Nora Springs is a city that is partially in Cerro Gordo and Floyd counties in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the 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: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...

, along the

Shell Rock River The Shell Rock River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed May 13, 2011 tributary of the West Fork Cedar River in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in the United States ...

. The population was 1,369 at the time of the 2020 census. The Cerro Gordo County portion of Nora Springs is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Nora Springs was founded in 1857 and was incorporated in 1875. It was first called Woodstock, but community pioneer Edson Gaylord, managed to persuade wealthy pioneer Edward Greeley of nearby Woodbridge (later Nashua) to come to town. Greeley agreed to buy and improve the gristmill, and to purchase 20 acres of land from Gaylord, if the town would change its name from Woodstock to Elnora, in honor of a former lady love from Vermont. Gaylord had wanted the town to be named "Springs" and as a result of a compromise, Woodstock became Elnora Springs, quickly shortened to Nora Springs. Shortly thereafter, Greeley made a trip to Vermont; upon his return, he sold the land back to Gaylord, returned to Woodbridge, and never visited Nora Springs again. At its founding, the town's business district was located near the millpond and nearby gristmill, at the western end of present day Sixth Street NW. Two competing railroads began laying track several blocks to the south; as a result, the downtown gradually moved nearer to the rail lines, and the former business district became known to locals as Old Town. The gristmill went out of business, and stood empty for many years. It was demolished in the late 1950's. The millrace and dam still exist, and in recent years, the city has developed the area into a scenic park. A footbridge over the Shell Rock River dam was constructed in 2019,

Geography

Nora Springs is located at (43.144010, −93.008929). 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. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

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 incl ...

of 2010, there were 1,431 people, 577 households, and 388 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: 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 term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 636 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 99.1%

White White is the 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 reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 0.1%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.2%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.1% 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 0.6% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, 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 Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 1.4% of the population. There were 577 households, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% 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, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 Census

As of the

of 2000, there were 1,532 people, 597 households, and 401 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 629 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 99.54%

, 0.07%

, 0.13% Native American, 0.07% from

, and 0.20% from two or more races.

of any race were 0.85% of the population. There were 597 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were

living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% 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 2.95. 24.0% are under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,926, and the median income for a family was $43,516. Males had a median income of $28,043 versus $21,536 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 $16,246. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% 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 t ...

, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Nora Springs Buffalo Days

The last week of June always marks Nora Springs Buffalo Days. Festivities include a parade, entertainment at Boulder Park such as food vendors, and inflatable rides. Other activities include a 5K Run/Walk and Bingo. At the Fire Department the Fireman's Ball is held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. File:NSBuffaloDays.jpg, Buffalo Days at Boulder Park

Education

Its public schools are operated by the Central Springs Community School District, established on July 1, 2011, by the merger of North Central Community School District and Nora Springs–Rock Falls Community School District. The athletic teams are the Central Springs Panthers. All high school students in the district, grades 9-12, as well as K-3 elementary students from the Plymouth, Manly, and Hanlontown area attend school at the Manly site. Meanwhile, all middle school students, grades 4-8, plus grades K-3 from the Nora Springs and Rock Falls area, plus those from the unincorported community of Portland, attend school at the Nora Springs site. The school colors are black and blue, the mascot being a panther.

Notable people

* Louis Bauman Brethren, minister, writer, and Bible conference speaker, and was born in Nora Springs. * Arthur Gratias, Iowa State Senator, farmer, and educator, was born in Nora Springs. *

John P. Gregg John Parker Gregg (September 14, 1876 – June 11, 1963) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Louisiana State University (LSU) for one season in 1899, compiling a record of 2–4. Gregg gradua ...

LSU college football coach, Wisconsin quarterback, and died in Nora Springs. * Howard B. Rooks, Electrical Engineer, 10 US Patents, born and raised in Nora Springs.
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References

External links

Nora Springs Homepage
Comprehensive statistical data and more about Nora Springs * History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century – Floyd County
{{authority control Cities in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Cities in Floyd County, Iowa Cities in Iowa Mason City, Iowa micropolitan area