Chelsea is a city in

Tama County Tama County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,135. Its county seat is Toledo. The county was formed on February 17, 1843 and named for Taimah, a leader of the Meskwaki Indians. Geog ...

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. The population was 229 at the 2020 census. The city is located in the

Iowa River The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about longU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed May 13, 2011 and ...

Valley and has suffered severe damage in several floods.

History

A post office was established as Chelsea in 1862. Chelsea was laid out in 1863, and it was incorporated in 1878. It was named after

Chelsea, Massachusetts Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. As of the 2020 census, Chelsea had a population of 40,787. With a total area of just 2.46 square miles, Chelsea is the ...

Geography

Set in the floodplain of the

Valley, Chelsea is surrounded by hills that are partially forested. 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 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 inc ...

of 2010, there were 267 people, 94 households, and 60 families living 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 RosenberPopu ...

was . There were 111 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 79.0%

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 ...

, 3.4% Native American, 17.2% 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 0.4% 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 34.1% of the population. There were 94 households, of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% 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 ...

living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.70. The median age in the city was 30.8 years. 29.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 20.9% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.7% male and 48.3% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 287 people, 98 households, and 70 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 113 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 74.56%

, 0.35% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 22.30% from

, and 2.09% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 31.36% of the population. There were 98 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were

living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.52. 35.2% are under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $30,625, and the median income for a family was $36,750. Males had a median income of $28,854 versus $24,000 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 $13,608. About 14.1% of families and 19.5% 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 26.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 4.5% of those 65 or over.

Education

Chelsea is within the

South Tama County Community School District South Tama County Community School District (STC) is a rural public school district headquartered in Tama, Iowa. Service area The district has a total of of area. Almost all of the district is in Tama County while a small portion is in Powes ...

References

{{authority control Cities in Iowa Cities in Tama County, Iowa 1863 establishments in Iowa