Ely, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ely, Iowa
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Location of Ely, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Linn |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.64 sq mi (4.25 km2) |
| • Land | 1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,328 |
| • Density | 1,422.11/sq mi (549.02/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52227
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| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-25365 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0456356 |
Ely is a small city in Linn County, Iowa. In 2020, about 2,328 people lived there. Ely is part of the larger Cedar Rapids area.
Contents
History of Ely
Ely was founded in 1872. It grew because of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway train line.
Historic Places in Ely
Some buildings in Ely are very old and important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are protected because of their history.
- Dows Street Historic District
- Ely School House
- Woitishek-King-Krob Elevator
Geography and Location
Ely is located in the state of Iowa. Its exact coordinates are 41.875431 degrees north and -91.583061 degrees west.
The city covers a total area of about 1.44 square miles (3.73 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of Ely (Demographics)
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1910 | 161 | — |
| 1920 | 174 | +8.1% |
| 1930 | 172 | −1.1% |
| 1940 | 170 | −1.2% |
| 1950 | 155 | −8.8% |
| 1960 | 226 | +45.8% |
| 1970 | 275 | +21.7% |
| 1980 | 425 | +54.5% |
| 1990 | 517 | +21.6% |
| 2000 | 1,149 | +122.2% |
| 2010 | 1,776 | +54.6% |
| 2020 | 2,328 | +31.1% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Ely's Population in 2020
In 2020, the city of Ely had 2,328 people. There were 829 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people in Ely were White (93.7%). A small number were Black, Native American, or Asian. About 2.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (43.5%) had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in Ely was about 34.9 years old. About 33% of residents were under 20 years old.
Education in Ely
Public Schools for Kids
Students in Ely go to schools in the College Community School District. This district has several schools:
- Prairie High School
- Prairie Point Middle School and Ninth Grade Academy
- Prairie Creek Intermediate
- Prairie Heights Elementary
- Prairie View Elementary
- Prairie Crest Elementary
- Prairie Ridge Elementary
- Prairie Hill Elementary
The school district is located near Cedar Rapids. Ely used to have its own school building, built in 1923. Now, this old school building is used for city offices and community meetings.
Colleges and Universities Near Ely
Ely is close to several colleges and universities. This means students have many options for higher education nearby:
- Kirkwood Community College: 4.6 miles away
- Coe College: 11.8 miles away
- Mt. Mercy University: 12.7 miles away
- Cornell College: 13.1 miles away
- The University of Iowa: 19.5 miles away
Community Life in Ely
Fun Annual Events
Ely hosts a fun event called the Fall Fest every year. It usually happens in late September or early October. This festival is great for families and has many activities for all ages.
The town also has a city-wide garage sale day. This happens on the first Saturday of May.
Churches in Ely
There are two churches in Ely:
- St. John's Lutheran Church, founded in 1854.
- First Presbyterian Church, founded in 1858.
Parks and Recreation
Ely has four different parks where people can play and relax:
- Ely City Park: This is the newest and biggest park. It has two baseball fields, soccer fields, a small pond, and a playground.
- Schulte Park: People sometimes call this the "Fishy" Park. It has a large playground with a fish-shaped bridge. There's also a pavilion and a gaga ball pit.
- Community Center Park: This is the oldest park in Ely. It has a half-court for basketball, a tennis court, and a playground. The playground was updated in 2020.
- Vavra Park: This park is a quiet, shady green space next to a creek. In 2023, it was updated with a covered shelter, frisbee golf holes, horseshoe pits, and a butterfly garden.
Ely is also close to two Iowa State Parks: Lake MacBride State Park and Palisades-Kepler State Park. The Cedar Valley Nature bike trail goes through Ely. You can ride this trail to Iowa City or Cedar Rapids.
Famous People From Ely
- Lew Fonseca (1899-1989) was a professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball.
See also
In Spanish: Ely (Iowa) para niños
