Guttenberg, Iowa

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Guttenberg
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settlement_type = City
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map_caption = Location of Guttenberg in Iowa


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dot_map_caption = Location of Guttenberg, Iowa
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Clayton
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leader_title = Mayor
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leader_title1 = City Manager
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established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1851
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 5.4
area_land_km2 = 5.3
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 2.1
area_land_sq_mi = 2.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.04
area_water_percent = 1.44%
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 1,987
population_density_km2 = 372.4
population_density_sq_mi = 962.3
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timezone = Central Standard Time
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = Central Daylight Time
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 42 |latm = 47 |lats = 10 |latNS = N
longd = 91 |longm = 6 |longs = 5 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 188
elevation_ft = 625
postal_code_type = Zip Code
postal_code = 52052
area_code = 563
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 19-33465
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0457187
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footnotes = Guttenberg is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States, along the Mississippi River. The population was 1,987 at the 2000 census.

History

Prairie La Porte, meaning "the door to the prairie," was the first name given to Guttenberg by French explorers in 1673. The Guttenberg area was a site of Sac and Fox campgrounds until 1823. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 transferred ownership to the United States and the Black Hawk Purchase of 1833 finally opened the area for legal settlement.

Guttenberg’s past is preserved today in the many limestone buildings built by German immigrants in the mid to late 1800’s. These beautiful structures were used for both residential and commercial purposes. Many are pre-Civil War era and are on the National Historic Register. Guttenberg's riverfront location influenced early commercial development. The town first served as a focal point for westward settlement and as an early governmental and administrative center. It was the early location of the county seat between 1838-1843. Guttenberg served as a supply center for the general area until the Civil War when railroads and an interior road system combined to decrease Guttenberg's role as a market center.

The earliest businesses included general supply stores, blacksmith, wagon shops, and hotels. The loss of the county seat in 1843 slowed growth and the population declined. Economic revival began in 1845 with the influx of hundreds of German immigrants under the auspices of the Western Settlement Society of Cincinnati and continued with the development of the lead mining industry along Miners Creek.

The German immigration began in 1845 and by 1850 the town was quite sizable and nearly all German. The city takes its name from Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of movable type. A replica of a Bible he printed is on display at the public library.

Guttenberg incorporated in 1851. The influence of the German population was best indicated by the construction during the period between 1845 and 1865 for over one hundred stone buildings. The bluff limestone was easily obtained and good, local clay and lime for construction was available. Four large riverside warehouses opened and a large flourmill, stores, and hotels appeared during this period. The steamboat trade deposited merchandise and picked up farm produce, milled flour and lead ore.

Guttenberg experienced many floods, the most recent and devastating being in 1965. After this flood, a levee was built. Today, Guttenberg's population is 1,980 and it is the largest town in Clayton County.

Geography

Guttenberg is located at coor dms|42|47|10|N|91|6|5|W|city (42.785992, -91.101366)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.44%) is water.

The community is next to the Mississippi River across from Wisconsin and is on US Route 52.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,987 people, 837 households, and 534 families residing in the city. The population density was 962.3 people per square mile (372.4/km²). There were 935 housing units at an average density of 452.8/sq mi (175.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.89% White, 0.45% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 837 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,151, and the median income for a family was $33,393. Males had a median income of $25,265 versus $16,897 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,098. About 4.0% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofguttenberg.com/ City of Guttenberg]
* [http://www.guttenbergiowa.net/ Guttenberg Development & Tourism]
* [http://www.claytonridge.k12.ia.us/ Clayton Ridge Communty School District]