Eldridge, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eldridge, Iowa
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City
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Downtown Eldridge
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Location of Eldridge, Iowa
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| Country | United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Scott |
| Area | |
| • City | 9.76 sq mi (25.27 km2) |
| • Land | 9.76 sq mi (25.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 797 ft (243 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 6,726 |
| • Density | 689.28/sq mi (266.12/km2) |
| • Metro | 382,630 (135th) |
| • CSA | 474,019 (US: 90th) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52748
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| Area code(s) | 563 |
| FIPS code | 19-24600 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0465072 |
Eldridge is a friendly city located in Scott County, Iowa, in the United States. In 2020, about 6,726 people lived here. Eldridge is a smaller, rural community that is also part of the larger Quad Cities area.
Contents
A Look at Eldridge's History
The city of Eldridge is named after Jacob M. Eldridge. He arrived in central Scott County in 1846. He bought land for a very low price at the time, just $1.25 per acre.
Soon after, many immigrants from Germany came to the area. This helped northern Scott County slowly start to grow. Railroads were built in the 1860s, bringing even more settlers.
Eldridge Junction was officially started on July 2, 1871. It was built on land that Jacob Eldridge had given. Soon, a post office and a Presbyterian church were also built.
Eldridge faced some tough times in its early years. In the 1880s, the railroad had money problems and was moved. A few years later, a smallpox sickness made the city feel very isolated.
In 1904, a big fire caused a lot of damage to the city's business area. Then, in 1918, a strong tornado hit. It damaged or destroyed many homes and the church, and sadly, three people lost their lives.
But each time, the city worked hard to recover. Eldridge remained an important farming community. It was a center for shipping grain and livestock.
The city's population started to grow more in the 1950s. This growth began with the creation of the Scott County Library System in 1950. This system created a network of libraries for smaller towns nearby.
In 1956, the North Scott Community School District was formed. By the late 1960s, more than 1,000 people lived in Eldridge. The city kept growing by creating new industrial parks to bring in businesses.
Where is Eldridge Located?
Eldridge is found at coordinates 41°38′55″N 90°34′53″W / 41.64861°N 90.58139°W. It is located north of Davenport. You can find it along U.S. Route 61.
The United States Census Bureau says that Eldridge covers about 9.48 square miles (24.55 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Eldridge's Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 97 | — | |
| 1900 | 207 | — | |
| 1910 | 217 | 4.8% | |
| 1920 | 234 | 7.8% | |
| 1930 | 245 | 4.7% | |
| 1940 | 283 | 15.5% | |
| 1950 | 376 | 32.9% | |
| 1960 | 583 | 55.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,535 | 163.3% | |
| 1980 | 3,279 | 113.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,378 | 3.0% | |
| 2000 | 4,159 | 23.1% | |
| 2010 | 5,651 | 35.9% | |
| 2020 | 6,726 | 19.0% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 6,756 | 19.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Eldridge?
According to the census taken in 2020, Eldridge had 6,726 people. These people lived in 2,679 homes, and 1,854 of these were families. The city had about 689 people living in each square mile.
Most people in Eldridge are White (92.8%). There are also people who identify as Black or African American (1.0%), Native American (0.2%), Asian (0.8%), or from other backgrounds. About 3.7% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In 2020, about 36.3% of homes had children under 18 living there. Many homes (55.3%) were married couples living together. About 27.0% of all homes were made up of individuals living alone.
The average age in Eldridge was 39.2 years old. About 29.5% of the people were under 20 years old. Also, 17.1% of residents were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (52.2%) than males (47.8%).
Education in Eldridge
Eldridge is home to three of the seven public schools in the North Scott Community School District. The main offices for the school district are also located here.
The schools in Eldridge are North Scott High School, North Scott Junior High, and Ed White Elementary School. The other four elementary schools in the district are in nearby towns. These towns include Donahue, Long Grove, Park View, and Princeton.
A group of seven people, called the board of education, represents the residents. They hold meetings twice a month to make decisions about the schools.
Famous People from Eldridge
- Beth Bader (born 1973) is a professional golfer. She is a member of the LPGA.
- Kari Lake (born 1969) is a politician. She graduated from North Scott High School in Eldridge. She was a candidate for governor in Arizona in 2022. She is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Eldridge (Iowa) para niños
