Ackley, Iowa

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ackley
other_name =
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settlement_type = City
motto = Values from the past, Vision for the future. [http://www.ackleyiowa.net/ Welcome to Ackley Iowa ] ]


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dot_map_caption = Location of Ackley, Iowa
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name =
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_name2 = Hardin, Franklin
subdivision_type4 =
subdivision_name4 =
government_footnotes = [http://www.ackleyiowa.net/Administration.htm Administration ] ]
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jim Daggs
leader_title1 = Mayor Pro-Tem
leader_name1 = Randy Eichmeier
leader_title2 = City Administrator
leader_name2 = Michael Nuss
leader_title3 = City Clerk
leader_name3 = Carol Williams
leader_title4 = Deputy City Clerk
leader_name4 = Cyndee Roskens
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1852
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area_magnitude =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 6.4
area_land_km2 = 6.4
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 2.5
area_land_sq_mi = 2.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
area_water_percent = 1.21
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population_as_of = July 2006
population_footnotes = [http://www.city-data.com/city/Ackley-Iowa.html Ackley, Iowa (IA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders ] ]
population_note = (estimated)
population_total = 1,715
population_density_km2 = 284.9
population_density_sq_mi = 705
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timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 42 |latm = 33 |lats = 9 |latNS = N
longd = 93 |longm = 3 |longs = 14 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes = [ [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:454084 Detail ] ]
elevation_m = 333
elevation_ft = 1093
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 50601
area_code = 641
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 19-00190
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0454084
website = http://www.ackleyiowa.net/
footnotes =

Ackley is a city in Franklin and Hardin Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,809 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Ackley is located at coor dms|42|33|9|N|93|3|14|W| (42.552498, -93.053772)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.21%) is water.

Demographics

Historical populations
type = USA
footnote = [http://data.iowadatacenter.org/datatables/PlacesAll/plpopulation18502000.pdf Total Population for Iowa's Incorporated Places: 1850-2000]
shading = off
1880 |1517
1890 |1286
1900 |1445
1910 |1244
1920 |1529
1930 |1524
1940 |1586
1950 |1608
1960 |1731
1970 |1794
1980 |1900
1990 |1696
2000 |1809 As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,809 people, 734 households, and 482 families residing in the city. The population density was 737.8 people per square mile (285.1/km²). There were 817 housing units at an average density of 333.2/sq mi (128.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.75% White, 0.17% African American, 0.28% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.48% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.24% of the population.

There were 734 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $44,200. Males had a median income of $30,428 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,406. About 5.8% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

History

In 1852 immigrants began purchasing farms and settling in the north Hardin County area. In the fall of 1852, L.H. Artedge, a frontiers-man from Indiana staked a claim just north of the Hardin County line and built a cabin close to where Highway 57 now passes. Another settler, Thomas Downs, became the first permanent resident of Ackley. Later his widow sold a strip of land from Butler Street to the four county corner for $3.00 an acre to Minor Gallop. Gallop built a house, just east of Highway 57 which became an inn, a stopover for stagecoaches, and the first post office.

Many caravans arrived in anticipation of settling in this area. Roby Parriot and wife, Abigail, settled in Washington Township, Butler County. Parriot immediately began to acquire more land and purchased what is now the business section of Ackley.

Mills were built on the Iowa River south of the community and in 1856 a stage line was built from Cedar Falls to Fort Dodge. The Dubuque and Pacific Railroad Company received a charter from the State of Iowa in the 1850s to build a railroad. Surveying teams were sent out. One of the members was J. William Ackley. He decided Etna Township was a good place for a railroad station. The land was owned by Parriot and his wife, who had purchased it for speculation.

William Ackley purchased the land for the railroad and discussed founding a town. Ackley and three other land developers purchased the land which is now the town for $25.00 an acre. They then sold sites for developing the town. In 1857 the town of Ackley was staked out. The plan was signed December 12, 1857. Even though Ackley never lived here, he gave the town his name. [cite book|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|year=1905|pages=23|author=Gannett, Henry|url=http://books.google.com/books/pdf/The_Origin_of_Certain_Place_Names_in_the.pdf?id=BqwPAAAAIAAJ&output=pdf&sig=3IVIg6u-evPGlrv4j1uDL7rQ09c]

In 1865 the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad bought nearly all the timber at Island Grove and corded it up where the Illinois Central depot stands. By October, when the railroad reached Ackley, there were 10 business establishments and several homes. The completion of the railroad brought on a rush of settlers and businessmen and the town boomed. Elevators for grain storage and shipment were built, lumber yards provided materials for buildings, grocery stores, hardware and farming equipment was sold, restaurants and saloons sprang up and many doctors and lawyers came to the town.

The Fontaine post office was moved to Ackley and its name was changed. The town of Ackley was incorporated and William A. Francis became the first mayor. The Ackley Civic Center now stands at the site of a store once owned by Francis.As Ackley expanded more buildings were being constructed in the business area. A brick, six-room school was built at State and Second Street for $14,000. Catholics, Methodists and Presbyterians built frame churches. The population soared to 500.

By 1870 the town had a brick schoolhouse, five churches, a mayor and council, a newspaper, and many stores. In the next thirty years the town replaced the frame buildings on Main Street with brick structures, built a waterworks, established a light plant, and built hotels. The population at that time was approximately 2,000.

In the 1870's Ackley acquired businesses such as a hardware store, furniture store, harness shop, boots and shoe store, general merchandise, jewelry and a brewery. The Ackley Independent Newspaper as well as lawyers, a doctor and fraternal organizations became part of the town.

The Hook and Ladder fire department was organized in the 1880s. The Goettels and the C.H. Doepke buildings appeared on the landscape in the 1880's. A four-year high school opened with an enrollment of 40 students. The Iowa state constitution was amended in 1882, making the production and sale of alcoholic beverages illegal within the state (i.e. Iowa became a “dry state.”) The Supreme Court declared the amendment unconstitutional in 1883, but the Iowa legislature then passed another very strict prohibition law. [ [http://www.iptv.org/IowaPathways/myPath.cfm?ounid=ob_000094 "Early Temperance Activity in Iowa"] , Lisa Ossian, Iowa Pathways] Due to this, the Ackley brewery closed.

The streets were lit with oil lamps by the late 1800s. Seven students graduated from the high school in the 1890s. Plans for the Ackley Hotel were developed in the last decade of the 19th century. The project was financed by selling shares for $25 to $1000 a share. The hotel was built on the corner of State and Railroad Street (Park). During the 1890's, water mains and sewer drains were laid. Electric lights and telephone service also appeared in Ackley.

The first rural mail route was established in 1900. The first Sauerkraut Days celebration was held September 17, 1903. A high school building was erected on the northeast corner of the playground. The wooden water tower was replaced with a steel tower at Main and Cerro Gordo Streets.

There was much excitement over the coming of the automobile. A local mechanic constructed a horseless carriage in 1905 which ran to Spencer and back but was not further promoted. Ackley did pave its main streets by 1915 and many auto dealers started business.

Marshall Canning Plant and husking shed was built in 1918 and canning began in 1919. The "Glacier Trail" (the road now designated as "County S-56") was marked through Ackley in 1922. More streets were paved.In 1927 a new school was built to house 12 grades. Ackley participated in athletic sports, music and academic activities with surrounding schools. A food processing company was established.

The 1930s brought the Great Depression and 3 banks in Ackley closed. The Municipal Building was erected in 1939. The mayor and town council, fire department,, police station, library and a large meeting room were housed in the building.

School buses started running in 1946. City mail delivery was inaugurated in 1947. In 1948, the Ackley Golf Club was designed and the club house was built. In 1954, twenty-two rural school districts joined with Ackley to form the Ackley Community School. Ackley celebrated its Centennial in 1957.

References

External links

* [http://www.ackleyiowa.net/ Official website]