Whitten, Iowa

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Whitten, Iowa
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Whitten, Iowa


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Hardin
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 1.4
area_land_km2 = 1.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.5
area_land_sq_mi = 0.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 160
population_density_km2 = 113.4
population_density_sq_mi = 293.6

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 315
elevation_ft = 1033
latd = 42 |latm = 15 |lats = 41 |latNS = N
longd = 93 |longm = 0 |longs = 27 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 50269
area_code = 641
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 19-85305
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0463014
website =
footnotes =

Whitten is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 160 at the 2000 census.

History

C.C. Whitten, an official for the Northwestern Railway System, bought 80 acres of land to establish a town in 1880. Whitten was incorporated in 1882 with a population of 350. By 1914, Whitten was proud of its church membership of 170, its schools, three general stores, a blacksmith shop, restaurant, bank, produce house, implement store, and two doctors. In fact, Whitten was never without a doctor until 1973 when Dr. George Blaha died after serving the community for 60 years.

In the early 20th century, the city experienced several devastating fires which destroyed much of the town. The city rebuilt very little. Today, Whitten is one of many small Iowa towns struggling to survive.

In the 1980s, Whitten saw a brief growth spurt due in part by the consolidation of the school with Conrad. However, because of Whitten's lack of industry, young people quickly left the town seeking better opportunities.

Geography

Whitten is located at coor dms|42|15|41|N|93|0|27|W|city (42.261478, -93.007387)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 160 people, 56 households, and 43 families residing in the city. The population density was 293.6 people per square mile (114.4/km²). There were 63 housing units at an average density of 115.6/sq mi (45.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.50% White, 1.25% Asian, and 1.25% from two or more races.

There were 56 households out of which 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,656, and the median income for a family was $44,219. Males had a median income of $31,458 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,996. None of the families and 1.3% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 13.3% of those over 64.

Notable natives

*Denise Long, women's professional basketball player
*Raymond Boynton, painter

Twister

Part of the 1996 movie "Twister" starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton was shot just outside of Whitten. The famous scene with Hunt and Paxton taking cover in a farm pumphouse and strapping themselves down with a leather belt to avoid being blown away was filmed at an old Whitten farmhouse owned by the Haywood family.

References

External links

* [http://www.bcluw.k12.ia.us/ BCLUW (Beaman, Conrad, Liscomb, Union and Whitten) School District homepage]