Palmer is a city in Pocahontas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 138 at the time of the 2020 census.

History

Palmer got its start in the year 1899, following construction of the Rock Island railroad through that territory.

Geography

Palmer is located at (42.630929, -94.599948). 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 of it land. Palmer lies near the center of Manson crater, an impact structure buried by glacial till and outwash.

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 138 people, 70 households, and 39 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 326.1 inhabitants per square mile (125.9/km²). There were 97 housing units at an average density of 229.2 per square mile (88.5/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 93.5%

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, 0.0%

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 ...

, 4.3% from other races and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 4.3% of the population. Of the 70 households, 22.9% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% 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, 1.4% were cohabitating couples, 22.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 32.9% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 44.3% of all households were non-families. 41.4% of all households were made up of individuals, 22.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The median age in the city was 48.5 years. 21.7% of the residents were under the age of 20; 2.2% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 and 44; 23.2% were from 45 and 64; and 29.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.

2010 census

As of the

of 2010, there were 165 people, 85 households, and 40 families residing in the city. The

was . There were 102 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.8%

, 0.6%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 1.2% Native American, 1.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population. There were 85 households, of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were

living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.9% were non-families. 43.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.63. The median age in the city was 47.8 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 35.2% were from 45 to 64; and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 214 people, 100 households, and 58 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 104 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.33%

, 3.74%

, 0.47% Native American and 0.47% Asian. There were 100 households, out of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were

living together, 2.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.0% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.83. In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 25.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $45,250. Males had a median income of $27,778 versus $16,875 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $17,775. About 10.9% of families and 16.5% 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 35.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 5.5% of those 65 or over.

Education

Pocahontas Area Community School District operates public schools. It was in the Palmer School District until July 1, 1993, when it consolidated into the Pomeroy–Palmer Community School District; on July 1, 2012, that district consolidated into the Pocahontas Area School District.REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66
."

Iowa Department of Education The Iowa Department of Education sets the standards for all public institutions of education in Iowa and accredits private as well as public schools. It is headquartered in Des Moines. Organization As of 2020, the Iowa Department of Education c ...

. Retrieved on July 20, 2018.

Sports

Palmer had many successful semi-pro baseball teams in the heyday of town teams. Palmer's high school boys' basketball team had a long run of success in the 1980s, winning three straight state championships from 1986 to 1988. Its teams scored record numbers of points, and its games were played in front of packed crowds. Ultimately, the team won 103 straight games, setting the state record.Holub, Terry. ''Palmer Basketball: The Alden Skinner Story''. Schaller, Schaller Herald, 1989. .

References

{{authority control Cities in Pocahontas County, Iowa Cities in Iowa