Charles City, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles City, Iowa
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City
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| Nickname(s):
"Chuck Town"
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| Motto(s):
America's Hometown
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Location of Charles City, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Floyd |
| Township | Saint Charles |
| Incorporated | May 1, 1869 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.21 sq mi (16.09 km2) |
| • Land | 6.12 sq mi (15.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,007 ft (307 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,396 |
| • Density | 1,207.71/sq mi (466.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
50616, 50620
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| Area code(s) | 641 |
| FIPS code | 19-12765 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0455354 |
Charles City is a city in Iowa, USA. It's the main town in Floyd County. Charles City is an important place for business and travel in the area. Major roads like U.S. Routes 18 and 218, and Iowa Highway 14, pass through it. Also, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific trains serve the city. In 2020, about 7,396 people lived here.
Contents
History of Charles City
Charles City is built on the site of an old Winnebago Indian village. The first known white settler, Joseph Kelly, arrived in 1851. He thought the area was perfect for a town because of the Cedar River and nearby forests.
By 1852, about 25 other families joined Kelly. The community grew quickly. The town was first called "Charlestown" after Kelly's son. Later, its name changed to "St. Charles" and then to "Charles City." This was done to avoid having the same name as other towns in Iowa.
Charles City became the main town, or county seat, when Floyd County was officially set up in 1854. The county itself was named after Sergeant Charles Floyd from the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Charles City and the Tractor
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Charles City is famous for its role in the history of the American tractor. A local man, Charles Walter Hart, met Charles H. Parr in college. After college, they created a two-cylinder gasoline engine. They started their business in Charles City in 1897.
In 1901, Hart and Parr were the first to use the word "tractor." It combines the words "traction" and "power." In 1903, their company built 15 "tractors." These were the first successful production tractors in the U.S. One of their oldest tractors, the 14,000-pound No. 3, is now at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.
In 1929, Hart-Parr joined with three other companies to form the Oliver Farm Equipment Company. Later, it became White Farm-New Idea Equipment Co. At its biggest in the 1970s, the factory covered 23 acres and had almost 3,000 workers. The farm crisis in the 1980s caused the plant to close in 1993.
Even though they were known for tractors, Hart-Parr also made some of the first washing machines. In the 1920s, these washing machines cost $155. Buyers could choose between an electric or a gasoline engine.
The Floyd County Historical Museum keeps the plant's history alive. It has many documents and items from the company.
Famous People from Charles City
Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, a national leader for women's rights, grew up on a farm near Charles City. She was a very important leader in the women's suffrage movement. Her hard work helped pass the 19th Amendment in 1920. This amendment gave women the right to vote. Carrie Catt also started the League of Women Voters. You can visit her childhood home and a visitor's center today.
Recent Events in Charles City
On June 9, 2008, Charles City had a major flood. The historic suspension bridge over the Cedar River collapsed. Many homes in the city were also destroyed. Charles City later received money from the government to build a new bridge. The new bridge opened in early 2010.
Charles City is also home to the Dr. Alvin L. Miller House. This unique home was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Tornadoes in Charles City
Charles City has been hit by powerful tornadoes many times.
In the summer of 1858, a "Terrific Tornado" hit the village, then called St. Charles. No one died, but buildings and crops were badly damaged.
In June 1908, another tornado destroyed or damaged about 200 homes and barns. Two people were killed. The tornado went through the southeast part of the city, missing the main business area.
Many people remember the F5 tornado that hit Charles City on May 15, 1968. This was one of the biggest tornadoes ever in Iowa. It killed 13 people and injured hundreds. It destroyed much of the downtown area, including 256 businesses and 1,250 homes. The damage was huge, but the impact on people's lives was even greater.
Geography
Charles City covers about 6.31 square miles (16.34 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Population and People
The population of Charles City was highest in 1950. Since then, the number of people living here has gone down. This is partly because some industrial jobs have left the area.
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1870 | 2,166 | — |
| 1880 | 2,421 | +11.8% |
| 1890 | 2,802 | +15.7% |
| 1900 | 4,227 | +50.9% |
| 1910 | 5,892 | +39.4% |
| 1920 | 7,350 | +24.7% |
| 1930 | 8,039 | +9.4% |
| 1940 | 8,681 | +8.0% |
| 1950 | 10,309 | +18.8% |
| 1960 | 9,964 | −3.3% |
| 1970 | 9,268 | −7.0% |
| 1980 | 8,778 | −5.3% |
| 1990 | 7,878 | −10.3% |
| 2000 | 7,812 | −0.8% |
| 2010 | 7,652 | −2.0% |
| 2020 | 7,396 | −3.3% |
| Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census |
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2020 Census Information
In 2020, Charles City had 7,396 people living in 3,343 households. The city had about 1,208 people per square mile. Most residents were White (84.6%). Other groups included Black or African American (5.0%), Asian (3.6%), and Native American (0.2%). About 5.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Charles City was 42.6 years. About 25.1% of residents were under 20 years old. Also, 23.0% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (52.1%) than males (47.9%).
Education in Charles City
The Charles City Community School District serves the city's students. This includes Charles City High School.
Charles City once had two colleges named Charles City College. The first was a Methodist college that joined Morningside College in the 1910s. The second was a short-lived branch of Parsons College in the late 1960s.
The Charles City Public Library has the Mooney Art Collection. This collection includes original art prints by famous artists like Rembrandt, Dali, Picasso, and Goya.
Media Outlets
Charles City has several local media options:
- KCHA-FM 95.9 – Plays a variety of music.
- KQOP-LP 94.7 FM – Run by the Charles City Educational Association.
- KCHA-AM Fabulous 1580 – Plays oldies music.
- Charles City Press – The local newspaper.
The city also receives TV channels from nearby areas:
Notable People from Charles City
Many interesting people have connections to Charles City:
- Jeff Betts (born 1970) – A soccer All-Star and coach.
- Pansy E. Black (1890–1957) – A writer of science fiction and fantasy.
- Phil Cade (1916–2001) – A racing car driver.
- Carrie Chapman Catt (1859–1947) – A key leader in the women's right to vote movement.
- Robert Coover (born 1932) – A well-known author and professor.
- James E. Gritzner (born 1947) – A United States federal judge.
- Charles Walter Hart (1872–1937) – Co-founder of Hart-Parr and the person who created the word "tractor."
- Mark Kuhn (born 1950) – A politician who served in the Iowa State Representative.
- Vive Lindaman (1877–1927) – A professional baseball player.
- Marlys Millhiser (1938–2017) – An author known for mystery and horror novels.
- George Nelson (born 1950) – An astronaut who flew on three space missions.
- Henry Otis Pratt (1838–1931) – A two-term U.S. Representative from Iowa.
- Paul F. Riordan (1920–1944) – A WWII veteran who received the Medal of Honor.
- Helen M. Schultz (1898–1974) – The founder of the Red Ball Transportation Company.
- Susie Smith (born 1960) – A runner-up on the TV show Survivor: Gabon.
- Robert James Waller (1939–2017) – The author of the best-selling book The Bridges of Madison County.
- Wimpy Winther (born 1947) – A professional football player.
See also
In Spanish: Charles City (Iowa) para niños
