Ackley, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ackley, Iowa
City
Motto(s):  Values from the past, Vision for the future.
Location of Ackley in Hardin County (left) and Hardin County in Iowa (right)
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Counties	Hardin, Franklin
Settled	1852
Area
• Total	2.49 sq mi (6.45 km2)
• Land	2.46 sq mi (6.36 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2)  1.21%
Elevation	1,093 ft (333 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,599
• Density	650.79/sq mi (251.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	50601
Area code(s)	641
FIPS code	19-00190
GNIS feature ID	0454084

Ackley is a city located in both Franklin and Hardin counties in the state of Iowa. In 2020, about 1,599 people lived there.

History of Ackley

Early Settlement (1852-1857)

In 1852, people started buying farms and settling in northern Hardin County. One of the first settlers was Lemuel Harvy "Seth" Arledge, a doctor and preacher from Kentucky. He claimed land and built a cabin.

Later, Thomas Downs bought Arledge's land and became the first permanent resident of Ackley. After he passed away, his wife sold some land to Minor Gallop. Gallop built a house that became an inn, a stop for stagecoaches, and the first post office.

Many families arrived, hoping to settle in the area. Roby Parriott and his wife, Abigail, settled nearby. Parriott bought more land, including the area where Ackley's main businesses are now.

Founding the Town (1857)

Mills were built on the Iowa River south of the community. In 1856, a stagecoach line was created from Cedar Falls to Fort Dodge.

The Dubuque and Pacific Railroad Company received permission from Iowa state in the 1850s to build a railroad. J. William Ackley, a member of the surveying team, thought that Etna Township would be a good spot for a railroad station. The land belonged to the Parriotts, who had bought it hoping to sell it for more money later.

William Ackley bought the land for the railroad. He and three other land developers bought the area that is now the town for $25.00 an acre. They then sold smaller plots for building the town. In 1857, the town of Ackley was planned out and officially named. Even though William Ackley never lived there, the town was named after him.

Growth and Development (1865-1900s)

By October 1865, when the railroad reached Ackley, there were already 10 businesses and several homes. The railroad brought many new settlers and business people, and the town grew very quickly.

The Fontaine post office moved to Ackley and changed its name. Ackley officially became a town, and William A. Francis became its first mayor. The town's community building, the Ackley Civic Center, is now where Francis's store used to be.

As Ackley expanded, more buildings were constructed. A brick, six-room school was built for $14,000. Churches for Catholics, Methodists, and Presbyterians were also built. The population quickly grew to 500 people.

The town was officially incorporated on August 28, 1869. By 1870, Ackley had a brick schoolhouse, five churches, a mayor and council, a newspaper, and many stores. Over the next thirty years, the town replaced wooden buildings with brick ones, built a system for water and electricity, and opened hotels. The population reached about 2,000.

In the 1870s, Ackley gained many businesses, including a hardware store, furniture store, and general merchandise shops. Lawyers, doctors, and community groups also became part of the town.

The fire department was started in the 1880s. A four-year high school opened with 40 students. In 1882, a state law made it illegal to make or sell alcohol in Iowa, which caused the local brewery to close.

By the late 1800s, the streets were lit with oil lamps. In the 1890s, plans for the Ackley Hotel were made, funded by selling shares to people. During this time, water pipes and sewer drains were installed. Electric lights and telephone service also came to Ackley.

20th Century Progress

The first rural mail route was set up in 1900, meaning mail could be delivered to people living outside the town center. The first Sauerkraut Days celebration, a local festival, was held on September 17, 1903. A new high school building was built. The old wooden water tower was replaced with a steel one.

People were very excited about cars arriving. A local mechanic built an early car in 1905. By 1915, Ackley had paved its main streets, and many car dealerships opened.

A canning plant was built in 1918 and started canning food in 1919. More streets were paved in 1922. In 1927, a new school was built for all 12 grades. Ackley students took part in sports, music, and academic events with other schools.

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

School buses started running in 1946. City mail delivery began in 1947. In 1948, the Ackley Golf Club was designed and its clubhouse built. In 1954, 22 smaller school districts joined with Ackley to form the Ackley Community School. Ackley celebrated its 100th birthday in 1957.

Ackley has gained good attention from events like RAGBRAI (a bike ride across Iowa) and its new Country Club.

Geography

Ackley is located at coordinates 42.552498 degrees North and -93.053772 degrees West.

The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 2.48 square miles (6.42 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.45 square miles (6.35 square kilometers), is land, and a small part, about 0.03 square miles (0.08 square kilometers), is water.

Demographics

Demographics is the study of populations. It helps us understand how many people live in a place and what they are like.

The population of Ackley, Iowa from US census data

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 1,589 people living in Ackley. There were 699 households, which are groups of people living together. The population density was about 648.6 people per square mile.

The average age of people in Ackley was 48.9 years. About 20.3% of residents were under 18 years old. About 29.5% were 65 years old or older. Slightly more than half of the population (52.9%) was female, and 47.1% was male.

Education

The AGWSR Community School District runs the public schools in the area. This school district was formed on July 1, 2001, when two smaller school districts joined together.

Notable people

• Art Reinhart, a baseball pitcher who played in MLB.

See also

In Spanish: Ackley (Iowa) para niños