Fonda, Iowa

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

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Fonda, Iowa


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Pocahontas
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 2.7
area_land_km2 = 2.7
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.0
area_land_sq_mi = 1.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 648
population_density_km2 = 244.3
population_density_sq_mi = 632.8

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 372
elevation_ft = 1220
latd = 42 |latm = 34 |lats = 58 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 50 |longs = 45 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 50540
area_code = 712
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 19-28245
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0456657
website =
footnotes =

Fonda is a city in Pocahontas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 648 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Fonda is located at coor dms|42|34|58|N|94|50|45|W|city (42.582819, -94.845810)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.

The town is located at the western edge of the Des Moines Lobe, the most recently glaciated section of Iowa. The Des Moines Lobe is part of the prairie pothole region of the Midwest. The topography is irregular in its gently rolling terrain. Wetlands, glacial erratics, concentric bands of ridges, and large flat areas characterize the land surrounding Fonda. in the early 1900s, flows past the town on its west end. Evidence of its winding original path still exists, particularly in the Fonda Golf Course and in the schoolyard behind Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.

Four miles (6 km) northwest of town, Sunken Grove Wildlife Management Area (WMA) exists as a reminder of the past. Large undrained wetlands are surrounded by forests and prairies. The area is home to large populations of migrating birds and permanent populations of wildlife. This public parcel has recently expanded, and is adjacent to the Leo Shimon WMA. Together, the two areas comprise convert|1148|acre|km2|2 of land. This is slightly less than two square miles.

The remainder of the area surrounding Fonda is agricultural. Vast corn and soybean fields are interspersed by acreages and hog confinements (also known as a concentrated animal feeding operation). The vitality of the town and of the region have been influenced by the shift from a sustenance way of farming to an industrial model. Fewer farmers, less diversity in agricultural products, more agrichemicals, and more tillage have upset the economic system of the town and surrounding countryside. Fonda's AgPartners elevator is partially owned by Cargill. Many of the hog confinements around town are owned by corporations, such as New Fashion Pork, based in Jackson, MN.

Pocahontas County has seen a large decrease in the amount of farms. In 1969, there were 1,369 farms. By 1997 the number had dropped to 778. The average farm size has increased from 265 to 459 acres (107 to 186 hectares} in that same time period. In 1969, 844 farms sold 176,705 hogs. In 1997, 162 farms sold 248,666 hogs.In 1982, 14 poultry farms housed 69,911 layers. By 1997, no farms and no layers existed. In 1982, there were convert|26728|acre|km2|2 of pastures and acreages in the county. By 1997, that amount had decreased to convert|16840|acre|km2|2.

Des Moines, which lies convert|135|mi|km|0 south and east of Fonda, receives a large portion of its drinking water from the Raccoon River (and thus Big Cedar Creek). From 1978 to 2004, contamination at its water intake plant due to nitrates (an agrichemical) has increased from 4.5 mg/L to 7.7 mg/L. Nitrate consumption is linked to blue baby syndrome.

ports

The consolidated Newell-Fonda High School is widely regarded for being a powerhouse in Class A sports. The high school is a small Class A school in rural Iowa with an average of 150 students in grades 9-12. However, they have a rich tradition in both basketball and football.

Men's Basketball

Newell-Fonda has won four State Titles in 8 appearances since 1991. The Senior Class of 2000 was responsible for three state titles in their four years of high school. They hold the 9th longest winning streak in Iowa Boys Basketball history, with 49 consecutive wins (including postseason games) from 1996 through 1998. [ [http://www.iahsaa.org/basketball/archives.html Iowa High School Athletic Association ] ]

* Newell-Fonda State Basketball Appearances

oftball

In 2008, the Newell-Fonda Mustangs softball team to become the first female sports team to win a championship in Newell-Fonda history. They defeated Martinsdale St. Marys 6-3 in the championship game.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 648 people, 288 households, and 160 families residing in the city. The population density was 632.8 people per square mile (245.3/km²). There were 339 housing units at an average density of 331.1/sq mi (128.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.61% White, 0.31% African American, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.

There were 288 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 32.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,731, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $26,597 versus $16,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,626. About 7.1% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Fonda has seen a steady decrease in its population in recent decades. In 1980, the town had 863 residents, and in 1990 there were 731. The 2004 estimated population is 596.

References

External links

* [http://www.newell-fonda.k12.ia.us/ Newell Fonda Schools]
* [http://www.fondaiowa.com/ City of Fonda]
* [http://www.iowadnr.gov/wildlife/wmamaps/sunkengrove.pdf Map of Sunken Grove WMA]
* [http://www.offenburger.com/guestpaper.asp?link=20031117 WWI Historical Account of Fonda]