Belle Plaine, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belle Plaine, Iowa
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Location of Belle Plaine, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Benton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.19 sq mi (8.27 km2) |
| • Land | 3.18 sq mi (8.23 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 827 ft (252 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,330 |
| • Density | 732.93/sq mi (283.00/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
52208
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| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-05590 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0454495 |
Belle Plaine is a city in Benton County, Iowa, United States. It's a friendly place with a population of about 2,330 people, based on the 2020 census. Belle Plaine is part of the larger Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
A Look Back: Belle Plaine's History
Belle Plaine was founded in 1862. This happened when people knew a railroad would be built there. The name "Belle Plaine" comes from French words. It means "beautiful plain."
The city is located on the historic Lincoln Highway. This was one of the first roads to cross America. It is also on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
Exploring Belle Plaine's Geography
Belle Plaine covers about 3.23 square miles (8.37 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part is water.
The Iowa River flows southeast. It passes just south of the city's airport.
Who Lives in Belle Plaine?
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1870 | 1,488 | — |
| 1880 | 1,689 | +13.5% |
| 1890 | 2,623 | +55.3% |
| 1900 | 3,283 | +25.2% |
| 1910 | 3,121 | −4.9% |
| 1920 | 3,887 | +24.5% |
| 1930 | 3,239 | −16.7% |
| 1940 | 3,202 | −1.1% |
| 1950 | 3,056 | −4.6% |
| 1960 | 2,923 | −4.4% |
| 1970 | 2,810 | −3.9% |
| 1980 | 2,903 | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 2,834 | −2.4% |
| 2000 | 2,878 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 2,534 | −12.0% |
| 2020 | 2,330 | −8.1% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 2,330 people living in Belle Plaine. There were 1,058 households. About 93.9% of the people were White. Other groups made up the rest of the population. About 2.0% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 44.4 years old. About 24.4% of residents were under 20. About 20.8% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males and females.
Learning in Belle Plaine: Education
The Belle Plaine Community School District serves the area. It provides education for students. This district is one of three in Benton County.
Belle Plaine High School and the junior high school are in the same building. Longfellow Elementary School teaches students from pre-kindergarten to 6th grade.
Belle Plaine's Climate
Belle Plaine has a climate with hot summers. This means it gets warm in summer and cold in winter.
- January: Highs around 28°F (-2°C), lows around 10°F (-12°C).
- February: Highs around 34°F (1°C), lows around 10°F (-12°C).
- March: Highs around 46°F (8°C), lows around 26°F (-3°C).
- April: Highs around 61°F (16°C), lows around 38°F (3°C).
- May: Highs around 72°F (22°C), lows around 49°F (9°C).
- June: Highs around 81°F (27°C), lows around 59°F (15°C).
- July: Highs around 85°F (29°C), lows around 63°F (17°C).
- August: Highs around 83°F (28°C), lows around 60°F (16°C).
- September: Highs around 76°F (24°C), lows around 51°F (11°C).
- October: Highs around 63°F (17°C), lows around 39°F (4°C).
- November: Highs around 47°F (8°C), lows around 28°F (-2°C).
- December: Highs around 33°F (1°C), lows around 16°F (-9°C).
Source: NOAA
Getting Around: Infrastructure
Iowa Highway 21 goes through Belle Plaine. It connects the city north to Waterloo and south to Hedrick. This highway also links to other major roads.
The railroad provides freight service. This means goods are transported by train. The city also has an airport. It is located on the south side of town.
Famous People from Belle Plaine
Many interesting people have connections to Belle Plaine:
- George Alexander: He was the 28th Mayor of Los Angeles. He lived in Belle Plaine for some years.
- Marjorie Cameron: An artist and actress.
- Steve Carl: A mixed martial artist.
- William Dana Ewart: He invented and patented the linked belt.
- Hap Moran: A football star for the New York Giants. He was born in Belle Plaine in 1901.
- Lonnie Nielsen: A professional golfer, born in Belle Plaine in 1953.
- Rod Rust: A former Head Coach for the New England Patriots. He coached at Belle Plaine High School.
- Henry B. Tippie: A successful businessman. He was born in Belle Plaine.
- Frank Wearne: He raced seven times in the famous Indianapolis 500 car race.
See also
In Spanish: Belle Plaine (Iowa) para niños
