Shenandoah is a city in

Page Page most commonly refers to: * Page (paper), one side of a leaf of paper, as in a book Page, PAGE, pages, or paging may also refer to: Roles * Page (assistance occupation), a professional occupation * Page (servant), traditionally a young m ...

and Fremont counties in

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 ...

, United States. The population was 4,925 at the time of the

2020 U.S. Census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

. Once referred to as the "seed and nursery center of the world," Shenandoah is the home to Earl May Seed Company and the radio station KMA, founded by Earl E. May. The early live radio stations gave many performers their start, including

The Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers were an American rock duo, known for steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. Consisting of Isaac Donald "Don" Everly (February 1, 1937 – August 21, 2021) and Phillip "Phil" Everly (January 19, 1939 ...

and

Charlie Haden Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than 50 years. In the late 1950s, he was an original member of the ground-breaking ...

History

Shenandoah, originally known as Fair Oaks, was

plat In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Surveys to show the distance and bear ...

ted in 1870, shortly after the arrival of the

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington Route, the Burlington, or as the Q, it operated extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illin ...

into the neighborhood. Its name is derived from the local valley's resemblance to the

Shenandoah Valley The Shenandoah Valley () is a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge- ...

, in Virginia.

Geography

Shenandoah is located at (40.762251, -95.370945) along Fourmile Creek near its confluence with the East Nishnabotna River. 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 , all of it land.

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 5,150 people, 2,310 households, and 1,366 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,611 housing units at an average density of . The

racial makeup A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...

of the city was 96.4% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0%. Of the 2,310 households 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 37.0% of households were one person and 19% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 44.4 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 23% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 5,546 people, 2,421 households, and 1,486 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,645 housing units at an average density of . The

of the city was 97.91% White, 0.11% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72%. Of the 2,421 households 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.2% of households were one person and 17.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84. Age spread: 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males. The median household income was $29,435 and the median family income was $39,110. Males had a median income of $31,657 versus $18,588 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,301. About 11.0% of families and 15.4% 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 26.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Tarkio Sloths

Recent excavations of at least three Jefferson's

ground sloth Ground sloths are a diverse group of extinct sloths in the mammalian superorder Xenarthra. The term is used to refer to all extinct sloths because of the large size of the earliest forms discovered, compared to existing tree sloths. The Caribbe ...

s, ''

Megalonyx jeffersonii ''Megalonyx'' (Greek, "large claw") is an extinct genus of ground sloths of the family Megalonychidae, native to North America during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. It became extinct during the Quaternary extinction event at the end of the ...

'', have been coordinated by the Iowa Museum of Natural History along West Tarkio Creek near Shenandoah.

Minor league baseball

Shenandoah was home to minor league baseball. The Shenandoah Pin Rollers played as members of the Class D level Southwest Iowa League in 1903 and

Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League, known informally as the "MINK" League, was a Class D (baseball), Class D level minor league baseball league that played from 1910 to 1913. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League consisted o ...

(MINK) in 1910 and 1911.

Media

The Valley News is Shenandoah's community newspaper. Published twice weekly and distributed to homes throughout Page and Fremont Counties, the Valley News is the community's oldest continually-operated business. Its predecessors include the award-winning Evening Sentinel. Its website can be found a
valleynewstoday.com
The radio stations KMA AM and KFNF were early pioneering radio stations attracting listeners throughout the Mid-West and drawing thousands of visitors to the city in the 1920s. The radio station

KMA-FM KMA-FM (99.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a talk radio format as a simulcast of KMA, Shenandoah, Iowa. Licensed to Clarinda, Iowa, United States, the station is currently owned by KMAland Broadcasting, LLC History What is today KMA-FM w ...

99.1 is in the same complex as KMA. Both stations share a simulcast, except for sporting events and other special programming.

Education

Shenandoah Community School District Operates Public Schools Iowa Western Community College Shenandoah Campus

Notable people

* James Ross Lightfoot, US Congressman (1938-Present) *

Phil Everly The Everly Brothers were an American rock music, rock duo, known for steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. Consisting of Isaac Donald "Don" Everly (February 1, 1937 – August 21, 2021) and Phillip "Phil" Everly (Januar ...

, rock musician (1937-2014) *

, jazz musician (1937-2014) *

Gary Kellgren Gary Kellgren (April 7, 1939 – July 20, 1977) was an American audio engineer and co-founder of The Record Plant recording studios, along with businessman Chris Stone. Career Engineering Kellgren was a successful and well respected audio en ...

, founder of The Record Plant (

Record Plant Studios The Record Plant is a recording studio established in New York City in 1968 and currently operating in Los Angeles, California. Known for innovations in the recording artists' workspace, it has produced highly influential albums, including Blon ...

) (1939-1977) *

Leanna Field Driftmier Leanna Field Driftmier (1886–1976) was an American radio personality and writer based in Shenandoah, Iowa. Driftmier’s daily 30-minute show ''Kitchen-Klatter'' was broadcast around the midwestern United States for five decades. It was the longes ...

, long-time radio host (1886–1976) *

Derryl McLaren Derryl J. McLaren (born March 22, 1949) is an American politician in the state of Iowa. McLaren was born in Shenandoah, Iowa. He attended Iowa State University and is a farmer. He served Iowa Senate from 1991 to 2001, as a Republican (47th distri ...

, Iowa state legislator and politician (1949-Present) *

Agnes Samuelson Agnes Mathilda Samuelson (April 14, 1887May 12, 1963) was an American educator and a state superintendent in public schools. She worked to provide equal education for all students in Iowa. She was posthumously inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall ...

, educator (1887-1963) *

Jay Scheib Jay Scheib (born October 6, 1969) is an American stage director, playwright and artist, noted for his contemporary productions of both classical and new plays and operas. Scheib is a Professor for Music and Theater Arts and director of the Progra ...

, theatre director (1969-Present) *

Jessie Field Shambaugh Celestia Josephine "Jessie" Field Shambaugh (21 June 1881 – 15 January 1971) was an American educator and activist known as the "Mother of 4-H Clubs."Longden, TomFamous Iowans: Jessie Field Shambaugh.''Des Moines Register'' Life and career Jess ...

, founder of 4-H (1881-1971) * Willie Leacox,

America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Drummer (1947-2022)
Earl Ernest May
founder of KMA radio an
Earl May Nursery & Garden Center
(1890-1946)
Henry Arms Field
founder of Henry Field Nursey and

KFNF KFNF (101.1 FM, "Today's Best Country") is a radio station licensed to serve Oberlin, Kansas.The station is owned by Armada Media Corporation and licensed to Armada Media - McCook, Inc. It airs a Country A country is a distinct part of th ...

Radio, (1872-1949) *

Bernie Masterson Bernard Edward Masterson (August 10, 1911 – May 16, 1963) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1946 to 1947, compiling a record of 5–13. Masterson played ...

, Former

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...

coach, (1911-1963) *

Chip Duncan Chip Duncan (born January 3, 1955) is an American filmmaker, author and photographer, known principally for documentaries on history, current affairs, travel, and natural history. He is also president of Duncan Group, Inc., a production company an ...

, American Filmmaker (1955-Present) *

Willis Glassgow Willis Allen "Bill" Glassgow (April 21, 1907 – November 1, 1959) graduated from Shenandoah Iowa high school. Willis was an American football player and attorney. He played halfback for the University of Iowa from 1927 to 1929, was selected ...

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

player and attorney, He played two seasons of professional football in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

for the

Portsmouth Spartans The professional American football team now known as the Detroit Lions previously played in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans, from its founding in 1928 to its relocation to Detroit in 1934. Originally drawing players from defunct indepe ...

in 1930 and the

Chicago Cardinals The professional American football team now known as the Arizona Cardinals previously played in Chicago, Illinois, as the Chicago Cardinals from 1898 to 1959 before relocating to St. Louis, Missouri, for the 1960 through 1987 seasons. Roots ca ...

in 1931 (1907-1959) * Michael J. O'Brien, American politician in the state of

, (1939-Present) * James Pearson, Popular radio preacher of

radio, (1873-1950)

References

External links

Shenandoah's Chamber of Commerce Homepage

Shenandoah Chamber of Industry Homepage

The Valley News
Shenandoah and world news
KMA
News and radio {{authority control Cities in Iowa Cities in Fremont County, Iowa Cities in Page County, Iowa