Beaconsfield is a city in Ringgold County,

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

, United States. The population was 15 in the 2020 census, unchanged from 2010 and an increase from 11 in

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

. In the 2000 census Beaconsfield was the least populated incorporated city in Iowa; with the increase in the 2020 census, it is now the second smallest, after Le Roy.

History

Beaconsfield started when the Humeston and Shenandoah Railroad built a train station. In 1881 a town company laid it out as a village. A post office was established in 1882 and closed in 1993. The town was incorporated on January 18, 1990. The community was named after Lord Beaconsfield of England. The Hy-Vee grocery chain has its origin in the Beaconsfield Supply Store, a

general store A general merchant store (also known as general merchandise store, general dealer, village shop, or country store) is a rural or small-town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, someti ...

opened by Charles Hyde and David Vredenburg in 1930. That location is on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

. On May 23, 1981, a tornado touched down southwest of Beaconsfield for 15.9 miles. It was rated F2.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

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

Climate

According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

system, Beaconsfield has a

hot-summer humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...

, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2020, there were 15 people, 12 households, and 8 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing 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 geog ...

was 20.6 inhabitants per square mile (7.9/km²). There were 12 housing units at an average density of 16.5 per square mile (6.4/km²). The

racial 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 16th century, when it was used to refer to groups of va ...

makeup of the city was 86.7%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 6.7%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.0% from other races and 6.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 13.3% of the population. Of the 12 households, 66.7% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.0% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 16.7% were cohabitating couples, 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 33.3% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 33.3% of all households were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The median age in the city was 53.5 years. 13.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 0.0% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 6.7% were from 25 and 44; 40.0% were from 45 and 64; and 40.0% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.3% male and 46.7% female.

2010 census

As of the

of 2010, there were 15 people, 8 households, and 5 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 14 housing units at an average density of . The racial makup of the city was 100.0% White. There were 8 households, of which 62.5% were married couples living together and 37.5% were non-families. 37.5% of households were one person and 25% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 2.40. The median age was 55.5 years. 0.0% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% (1) between the ages of 18 and 24; 13.3% (2) from 25 to 44; 40% (6) were from 45 to 64; and 40% (6) were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 11 people, 7 households, and 3 families living in the city. The population density was 15.2 people per square mile (5.9/km). There were 13 housing units at an average density of 18.0 per square mile (7.0/km). The racial makup of the city was 100.00% White. There were 7 households, out of which none had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, and 42.9% were non-families. 42.9% of households were one person and 42.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.57 and the average family size was 2.00. Population spread: 9.1% from 45 to 64, and 90.9% 65 or older. The median age was 70 years. For every 100 females, there were 57.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 57.1 males. The median household income was $10,833 and the median family income was $11,667. Males had a median income of $0 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the city was $5,990. There were no families and 20.0% of the population living 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 no under eighteens and 20.0% of those over 64.

Education

Mount Ayr Community School District Mount Ayr Community School District, or Mount Ayr Community Schools, is a rural public school district headquartered in Mount Ayr, Iowa. It has elementary and secondary (middle and high school) divisions. The district is mostly in Ringgold C ...

operates public schools serving the community.

Notable person

* Peggy Whitson, NASA astronaut on three expeditions, from October 2009 to September 2017, held the office of The Chief Astronaut.

References

External links

IAGenWeb Project
History, information and more for Ringgold County {{authority control Cities in Iowa Cities in Ringgold County, Iowa Populated places established in 1881 1881 establishments in Iowa