Red Oak, Iowa

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Red Oak, Iowa
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Red Oak, Iowa


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

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 9.7
area_land_km2 = 9.5
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 3.7
area_land_sq_mi = 3.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6197
population_density_km2 = 650.5
population_density_sq_mi = 1684.7

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 320
elevation_ft = 1050
latd = 41 |latm = 0 |lats = 42 |latNS = N
longd = 95 |longm = 13 |longs = 38 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 51566, 51591
area_code = 712
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 19-66135
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0460554
website =
footnotes =

Red Oak is a city in Montgomery County, Iowa, United States, along the East Nishnabotna River. The population was 6,197 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery CountyGR|6.

History

In the two bloodiest wars involving this nation, Red Oak paid a particularly high price. In the American Civil War, the area provided more Union troops per capita than any other in the state." [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,899073,00.html Victory at Sea] ," TIME, 1966-3-11.] Early World War II battles claimed a disproportionate number of soldiers from Red Oak (although the final casualty statistics tend to disprove the oft-repeated statement that Red Oak suffered more losses per capita than any other American community). [ [http://www.qsl.net/redoakarc/index.htm Red Oak Home Page] , Red Oak Victory Amateur Radio Club. Accessed 2007-09-02.] ["Emmet County Leads in War Dead Ratio," "Mason City Globe-Gazette", p. 2, 1946-01-03 (Montgomery County ranked third among Iowa counties in World War II casualties per capita).] In the Battle of the Kasserine Pass in February 1943, forty-five soldiers from Red Oak alone were captured or killed. [Rick Atkinson, [http://books.google.com/books?id=imz1pPtkq_gC An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943] , p. 397 (Macmillan 2003) ISBN 0805074481.] In recognition of Red Oak's extraordinary sacrifice, the city's name was given to a "victory ship." [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea/red.htm SS Red Oak Victory (Victory Ship)] , National Park Service. Accessed 2007-09-02.] The SS "Red Oak Victory" has become a floating museum in the shipyard where it was built, in Richmond, California.

Geography

Red Oak is located at coor dms|41|0|42|N|95|13|38|W|city (41.011681, -95.227227)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.7 km²), of which, 3.7 square miles (9.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.60%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,197 people, 2,670 households, and 1,650 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,684.7 people per square mile (650.2/km²). There were 2,985 housing units at an average density of 811.5/sq mi (313.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.42% White, 0.11% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.

There were 2,670 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,098, and the median income for a family was $37,007. Males had a median income of $28,942 versus $20,047 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,793. About 7.9% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

*Red Oak is the smallest town in Iowa to have had a streetcar systemfact|date=January 2008.
*It currently has a transmitter for the Iowa Public television systemfact|date=January 2008.
*This community holds a rich history including ties to the Underground Railroadfact|date=January 2008 and a wealth of lineage to the American railroad expansionfact|date=January 2008.
*Red Oak is mentioned in Willa Cather's 1912 short story "The Bohemian Girl".
*Red Oak is home of the legendary "Lonesome" Johnny Houser, old time raconteur and magician

References

External links

* [http://www.redoakiowa.com Red Oak's Website]