Elk Horn, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elk Horn, Iowa
|
|
|---|---|
The windmill, originally located in the danish town of Nørre Snede
|
|
Location of Elk Horn, Iowa
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Shelby |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.73 sq mi (1.89 km2) |
| • Land | 0.73 sq mi (1.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,362 ft (415 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 601 |
| • Density | 822.16/sq mi (317.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
51531
|
| Area code(s) | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-24780 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394649 |
Elk Horn is a small city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. In 2020, about 601 people lived there. Elk Horn is famous for its strong Danish heritage. It is also home to the Museum of Danish America, which celebrates Danish culture.
Contents
About Elk Horn
History of the Town
Elk Horn was first planned out in 1901. It officially became a town in 1910. The city got its name from a nearby stream called Elk Horn Creek.
In 1864, a group of people from Wisconsin traveled to Iowa in covered wagons. They wanted to start a new town. They settled on a small hill about two miles southwest of where Elk Horn is today.
When a post office was set up, Mrs. Caroline Whitney Winters suggested the name "Elk Horn." She noticed many elk shed their horns in the nearby woods. Mrs. Winters was the first postmistress, meaning she ran the post office. It was located in her family's cabin for many years.
Where is Elk Horn?
Elk Horn is located in Iowa. The city covers a total area of about 0.77 square miles (1.89 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
Who Lives in Elk Horn?
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1920 | 589 | — |
| 1930 | 513 | −12.9% |
| 1940 | 486 | −5.3% |
| 1950 | 566 | +16.5% |
| 1960 | 679 | +20.0% |
| 1970 | 667 | −1.8% |
| 1980 | 746 | +11.8% |
| 1990 | 672 | −9.9% |
| 2000 | 649 | −3.4% |
| 2010 | 662 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 601 | −9.2% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
||
Population in 2020
The census in 2020 counted 601 people living in Elk Horn. There were 247 households and 157 families. This means about 822 people lived in each square mile of the city.
Most people in Elk Horn are White (97.3%). About 2.5% of the population identified as being from two or more racial backgrounds. Around 2.0% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
In 2020, the average age of people in Elk Horn was 51.9 years old. About 20.3% of residents were under 20 years old. Many older adults live in Elk Horn, with 33.8% of residents being 65 years or older.
Schools in Elk Horn
Students in Elk Horn attend schools in the Exira–Elk Horn–Kimballton Community School District. This school district has a campus located right in Elk Horn. The former Elk Horn–Kimballton Community School District joined with another district in 2014.
The school's sports teams used to be called the "Danes" and "Lady Danes." This name showed off Elk Horn's Danish history and traditions.
Since 2011, the schools have fully combined. The high school and junior high are now in Elk Horn. The elementary school is in Exira, Iowa. The new mascot for the combined teams is the "Spartans." Their colors are maroon and black.
Elk Horn was also home to the Elk Horn Højskole. This was a special Danish folk school started in 1878. It was the first Danish folk school in America. It helped attract many Danish immigrants to the area. This school later became a place where people could study to become religious leaders. In 1896, this school moved and joined with another college.
See also
In Spanish: Elk Horn (Iowa) para niños
