Le Mars is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

Plymouth County, Iowa Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,698. The county seat is Le Mars. Plymouth County was named after Plymouth, Massachusetts. Plymouth County is part of the Sioux Cit ...

, United States. It is located on the Floyd River northeast of

Sioux City Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Iowa. The bulk of the city is in Woodbury County ...

. The population was 10,571 at the time of the 2020 census. Le Mars is part of the

Sioux City metropolitan area The Sioux City metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in three states – Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, anchored by the city of Sioux City, Iowa. As of the 2010 c ...

History

Le Mars is the home of Wells Enterprises, Inc., world's largest producer of

ice cream Ice cream is a sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert. It may be made from milk or cream and is flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit such as ...

novelties in one location and is the "Ice Cream Capital of the World". Le Mars was platted in 1869, but no lots were sold until the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company, a subsidiary of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad (later part of the

Illinois Central Railroad The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, was a railroad in the Central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois, with New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. A line al ...

), completed its trackage from Le Mars southwardly to Sioux City in 1870. Railroad magnate

John I. Blair John Insley Blair (August 22, 1802 – December 2, 1899) was an American entrepreneur, railroad magnate, philanthropist and one of the 19th century's wealthiest men. Early life John Insley Blair was born at Foul Rift in White Township, New Jers ...

hosted an excursion to the new town, which was then called St. Paul Junction because of its 1871 connection to St. Paul on the nascent Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad. Blair asked the women in the party to name the town, and they submitted an acronym based upon their first names' initials: Lucy Ford and Laura Walker, Ellen Cleghorn or Elizabeth Underhill, Martha Weare and Mary Weare, Adeline Swain, Rebecca Smith and Sarah Reynolds. (Note that some letters represent more than one person.) There was some subsequent uncertainty about who the women of the acronym actually were. For example, th
city's web page
contains a somewhat different list. In 1885, Frederick Brooke Close, a young Englishman who had passed up attending

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

to live in Iowa, founded the Northwestern Polo League in Le Mars.Horace A. Laffaye, ''Polo in Britain: A History'', Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2012, p. 70 Le Mars sign

During the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

in 1933, at a time when banks were foreclosing on many farmers, Le Mars caught the attention of the nation when "over five hundred farmers crowded the court room in Le Mars", according to an account by historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. The farmers were there to demand that Judge Charles C. Bradley suspend foreclosure proceedings until recently passed laws could be considered. Judge Bradley refused. One farmer remarked that the court room wasn't his alone, that farmers had paid for it with their taxes. The crowd rushed the judge, slapped him, and placed a rope around his neck and a hub cap on his head. They did not, however lynch him. President George W. Bush came to Le Mars on November 3, 2006, to campaign for Jim Nussle, then candidate for Iowa governor, as well as Rep. Steve King. He spoke at Le Mars Community High School to a crowd of over 2500 people. Le Mars is a popular stop for presidential candidates as they make their way across caucus-famous Iowa, and has been visited by nearly every presidential candidate over the past several elections including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, John McCain, etc.

Wells Enterprises

In 1925, Fred H. Wells Jr. and his sons had opened an ice cream manufacturing plant there. However, the plant (and the Wells name) was purchased by Fairmount Ice Cream in 1928. In 1935, Fred and his sons sought to begin selling ice cream again, but could no longer use their name. They therefore sponsored a “Name That Ice Cream” contest in the ''

Sioux City Journal The ''Sioux City Journal'' is the daily newspaper and website of Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1864, the publication now covers northwestern Iowa and portions of Nebraska and South Dakota. The Journal has won numerous state, regional and nation ...

''. The winner of the $25 prize suggested "Blue Bunny" because his son had enjoyed seeing blue bunnies in department store windows at

Easter Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samue ...

. Dominating the skyline of present-day Le Mars is Wells' Blue Bunny Dairy's plant with a 12-story tall refrigeration tower called the "South Ice Cream Plant" – so-named because it is on the south side of town. As of 2005, the plant employed 1,000 and produces 75 million gallons of frozen treats, the milk coming mainly coming from three large Iowa dairy farms. The size of this plant has led to speculation that the company is the world's largest family-owned and managed dairy processor and the world's largest manufacturer of ice cream in one location, with Le Mars claiming to be the "Ice Cream Capital of the World". Wells is best known for its various sweet products, including Blue Bunny, Bomb Pop, Blue Ribbon, and Chilly Cow. To showcase its sweet treats, Le Mars has an ice cream parlor, which was remodeled in 2019, and includes an old fashioned ice cream serving station, museum displays, roof-top seating, and gift shop. The ice cream parlor in Le Mars is one of the largest tourist attractions in the state of Iowa. Le Mars hosts an annual celebration "Ice Cream Days" every year in late June which includes many activities such as ice cream socials, concerts, art exhibitions, parades, and more.

Geography

Le Mars is located at (42.788799, −96.165944). 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 , of which is land and is water.

Climate

Demographics

Le Mars is a part of the

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 2015, there were 9,436 people, 4,013 households, and 2,593 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 RosenberPopu ...

was . There were 4,220 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 92.5%

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 ...

, 0.5%

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 ...

, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 2.9% from other races, and 1.3% 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 5.4% of the population. There were 4,013 households, of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% 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 3.00. The median age in the city was 39.2 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 9,237 people, 3,640 households, and 2,453 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,818 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.24%

, 0.45%

, 0.16% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.09%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.94% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 2.44% of the population. There were 3,640 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were

living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.05. Age spread: 27.2% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $38,892, and the median income for a family was $47,409. Males had a median income of $35,936 versus $21,757 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 $19,598. About 4.5% of families and 6.2% 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 7.0% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Le Mars is home to two educational institutions, one public and one private.

Le Mars Community School District

Le Mars Community School District The Le Mars Community School District, or Le Mars Community Schools, is a rural public school district headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa. The school district, entirely in Plymouth County, provides education for students living in Le Mars, Brun ...

is the public school serving over 2,000 students grades PK–12. Le Mars Community, known locally as "Community", has a mascot of a bulldog. Le Mars was a member of the

Lakes Conference The Lakes Conference is a high school athletic conference whose members are located in mid-sized cities in northwest Iowa. Most of the schools are located in their respective county seats. Member schools The conference's current lineup consi ...

until July 2019, when it switched to the

Missouri River Conference The Missouri River Activities Conference (also called MRAC) is a high school athletic and activities conference whose members are located in either the Sioux City Metropolitan Area or the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area, both located al ...

Elementary

* Clark Elementary School (K–5) * Franklin Elementary School (K–5) * Kluckhohn Elementary School (K–5)

Middle school

* Le Mars Community Middle School (6–8)

High school

* Le Mars Community High School (9–12)

Alternative education

* Individualized Learning Center

Gehlen Catholic Schools

Gehlen Catholic is a private school associated with the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City ( la, Diœcesis Siopolitanensis) is the Roman Catholic diocese for the northwestern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States. It is a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The cathedral ...

serving over 350 students in grades PK–12. Gehlen Catholic's mascot is a jay. Gehlen Catholic is a member of the

War Eagle Conference The War Eagle Conference is a 11-team high school athletic conference in Northwest Iowa. The schools are classified as 1A and 2A, the two smallest classes in Iowa. The conference is widely recognized as one of the best small school baseball confe ...

Elementary

* Gehlen Catholic Elementary School

Middle School

* Gehlen Catholic Middle School

High school

* Gehlen Catholic High School

Westmar University

Westmar University Westmar University was a private four-year liberal arts college in Le Mars, Iowa, United States. It permanently closed on November 21, 1997. Westmar University was founded in 1887 as the Northwestern Normal School and Business College by Jacob ...

was a private four-year

liberal arts college A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on undergraduate study in liberal arts and sciences. Such colleges aim to impart a broad general knowledge and develop general intellectual ca ...

in Le Mars. It permanently closed on November 21, 1997.

Transportation

Airports

Le Mars Municipal Airport is owned by the city of Le Mars and located two nautical miles (3.7 km) southwest of its

central business district A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides with the "city ...

Major roads

* U.S. Route 75 runs north–south through the city of Le Mars. *

Iowa State Highway 3 Iowa Highway 3 (Iowa 3) is a state highway that runs from east to west across the state of Iowa. It is the longest state highway in Iowa, at long. Iowa 3 begins at the South Dakota state line where it continues as South Dakota Hi ...

runs east–west through the city of Le Mars. *

Iowa State Highway 60 Iowa Highway 60 (Iowa 60) is a north–south state highway in northwest Iowa. The highway runs at a southwest-to-northeast angle. The southern end of Iowa Highway 60 is near Le Mars at a freeway interchange with U.S. Highway 75 and U.S. Hi ...

begins on the north edge of Le Mars and continues northeast to the

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...

border.

Notable places

* Archie's Waeside is a steakhouse restaurant known across the nation for its dry-aged beef steaks and impressive wine list. Archie's was named the 2nd best steak house in America by Rachel Ray Magazine. In 2015, Archie's Waeside was awarded the James Beard Foundation's 2015 America's Classics Awards. Archies has won many other awards from various culinary-focused organizations. * The Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor is located in downtown Le Mars. It was remodeled inside and out in 2018–2019. It offers an old-fashioned serving station, seating, interactive displays, roof-top seating, party room, and gift shop. According to their website, "you can expect nothing less than a tasty, interactive experience—with lots of ice cream, of course!" The Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iowa. * Bob's Drive Inn is a popular local restaurant serving classic taverns and hotdogs, among other iconic "drive in" items. Bob's Drive Inn has won many awards, including "Best Hot Dog in Iowa" by People's Magazine. Due to Bob's Drive Inn's success locally, another location was opened in Arnolds Park, Iowa, a popular summer destination on Lake Okoboji. * Plymouth County Courthouse * St. George's Episcopal Church *

Tonsfeldt Round Barn The Tonsfeldt Round Barn is a historic building located on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa, United States. It was built in 1918 to house H.P. Tonsfeldt's purebread Polled Hereford cattle, and prize bull, on his farm west of the c ...

, listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

A private four-year

that permanently closed on November 21, 1997. * Wells Enterprises *

Le Mars Public Library Le Mars Public Library is located in Le Mars, Iowa. It is the largest library in Plymouth County and has been in operation since 1876. History The library was created by a group of citizens on the evening of March 11, 1876. Their first meeting ...

Plymouth Roller Milling Company The defunct Plymouth Roller Milling Company was known as one of the largest mills in Iowa and was located in Le Mars, Iowa within Plymouth County. History Frank W. Burns was born in Milford, New Hampshire in 1844. Burn enlisted in the American Ci ...

Notable people

Clarence E. Coe Clarence Elliot Coe (January 23, 1873 – September 5, 1943) was one of the first settlers and farmers in Palms, California, and a member of the Los Angeles Police Commission from 1929 to 1931 and of the Los Angeles City Council from 1931 to 1933. ...

, pioneer of

Palms, California Palms (originally "The Palms") is a community in the Westside region of Los Angeles, California, founded in 1886 and the oldest neighborhood annexed to the city, in 1915. The 1886 tract was marketed as an agricultural and vacation community ...

and member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council, born in Le Mars * Bruce Dreckman, umpire in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...

Albert W. Durley Albert Williamson Durley (October 15, 1841 – March 12, 1914) was an American politician and lawyer. Born in Hennepin, Illinois, Durley studied at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and at Yale University. He then taught school in Illinois ...

, Wisconsin State Assemblyman and lawyer *

Loyal M. Haynes Loyal M. Haynes was a brigadier general in the United States Army and the commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division Artillery (United States) during the Korean War. Haynes was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Meda ...

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointe ...

in U.S. Army, commanding general of 2nd Division Artillery Unit in Korean War and survivor of the

1946 C-53 Skytrooper crash on the Gauli Glacier The C-53 Crash on the Gauli Glacier in the Bernese Alps, (Switzerland) on 19 November 1946 was a turning point in alpine rescue and an international media event. The aircraft, coming from Tulln, Austria (near Vienna), bound for Pisa, Italy, c ...

John Gregory Kelly John Gregory Kelly (born February 15, 1956) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Dallas in Texas since 2016. Biography Born in Le Mars, Iowa, Kelly attended Holy Trinity Semin ...

, Roman Catholic bishop *

Clyde Kluckhohn Clyde Kluckhohn (; January 11, 1905 in Le Mars, Iowa – July 28, 1960 near Santa Fe, New Mexico), was an American anthropologist and social theorist, best known for his long-term ethnographic work among the Navajo and his contributions to the ...

, Harvard professor in Social Anthropology, born in Le Mars * Keith Knudsen, drummer for the Doobie Brothers * Jim Nicholson, former Secretary of Veteran Affairs and Republican Party Chairman *

Donald Paulin Donald J. Paulin (born October 29, 1933) was an American politician and businessman. Born in Plymouth County, Iowa, Paulin graduated from Union Consolidated High School. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He went to Westm ...

, Iowa state legislator, mayor of Le Mars, and businessman *

Nancy Jo Powell Nancy Jo Powell (born 1947, Cedar Falls, Iowa) was the United States Ambassador to India from April 2012 to May 2014. Powell was Director General of the United States Foreign Service, a position she assumed after serving as the U.S. Ambassado ...

, former United States ambassador *

Paul Rust Paul Robert Rust (born April 12, 1981) is an American actor, comedian and writer. He starred in the 2009 film ''I Love You, Beth Cooper'' and in the Netflix series '' Love''. Early life Rust was born in Le Mars, Iowa, the son of Jeanne and Bob ...

, star of ''

I Love You, Beth Cooper ''I Love You, Beth Cooper'' is a comedy novel written by former ''Simpsons'' writer Larry Doyle. ''I Love You, Beth Cooper'' follows a high school graduate who confesses his love for a cheerleader during his valedictorian speech. The novel was m ...

'' and Love (TV series) *

Roger C. Schultz Roger C. Schultz (born October 13, 1945) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as director of the Army National Guard. Early life Roger Charles Schultz was born in Le Mars, Iowa on October 13, 1945. He graduated from Le ...

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on th ...

and Director of the

Army National Guard The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized militia force and a federal military reserve force of the United States Army. They are simultaneously part of two different organizations: the Army N ...

* John Spenkelink, first person involuntarily executed in the United States after the re-introduction of the death penalty *

Charles A. Spring Charles A. Spring (July 25, 1800 – January 17, 1892) was an American merchant and religious leader. He had a profound impact on Presbyterianism in the Northwest Territory, helping to establish at least six churches in Iowa and Illinois, a ...

, influential Presbyterian, son of Revolutionary War chaplain Samuel Spring *

Thomas Starzl Thomas Earl Starzl (March 11, 1926 – March 4, 2017) was an American physician, researcher, and expert on organ transplants. He performed the first human liver transplants, and has often been referred to as "the father of modern transplantatio ...

, innovator in

organ transplant Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and placed in the body of a recipient, to replace a damaged or missing organ. The donor and recipient may be at the same location, or organs may be transpor ...

surgery *

Isaac S. Struble Isaac Sterling "Ike" Struble (November 3, 1843 – February 17, 1913) was an American politician who was a four-term Republican Party (United States), Republican U.S. House of Representatives, Representative of Iowa's 11th congressional dist ...

, congressman and namesake of

Struble, Iowa Struble is a city in Plymouth County, Iowa, United States, along the West Branch of the Floyd River. The population was 67 at the time of the 2020 census. Geography Struble is located in Elgin Township, some seven miles north of LeMars, at ( ...

References

External links

City of Le MarsBlue Bunny Official SiteWestmar College Unofficial Site
Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Le Mars {{authority control Cities in Iowa Cities in Plymouth County, Iowa County seats in Iowa Populated places established in 1869 1869 establishments in Iowa

History

Wells Enterprises

Geography

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

2000 census

Education

Le Mars Community School District

Elementary

Middle school

High school

Alternative education

Gehlen Catholic Schools

Elementary

Middle School

High school

Westmar University

Transportation

Airports

Major roads

Notable places

Notable people

See also

References

External links