Confidence, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Confidence, Iowa
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 Confidence, Iowa
Location in Iowa
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| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Wayne |
| Elevation | 1,033 ft (315 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 641 |
| GNIS feature ID | 455574 |
Confidence is a small, quiet place in Wayne County, Iowa, in the United States. It's not a big city or town, but a small community without its own local government. You can find it in the south-central part of Iowa, near a road called County Highway J18, and just west of Rathbun Lake.
Contents
History of Confidence
Confidence was first planned out in 1858. The community grew the most in the 1920s. This was when coal mining was very active in the area.
Early Coal Mining
The first coal mines in Confidence started around the 1860s. Back then, they were small. They mostly served people living nearby. By the late 1800s, a person named L. Frye owned most of the mines. His mines dug for coal in the Mystic coal seam. This coal layer was about 2 feet (0.61 m) thick here. In 1905, Frye opened a new mine. It had a 110-foot (34 m) shaft and used steam power to lift the coal. Other mines in the area included the J. Hayhurst Bank and the Jared Bank.
Population Changes
In 1902, the population of Confidence was 51 people. It grew to 77 people by 1925. The town changed a lot because of the Great Depression. This was a time in the 1930s when many people lost their jobs and money.
Life in Confidence
When Confidence was at its busiest, it had many shops. There was a hat shop (millinery), a place to eat (tavern), a shoe repair shop, and a bank. The bank closed in 1935, but it made sure to pay back all the money people had saved there. By 1940, the population was still 77 people.
Confidence Today
By the end of the 1900s, Confidence had become a very quiet place. It was almost like a ghost town. Only a few houses were still lived in. There was an old church that was no longer used, a cemetery, and a park. The New Providence Baptist Church is still active. It has been in its current building since 1981.
People living in Confidence get their mail through two nearby towns. These are Melrose (ZIP code 52569) and Plano (ZIP code 52581). The children in Confidence go to schools in the Wayne Community School District. This school district is based in Corydon.
Nearby Communities
Other towns close to Confidence include Russell in Lucas County. Also nearby are Albia, which is the main town of Monroe County. You can also find Centerville and Moravia in Appanoose County.
