Lake City is a city in Calhoun County,

Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...

, United States, founded in 1856. The population was 1,731 at the time of the 2020 census. The sign coming into town proudly proclaims that Lake City has "Everything but a Lake."

History

Lake City was founded in 1856. Lake City took its name from Lake Creek. The town experienced growth with the advent of the railroad in 1881. On June 9, 1954, the city was struck by an F4 tornado, killing one. On July 14, 2021, the city was struck by an EF3 tornado.

Geography

Lake City is located at (42.268646, −94.735699). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy An economy is an area of th ...

, the city has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2010, there were 1,727 people, 757 households, and 451 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was . There were 846 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.4%

White White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...

, 0.2%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 0.7% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population. There were 757 households, of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. Of all households 37.1% were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age in the city was 49.1 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.7% were from 45 to 64; and 26.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 1,787 people, 779 households, and 468 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 874 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.88%

, 0.06%

, 0.06% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.11% from

, and 0.67% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population. There were 779 households, out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were

living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. Of all households 36.2% were made up of individuals, and 22.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.85. 22.6% were under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,000, and the median income for a family was $37,941. Males had a median income of $27,128 versus $18,477 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $14,969. About 8.9% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Dobson Pipe Organ Builders Dobson Pipe Organ Builders is a manufacturer of pipe organs based in Lake City, Iowa. The company was founded in 1974 by Iowa native Lynn A. Dobson, who served as President and Artistic Director until his retirement in February, 2020, when long-t ...

, which manufacturers and restores

pipe organ The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air (called ''wind'') through the organ pipes selected from a keyboard. Because each pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ''rank ...

s, is located in Lake City. Lake City also has many small businesses, including a hardware store, fitness center, restaurants, shopping and a theatre. Stewart Memorial Community Hospital, a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, is the largest employer in Lake City with 291 employees.

Education

Lake City is within the

South Central Calhoun Community School District South Central Calhoun Community School District is a school district headquartered inside South Central Calhoun Middle School in Rockwell City, Iowa.South Central Calhoun
"

Iowa Department of Education The Iowa Department of Education sets the standards for all public institutions of education in Iowa and accredits private as well as public schools Public school may refer to: *State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee s ...

. Retrieved on July 18, 2018. It was a part of the Lake City Community School District until July 1, 1993, when it merged into the Southern Cal Community School District, which, in turn, merged into South Central Calhoun on July 1, 2014.REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66
"

. Retrieved on July 20, 2018. In 2007, the Southern Cal district closed the Lincoln Elementary School building and later sold it for $22,000 to a private individual.

References

External links

City website

Graphic-Advocate Newspaper
{{authority control Cities in Calhoun County, Iowa Cities in Iowa Populated places established in 1856