Bonaparte, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bonaparte, Iowa
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
Location of Bonaparte, Iowa
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Van Buren |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.37 sq mi (0.97 km2) |
| • Land | 0.37 sq mi (0.97 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 597 ft (182 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 359 |
| • Density | 959.89/sq mi (370.56/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52620
|
| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-07345 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394217 |
Bonaparte is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 359 at the 2020 census.
The town is located on the Des Moines River and contains a number of historical buildings, including a large pottery.
History
The area was established in 1837 by William Meek, and named Meek's Mill. The lots were resurveyed in 1841, and the name was changed to Bonaparte. Another townsite called Napoleon was established across the river, though it was never developed. William Meek was an admirer of the Emperor, and was responsible for both names. The town was incorporated in 1899.
The town was flooded during the Flood of 1851.
Bonaparte is located along the historic Mormon Trail, and there are five sites in or near Bonaparte listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- Aunty Green Hotel
- Bonaparte Historic Riverfront District
- Bonaparte Pottery Archeological District
- Meek's Flour Mill
- Des Moines River Locks No. 5 and No. 7
Charles E. Pickett, who served two-terms as a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district, was born near Bonaparte.
Geography
Bonaparte's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 40.699914, -91.800837.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.37 square miles (0.96 km2), all of it land.
Demographics
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 689 | — |
| 1890 | 762 | +10.6% |
| 1900 | 898 | +17.8% |
| 1910 | 597 | −33.5% |
| 1920 | 656 | +9.9% |
| 1930 | 678 | +3.4% |
| 1940 | 653 | −3.7% |
| 1950 | 642 | −1.7% |
| 1960 | 574 | −10.6% |
| 1970 | 517 | −9.9% |
| 1980 | 489 | −5.4% |
| 1990 | 465 | −4.9% |
| 2000 | 458 | −1.5% |
| 2010 | 433 | −5.5% |
| 2020 | 359 | −17.1% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
||
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 433 people, 190 households and 117 families living in the city. The population density was 1,170.3 inhabitants per square mile (451.9/km2). There were 212 housing units at an average density of 573.0 per square mile (221.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.3% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.
There were 190 households, of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.4% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.
The median age was 37.3 years. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
Education
The community is served by the Van Buren County Community School District. It was previously in the Harmony Community School District, until it merged into Van Buren County CSD on July 1, 2019.
In the news
On October 14, 2006, five Bonaparte natives were murdered in their home. Michael Bentler, 53, his wife Sandra, 47, and their three daughters: Sheena, 17, Shelby, 15 and Shayne, 14, were pronounced dead at the scene. ..... The following Sunday afternoon, he was charged with five counts of first-degree murder, in what has been characterized by the media as one of the worst mass murders in Iowa history. Shawn was found guilty on May 24, 2007.
On October 25, 1996, Bonaparte was the location of a supposed birthday party for Laura Van Wyhe, the 21-year-old mother who was found fatally injured hours later in Kahoka, Missouri. "Bonaparte" is the name of the 2021 podcast about the circumstances of her death, and her decades-old unsolved case.
Notable person
- Ida Sedgwick Proper, writer and suffragist
See also
In Spanish: Bonaparte (Iowa) para niños
