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Dyersville, Iowa facts for kids

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Dyersville, Iowa
Basilica of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
Basilica of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
Location in Dubuque County and Iowa
Location in Dubuque County and Iowa
Country  United States
State  Iowa
Counties Dubuque, Delaware
Area
 • City 6.90 sq mi (17.86 km2)
 • Land 6.85 sq mi (17.74 km2)
 • Water 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)  0.18%
Elevation
951 ft (290 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 4,477
 • Density 653.77/sq mi (252.42/km2)
 • Metro
92,384
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
52040
Area code(s) 563
FIPS code 19-23115
GNIS feature ID 0456086
Website cityofdyersville.com
FI0003202
Western Dubuque High School marching band, Dyersville, Iowa

Dyersville is a city in the state of Iowa, USA. It is located in both Delaware County and Dubuque County. Dyersville is part of the larger Dubuque, Iowa, Metropolitan area. In 2020, about 4,477 people lived there. This was an increase from 4,035 people in 2000.

A Look Back: Dyersville's History

Dyersville was first planned out in 1851. The city got its name from an early landowner, James Dyer. He was born in England in 1820. James Dyer opened a hotel called The Clarendon in 1857. His sons, James Andrew Dyer and Henry Andrew Dyer, both served in the United States Civil War.

The Famous Field of Dreams

The popular 1989 movie Field of Dreams was filmed on a farm near Dyersville. The baseball field from the movie is now a famous attraction. It is called the Field of Dreams Movie Site.

This special ballpark even hosted a real Major League Baseball game! The Chicago White Sox played against the New York Yankees there on August 12, 2021. This game was shown live on TV as MLB at Field of Dreams. Another game was played there on August 11, 2022, between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds.

FOD 2023
The entrance to the Field of Dreams Movie Site

What to See in Dyersville

Dyersville has several interesting places to visit:

  • The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier: This is a beautiful and important Roman Catholic church. It is one of the few minor basilicas in the United States that is not in a very large city.
  • The Ertl Company: This company makes popular toys, especially farm toys. You can also visit their outlet store.
  • The National Farm Toy Museum: Here you can see a huge collection of farm toys.
  • The Field of Dreams filming location: This is where the famous movie was made.

Where is Dyersville Located?

Dyersville is found at 42°28′53″N 91°7′15″W / 42.48139°N 91.12083°W / 42.48139; -91.12083. It is located along the North Fork of the Maquoketa River.

The city covers a total area of about 5.64 square miles (14.6 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 5.63 square miles (14.58 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.

North Fork Maquoketa River
The North Fork of the Maquoketa River at Dyersville in 1996

Who Lives in Dyersville?

In 2020, there were 4,477 people living in Dyersville. The city had about 1,840 households. The population density was about 653.8 people per square mile (252.4 people per square kilometer).

Most of the people living in Dyersville are White (92.5%). Other groups include Black or African American (2.3%), Asian (0.3%), and Native American (0.1%). About 3.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Dyersville was 40.4 years. About 26.8% of the residents were under 20 years old. Also, 20.3% were 65 years or older. The city has slightly more females (51.2%) than males (48.8%).

DyersvillePopulation
Population history of Dyersville, Iowa (1940-2006)

Learning in Dyersville: Schools and Library

Public Schools

Students in Dyersville who attend public schools go to schools in the Western Dubuque Community School District.

  • Elementary School: Students in kindergarten through 5th grade attend Dyersville Elementary School. This school opened in 2011 and has about 292 students.
  • Middle School: Middle school students go to Drexler Middle School in Farley.
  • High School: High school students attend Western Dubuque High School in Epworth.
Beckman Catholic High School - panoramio
Beckman Catholic High School

Private Schools

Dyersville also has private schools that are part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque.

  • St. Francis Xavier Elementary School: This school serves students from Pre-kindergarten to 6th grade. It has about 420 students.
  • Beckman Catholic High School: Students in 7th through 12th grade attend Beckman Catholic High School. About 280 students go here.
SFXBasilicaDyersvilleMay04
The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville.

Public Library

The city's public library is called the James Kennedy Public Library. It was first opened in 1959. In 1970, a special area for children's books was added. The current library building was officially named after its supporter, James Kennedy, in 2001.

James Kennedy Public Library - panoramio
James Kennedy Public Library

Dyersville's Economy: The Farm Toy Capital

Dyersville is a busy farming city with a long history. It is known as "The Farm Toy Capital of the World." This is because it hosts two big farm toy shows each year: one in June and another in November.

The Ertl Company, which makes die-cast farm toys, has been located here for a long time. Many local businesses are connected to this farm toy industry.

Major Employers in Dyersville

Here are some of the largest employers in Dyersville (as of 2016):

  • FarmTek: This company sells farm supplies and makes large fabric buildings.
  • Modernfold: They create movable walls and folding doors.
  • Lumber Specialties: This business makes parts for building homes, like floor and roof trusses.
  • Dyersville Die-Cast: They make custom metal parts and scale model toys.
  • TOMY: A company known for its branded toys, collectibles, and baby products.
  • Spireon: This company works with mobile resource management.
  • BARD Materials: They provide materials like ready-mix concrete, lime, and crushed rock.
  • Mercy Medical Center: This is a hospital that offers various health services, including nursing and physical therapy.
  • Beckman Catholic High School: A school for grades 7-12.

Famous People from Dyersville

  • George Strock (Photographer)
  • Robert Osterhaus (Politician)
  • Rudolph Gerken (Roman Catholic Archbishop)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dyersville (Iowa) para niños

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