seat of Iowa County, Iowa, United States.[2] It has served as the county seat since August 1845, even though it was not incorporated until July 1859.[3] The population was 2,435 in the 2020 census, a decline from 2,535 in 2000.[4]

History

Marengo was laid out in 1845 and platted in 1847.[5] The city's name commemorates the Battle of Marengo, where Napoleon defeated the Austrian army.[6]

The Iowa County Courthouse, built in 1893, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Underground Railroad

In 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a group of escaped slaves from Missouri to Michigan. On February 20, the group stayed at the Draper B. Reynolds Farm 1.5 miles south of Marengo.[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.14 square miles (5.54 km2), of which 2.08 square miles (5.39 km2) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) is water.[8]

The Iowa River passes north of town.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
185050—
18701,693—
18801,7382.7%
18901,710−1.6%
19002,00717.4%
19101,786−11.0%
19202,04814.7%
19302,1123.1%
19402,2607.0%
19502,151−4.8%
19602,2645.3%
19702,235−1.3%
19802,3083.3%
19902,270−1.6%
20002,53511.7%
20102,528−0.3%
20202,435−3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9][4]

2010 census

As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 2,528 people, 1,059 households, and 648 families living in the city. The population density was 1,215.4 inhabitants per square mile (469.3/km2). There were 1,154 housing units at an average density of 554.8 per square mile (214.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.3% White, 0.6% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

There were 1,059 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.8% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 41 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

Sign entering Marengo

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 2,535 people, 1,057 households, and 658 families living in the city. The population density was 1,210.5 inhabitants per square mile (467.4/km2). There were 1,135 housing units at an average density of 542.0 per square mile (209.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.11% White, 0.28% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.

There were 1,057 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.98.

Age spread: 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,509, and the median income for a family was $47,153. Males had a median income of $32,986 versus $21,401 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,425. About 6.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Library

Marengo Public Library

The Marengo Public Library is a Carnegie library, constructed in 1904–1905. Marengo is believed to be the smallest town in the United States to have received a donation from Andrew Carnegie for the construction of a library. The Library completed a renovation and addition in May 2007.[12]

Pioneer Heritage Museum

The Iowa County Historical Society operates the Pioneer Heritage Museum, located at 675 East South St., Marengo. The museum houses two log cabins and a farmhouse, relocated from other sites in the area; and displays of farm implements, household artifacts, clothing and military history items from local residents.

Pioneer Heritage Museum - 1861 Log Cabin

It has a Chicago Rock Island RR depot relocated from Victor, Iowa and a 1930s filling station relocated from Hartwick, Iowa.[13]

Pioneer Heritage Museum - Sinclair Station

Rolle Bolle Courts

Marengo's Rolle Bolle courts are located at the intersection of Marengo Avenue and E May Street, Marengo.

Rolle Bolle Courts, Marengo, Iowa

The traditional yard game (known as krulbollen in Belgium) was brought to the area by Belgian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[14] It is played by many local residents as well as by people in the neighboring towns of Victor, Clutier, Belle Plaine, Ladora, and Blairstown.

Education

Local public schools in Marengo include Iowa Valley Elementary School and Iowa Valley Junior Senior High School, part of the Iowa Valley Community School District. The Iowa Valley Junior High and High School teams are the Tigers.

The Iowa Valley Tigers were the dominant 1985 State Champions in Track and Field for Class 2A, winning 45 points over the second place team's 31.50.[15] This included Matt Zuber's Class 2A records in the long jump (24'-3") and the 110 meter high hurdles (14.1 sec).[16]

Notable people


See also

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Marengo Sesquicentennial - History Archived 2009-10-04 at the Wayback Machine, accessed September 2, 2008.
  4. 1 2 "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ The History of Iowa County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Union Historical Company. 1881. pp. 490–491.
  6. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 199.
  7. ↑ "Iowa and the Underground Railroad" (PDF). State Historical Society of Iowa. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  8. ↑ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ↑ Marengo, Iowa, homepage (archived), City of Marengo. Accessed 2008-06-09.
  13. ↑ Iowa County Historical Society
  14. ↑ Amato, Joseph Anthony. (1990). Servants of the land : God, family, and farm: the trinity of Belgian economic folkways in southwestern Minnesota. Longmont, Colo.: Crossings Press. ISBN 0-9614119-2-9. OCLC 24039158.
  15. ↑ ALL-TIME STATE TEAM TRACK CHAMPIONS & RUNNERS-UP, Iowa High School Athletic Association, 2008-06-02. Accessed 2008-06-09.
  16. ↑ State Meet Record Information, Iowa High School Athletic Association, 2008-06-02. Accessed 2008-06-09.
  17. ↑ Cliff Clevenger Member of House for 20 years
  18. ↑ "Cindy Gerard - www.cindygerard.com - Romance Suspense Author". Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  19. ↑ Angela R. Collins; Lynn M. Alex; Cynthia Peterson; David Benn; Leah Rogers; John Doershuk (July 2012). "Archaeology on the Road" (PDF). Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 1, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
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