Adel, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adel, Iowa
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Aerial view of Adel
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Location of Adel, Iowa
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Detailed map of Adel
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Iowa |
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| County | Dallas | |
| Incorporated | 1847 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-council government | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.36 sq mi (13.88 km2) | |
| • Land | 5.34 sq mi (13.83 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | |
| Elevation | 892 ft (272 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,153 | |
| • Density | 1,152.25/sq mi (444.90/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
50003
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| Area code(s) | 515 | |
| FIPS code | 19-00505 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2393882 | |
| Website | adeliowa.org | |
Adel (pronounced AY-dəl) is a city in Iowa, USA. It is the main city, or county seat, of Dallas County, Iowa. Adel is located right next to the North Raccoon River. In 2020, about 6,153 people lived there.
Contents
History of Adel
Adel is the oldest town in Dallas County. It was first called Penoach. The town officially became a city in 1847. Its name changed to Adel in 1849. By 1855, Adel had about 25 houses and three stores. After that, the city started to grow much faster.
The Flour Mill
Because Adel was by the river, it had a good supply of water power. This was perfect for a flour mill. A large mill was built in 1856-1857. It cost $20,000, which was a lot of money back then! The mill could grind a lot of grain every hour. Sadly, the mill was destroyed in 1913.
Railroad and Transportation
Other towns in Dallas County got railroads before Adel did. This made people worry that Adel might lose its status as the county seat. So, business owners in Adel supported building their own railroad. It was first a "narrow gauge" railroad, which means the tracks were closer together than usual. Later, in the 1890s, a bigger railroad company bought the line. They rebuilt it to be "standard gauge." Passenger trains stopped coming to Adel in 1952. The train line was closed completely in 1987. Today, this old railroad path is a popular walking and biking trail called the Raccoon River Valley Trail.
The Bank Robbery
On March 6, 1895, the Adel bank was robbed. Two men came in a horse-drawn buggy. They shot a bank teller. Even though he was hurt, the teller quickly closed the bank vault. He also locked it, so the robbers could not take much money.
George W. Clarke, who later became the Governor of Iowa, had a law office upstairs. As he walked down the stairs, one of the robbers fired his gun. Luckily, the gun did not work, and Mr. Clarke was safe.
Dallas County Courthouse
The Dallas County Courthouse is a very important building in Adel. It was finished in 1902. The building cost about $109,000 to build. It stands in the middle of downtown Adel.
Geography of Adel
Adel covers a total area of about 5.36 square miles (13.88 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.
Adel's Population
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1860 | 466 | — |
| 1870 | 711 | +52.6% |
| 1880 | 989 | +39.1% |
| 1890 | 995 | +0.6% |
| 1900 | 1,213 | +21.9% |
| 1910 | 1,289 | +6.3% |
| 1920 | 1,455 | +12.9% |
| 1930 | 1,669 | +14.7% |
| 1940 | 1,740 | +4.3% |
| 1950 | 1,799 | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 2,060 | +14.5% |
| 1970 | 2,419 | +17.4% |
| 1980 | 2,846 | +17.7% |
| 1990 | 3,304 | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 3,435 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 3,682 | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 6,153 | +67.1% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Adel is part of the larger Des Moines and West Des Moines city area.
Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 6,153 people living in Adel. There were 2,288 households, which are groups of people living together. The city had about 1,152 people per square mile. Most people in Adel were White (93.4%). A small number of people were Black or African American (0.8%), Native American (0.2%), or Asian (0.5%). About 2.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Adel was 35.3 years old. About 32.2% of the people were under 20 years old.
Population in 2010
In 2010, Adel had 3,682 people living there. The population density was about 1,126 people per square mile. Most people were White (97.6%). About 2.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in 2010 was 37.6 years old. About 26.8% of the people were under 18 years old.
Economy of Adel
Adel is home to Stine Seed. This is the world's largest private seed company. It owns 15,000 acres of farmland in Iowa. The company is mostly owned by Harry Stine and his four children.
Education in Adel
Students in Adel go to schools in the Adel–De Soto–Minburn Community School District. This school district was formed in 1993. It was created when two smaller school districts joined together.
Notable People
- Turner W. Bell
- George W. Clarke (1852–1936), a former Governor of Iowa
- Eric Cutler, an opera singer
- Van Harden, a radio personality
- Nile Kinnick, a famous Iowa Hawkeyes football player. He won the 1939 Heisman Trophy. He was also a pilot in World War II.
- Lillian M. Mitchner (1862/64-1954), a social reformer
- Carter Nordman, a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
- Charles Scott, a lawyer and judge
- Harry Stine, a businessman and Iowa's only billionaire
- Ralph Watts, a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
See also
In Spanish: Adel (Iowa) para niños
