Janesville, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janesville, Iowa
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Downtown Janesville
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| Nickname(s):
Oldest City in Bremer County
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Location of Janesville, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Counties | Bremer, Black Hawk |
| Incorporated | October 29, 1895 |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.47 sq mi (3.81 km2) |
| • Land | 1.41 sq mi (3.66 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2) |
| Elevation | 906 ft (276 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,034 |
| • Density | 731.26/sq mi (282.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50647
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| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-39405 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0457912 |
Janesville is a small city in the state of Iowa, USA. It is located in both Black Hawk and Bremer counties. In 2020, about 1,034 people lived there. Janesville is part of the larger Waterloo–Cedar Falls metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Janesville
Janesville was started in 1849 by a man named John T. Barrick. He was a Quaker, which is a type of Christian, and also an abolitionist. This means he was against slavery and worked to end it. Barrick moved to Iowa from Ohio.
He built the first mill and house in the area. He also planned out the town of Janesville. He named it after his wife, Jane McPherson Barrick. A post office was opened in Janesville in 1854.
Local Legends and the Underground Railroad
There's a local story that a secret tunnel once existed under the main business area of Janesville. This tunnel supposedly connected basements and went under Main Street. It was said to lead towards the Cedar River.
Another part of the tunnel might have gone north to a place called Fort John. This was a shelter built to protect settlers in 1854. The tunnel was also said to end in the basement of Abel Crail's home. He was a soldier in the American Civil War.
According to local legends, the Barricks and other people in Janesville helped runaway slaves. They were part of the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped slaves escape to freedom. Slaves were moved through Janesville from Grinnell and then continued to Decorah and into Minnesota. Some people say the tunnel has been filled in, while others believe parts of it still exist.
Janesville's Growth Over Time
Janesville began as a farming community. In 1900, about 311 people lived there. By 1950, the population had grown to 445. Because Janesville is close to larger cities like Waterloo and Cedar Falls, more people started moving there.
By 1980, the population reached 840. Janesville became known as a "bedroom community." This means many people lived in Janesville but traveled to work in nearby cities. In the 1980s, the population dropped a little due to economic problems. However, since the mid-1990s, the population has been growing again. This is partly because a new four-lane highway, U.S. Highway 218, was completed. New neighborhoods are still being built in and around Janesville.
Geography of Janesville
Janesville is located at 42°38′46″N 92°27′46″W / 42.64611°N 92.46278°W. The city sits right on the border between Bremer and Black Hawk counties. The Cedar River also flows through the middle of the city.
The United States Census Bureau says that Janesville covers about 1.49 square miles (3.81 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.44 square miles (3.66 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.05 square miles (0.15 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People in Janesville
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 273 | — |
| 1900 | 311 | +13.9% |
| 1910 | 269 | −13.5% |
| 1920 | 261 | −3.0% |
| 1930 | 331 | +26.8% |
| 1940 | 366 | +10.6% |
| 1950 | 445 | +21.6% |
| 1960 | 648 | +45.6% |
| 1970 | 741 | +14.4% |
| 1980 | 840 | +13.4% |
| 1990 | 822 | −2.1% |
| 2000 | 829 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 930 | +12.2% |
| 2020 | 1,034 | +11.2% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Janesville's Population in 2020
According to the census from 2020, Janesville had 1,034 people living there. There were 419 households, and 283 of these were families. The city had about 731 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Janesville were White (97.0%). A small number were Asian (0.5%), or from two or more races (2.5%). About 1.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of age, the median age in Janesville was 42.5 years old. About 25.4% of the residents were under 20 years old. Also, 19.2% of the people were 65 years old or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.4%) and females (50.6%).
Arts and Culture in Janesville
Janesville Public Library
The Janesville Public Library started in 1962. It was inspired by Clark Corwin and helped by Hattie Zo Shoesmith and Margaret Theis. At first, it was run by volunteers and used only donated books. It was located in a room at the city hall.
In 1973, the library received a large grant of $10,000. This money helped the library grow into a new space. As of 2011, the library had about 10,000 books. It also offered 55 magazines and newspapers, and many videos and audio tapes. The library had 6 computers for people to use and offered audio book downloads. About 1,000 people visited the library each month.
Riviera Ballroom History
The Riviera Ballroom was a popular place in Janesville. It was opened in 1951 by Madge and Heine Kurtz. The ballroom closed in the late 1980s.
Later, the building was torn down and replaced with the Riviera Roose center. A local author, Deb (Mather) Renner, wrote a book about the Riviera Ballroom. Her book was released in 2010.
Education in Janesville
Janesville and the nearby areas, including Finchford, are served by the Janesville Consolidated School District. This public school district teaches about 335 students. It includes students from pre-Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.
The Janesville schools had big renovations and an addition completed in early 2008. Students at Janesville High School can take advanced classes at other schools. These include Waverly-Shell Rock High School, the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, and Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. Wartburg College is also located nearby in Waverly.
Notable People from Janesville
- Bill Dix: He is a Republican and used to be a member of the Iowa Legislature. He graduated from Janesville High School in 1981.
- Albert J. Loveland: He was a Democrat and served as the U.S. Under-Secretary of Agriculture. This is a high-ranking job in the government department that deals with farming and food. He also ran for the U.S. Senate in 1950.
See also
In Spanish: Janesville (Iowa) para niños
