Ayrshire, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ayrshire, Iowa
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City
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Location of Ayrshire, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Palo Alto |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2) |
| • Land | 0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,319 ft (402 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 133 |
| • Density | 615.74/sq mi (237.81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50515
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| Area code(s) | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-04105 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0454296 |
Ayrshire is a small city located in Palo Alto County, Iowa, in the United States. In 2020, about 133 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a rich history, once a busy railroad town.
Contents
Ayrshire's Early Days and Growth
Ayrshire began to form in the 1880s. A railroad company, the Des Moines and Fort Dodge Railroad, was building new tracks. In October 1882, the train tracks reached the spot where Ayrshire is today. A train station, called a depot, was built there the next month.
The railroad company bought about 80 acres of land. They planned to build a new town there. By 1883, several businesses had already opened in the new settlement. Ayrshire officially became a city on September 20, 1895.
Life in Ayrshire: A Look Back
A long time ago, Ayrshire was a much busier place. It had many different businesses and services. Imagine a town with two banks and two grocery stores! There was also a blacksmith shop, where metal was shaped, and a livery stable, which rented out horses and carriages.
The town also had a creamery, a hotel, and at least two barber shops. For spiritual life, there were Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, and Baptist churches. People could fill up their cars at five gas stations. There was also a grain elevator, two cafes, a locker plant for storing food, a pharmacy, and a lumber yard. The town even had two places to enjoy a drink and many other businesses.
Schools in Ayrshire
Ayrshire once had two high schools: a Catholic high school and a public high school. The Catholic high school closed its doors in 1947. Its lower grades closed later, in 1968. The public school also closed in the spring of 1982. The sports teams at the public school were known as the Ayrshire Beavers.
A Young Mayor Takes Charge
In 1972, Ayrshire became famous across the country. The town elected the youngest mayor in America! His name was Jody Smith, and he was only nineteen years old when he became mayor.
The Railroad's End
The train tracks that helped start Ayrshire were eventually no longer used. The rail line was abandoned in the 1980s and taken apart.
Celebrating Ayrshire's History
In 2007, the town of Ayrshire celebrated a special anniversary. It was their Quasquicentennial, which means it had been 125 years since the town was founded!
Ayrshire's Location and Size
Ayrshire is located in Iowa, at specific geographic coordinates: 43.038506 degrees North latitude and -94.834712 degrees West longitude.
The city is quite small in terms of area. According to the United States Census Bureau, Ayrshire covers about 0.21 square miles (0.56 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Ayrshire's Population Over Time
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1900 | 329 | — |
| 1910 | 337 | +2.4% |
| 1920 | 361 | +7.1% |
| 1930 | 343 | −5.0% |
| 1940 | 391 | +14.0% |
| 1950 | 334 | −14.6% |
| 1960 | 298 | −10.8% |
| 1970 | 243 | −18.5% |
| 1980 | 243 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 195 | −19.8% |
| 2000 | 202 | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 143 | −29.2% |
| 2020 | 133 | −7.0% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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The number of people living in Ayrshire has changed a lot over the years. In 1900, there were 329 residents. The population grew a bit in the early 1900s, reaching 391 people in 1940.
However, since then, the population has slowly decreased. By 2010, there were 143 residents, and in 2020, the population was 133. This is less than half the number of people who lived there a century earlier.
A Closer Look at the 2020 Census
In 2020, the census counted 133 people living in Ayrshire. There were 70 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. Out of these, 32 were families.
Most of the people in Ayrshire (97.7%) were White. A small percentage (4.5%) identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Ayrshire in 2020 was about 44.8 years old. About 25.6% of the residents were under 20 years old. Also, 20.3% were 65 years old or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (50.4%) and females (49.6%).
A Look at the 2010 Census
In 2010, the census showed that 143 people lived in Ayrshire. There were 75 households. All of the residents (100%) were White.
The average age in 2010 was 48.8 years. About 21.7% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 25.2% were 65 years old or older. The population was 52.4% male and 47.6% female.
Education in Ayrshire
Today, the community of Ayrshire is served by the Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District. This school district was formed on July 1, 1983. Before that, Ayrshire had its own school district, called the Ayrshire Community School District.
See also
In Spanish: Ayrshire (Iowa) para niños
