Garwin, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Garwin, Iowa
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Looking into Garwin from the south
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Location of Garwin, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Tama |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.01 sq mi (2.61 km2) |
| • Land | 1.01 sq mi (2.61 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 922 ft (281 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 481 |
| • Density | 477.66/sq mi (184.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50632
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| Area code(s) | 641 |
| FIPS code | 19-30045 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0456857 |
Garwin is a small city located in Tama County, Iowa, in the United States. According to the 2020 census, about 481 people live there.
Contents
Garwin's Early Days: A Look at Its History
Garwin was officially planned and laid out in 1880. A post office opened in the same year, helping the new community grow.
In 1879, a railroad company called the Toledo and Northwestern Railroad was sold. The new owners, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, decided to extend the train line. They built tracks northwest from a town called Toledo. Garwin became the very first train station along this new route.
How Garwin Got Its Name
Choosing a name for the new town was a bit tricky. At first, people thought of names like "Maple" or "Myrcle," but these names weren't very popular. The next idea was "Marvin," to honor a railroad official named Marvin Hewitt. However, they soon found out that another town already had that name.
Two landowners, George Rider and John Galvizer, were very interested in selling their land for the new town. After some discussion, these two men won the chance to sell their property. A message was sent to Toledo that said: "'G' (for Glavizer) and 'R' (for Rider) win." But the people who received the message misunderstood it. They read the words as "Garwin" instead, and that's how the city finally got its unique name!
Garwin's Location and Size
Garwin is located at 42°5′41″N 92°40′36″W / 42.09472°N 92.67667°W. This means it's in the central part of the United States.
The United States Census Bureau reports that Garwin covers a total area of about 1.01 square miles (2.61 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
Who Lives in Garwin? Population Facts
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 99 | — |
| 1900 | 470 | +374.7% |
| 1910 | 425 | −9.6% |
| 1920 | 587 | +38.1% |
| 1930 | 450 | −23.3% |
| 1940 | 517 | +14.9% |
| 1950 | 518 | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 546 | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 563 | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 626 | +11.2% |
| 1990 | 533 | −14.9% |
| 2000 | 565 | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 527 | −6.7% |
| 2020 | 481 | −8.7% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Garwin's Population in 2020
In the 2020 census, Garwin had 481 residents. There were 217 households and 136 families living in the city. The population density was about 477.5 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Garwin were White (93.6%). There were also small percentages of Black or African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 3.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Garwin was 43.8 years. About 23.7% of residents were under 20 years old. Also, 19.5% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (48.0%) and females (52.0%).
Garwin's Population in 2010
According to the 2010 census, Garwin had 527 people. There were 216 households and 152 families. The population density was about 521.8 people per square mile.
In 2010, 96.2% of residents were White. About 3.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The median age was 41.3 years. About 27.5% of residents were under 18 years old. About 16.7% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more males (52.2%) than females (47.8%).
Community Life: Services and Fun in Garwin
The City of Garwin offers several important services to its residents. These include an ambulance service and a fire department, which help keep everyone safe. The community also has the Green Mountain Garwin Junior/Senior High School, a public library, and a park for recreation.
Just four miles northwest of Garwin, you can find Union Grove State Park. This park is a great place for outdoor activities. It has a public beach for swimming, areas for fishing, and picnic spots. You can also find campgrounds if you want to stay overnight, and short hiking trails to explore nature.
Learning and Sports: Garwin's Education Story
The GMG Community School District serves the Garwin community. This school district was created on July 1, 1992. It was formed when the Garwin and Green Mountain school districts joined together.
GMG High School: The Wolverines
When Garwin and Green Mountain high schools combined in 1987, they chose a new mascot: the 'Wolverines'. Before this, Garwin's athletes were known as the 'Roughriders'.
Today, student athletes at GMG High School can play many different sports. These include football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, track, golf, baseball, and softball. They also team up with East Marshall High School for wrestling and Marshalltown High School for swimming.
Championship Wins and Sports History
GMG High School has won one Iowa State High School Championship. In their very first year as a combined school, the Wolverines won the 1987 Class A Iowa State Football Championship. They beat Schleswig 20–17 in an exciting overtime game. The team, coached by Fred Weick, finished the 1987 season with a perfect record of 12 wins and no losses.
Garwin High School, before it combined with Green Mountain, also had a strong tradition in boys' basketball. They won many conference titles and made it to the Iowa State Basketball Tournament twice. They first went to the 1978 Class 1A State Tournament. They also reached the 1983 Class 1A Championship Game, where they lost to Palmer 61–55.
The Garwin/GMG basketball teams were coached for a long time by Gary Peterson. In his 33 years as head coach, he won 478 games and lost 216. This impressive record ranks him 34th all-time in Iowa boys' basketball history.
In the mid-1990s, GMG had more success. The boys' basketball team won three NICL West titles in a row. The football team also won a district title in 1999. The 2007-08 girls' basketball team had a great season, with 20 wins and only 3 losses. They made it to the program's first-ever regional final.
Garwin/GMG Boys' State Tournament Results
| Garwin/GMG Boys' State Tournament Results | |||
| Year | Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1978 | Quarterfinals | Lake View-Auburn | 44–54 |
| 1983 | Quarterfinals | Treynor | 75–47 |
| 1983 | Semifinals | Northwood-Kensett | 56–48 |
| 1983 | Class 1A Championship | Palmer | 55–61 |
Images for kids
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Looking into Garwin from the south
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Location of Garwin, Iowa
See also
In Spanish: Garwin (Iowa) para niños
