Maxwell, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maxwell, Iowa
City
Motto(s):  Settle in for the good life
Location of Maxwell, Iowa
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Story
City Clerk	Debra Hayes
Area
• Total	1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2)
• Land	1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	883 ft (269 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	859
• Density	786.63/sq mi (303.75/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	50161
Area code(s)	515
FIPS code	19-50520
GNIS feature ID	0458863
Website	http://www.welcometomaxwell.com

Maxwell is a small city located in Story County, Iowa, in the United States. In 2020, about 859 people lived there. It is part of a larger area that includes the cities of Ames, Iowa and Boone, Iowa.

A Look Back at Maxwell's History

Maxwell started because of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul railways. When the railroad decided to build tracks near the Calamus and Indian Creek valleys, people began to move closer to the railway.

J. W. Maxwell and F. M. Baldwin bought land near the railroad. They gave this land to create the first town of Maxwell. The town was named after J. W. Maxwell because he was the first person to move there.

Soon, many large buildings were moved from nearby towns like Iowa Center and Peoria City. They were brought to where Maxwell is today. The very first building built in Maxwell was the railroad depot.

More new buildings were quickly constructed. One of the largest was a store owned by Maxwell and Baldwin. Today, a grocery store is in that same building.

In the winter of 1881–1882, there was a lot of rain and heavy snow. This caused a big flood. The two creeks around the town overflowed and became one large body of water. Many construction workers who were staying in Maxwell got stuck because of the flood.

By the end of 1882, Maxwell had at least twelve businesses. More were being built all the time. By 1887, the town had grown to have 40 different businesses.

Maxwell officially became a city in 1883. The town held its first election that year. The town hall was located behind the Maxwell Baldwin building. It had a bell to ring during emergencies.

The first church meetings were held at a lumber yard. People sat on planks arranged as seats. Later, the Methodist and Presbyterian churches were built in town.

Where is Maxwell?

Maxwell is located in Iowa, at coordinates 41.890232 degrees North and 93.397657 degrees West.

The city covers a total area of about 1.11 square miles (2.83 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Who Lives in Maxwell?

2020 Population Details

In 2020, there were 859 people living in Maxwell. These people lived in 356 households, and 230 of these were families. The city had about 786.7 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Maxwell (92.4%) were White. About 2.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

About 26.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in Maxwell was 36.5 years. About 25.8% of residents were under 20 years old.

2010 Population Details

In 2010, Maxwell had 920 people living there. There were 349 households, and 242 of them were families. The population density was about 828.8 people per square mile.

Most residents (98.6%) were White. About 0.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 36.7% of households had children under 18. The average age in the city was 35.4 years. About 28.5% of residents were under 18 years old.

Maxwell's Museums

Maxwell has two interesting museums to explore:

• Maxwell North Museum: This museum has military items and uniforms. You can also see old quilts, wedding dresses, and graduation outfits. There's even a 1930s kitchen and a full printing shop.
• Maxwell South Museum: Here, you can find a millinery (hat-making) shop and a school room. There's also a church, a post office, and a barber shop. This museum also displays rocks, fossils, and geodes.

Education in Maxwell

The Collins–Maxwell Community School District serves the Maxwell community. This school district was formed on July 1, 1983, when the Collins and Maxwell school districts joined together.

The district has about 475 students and 81 staff members. This makes the school district the biggest employer in Maxwell. A board of five people manages the school. The Superintendent and Elementary Principal handle the daily operations.

The school's sports teams are called the Spartans. They are part of the Iowa Star Conference. Besides sports, students can join groups like FFA, Dance Team, Fine Arts, Yearbook committee, Champs, National Honor Society, and Cheerleading.

Sports and Fun in Maxwell

Maxwell has three city parks where you can play and relax.

• Maxwell City Park: This park is on the west side of town, next to Indian Creek. It's where the yearly Old Settlers event takes place. You'll find softball and baseball fields, a disc golf course, and playground equipment. There are also restrooms, RV camping spots, and five shelter houses (one with a kitchen). You can also play horseshoes or sand volleyball. The park features the Story County Freedom Rock and an Army Tank display.
• Legion Park: Located in the southeast part of the city, this park has soccer fields. On the south side, there's a baseball and softball field with a concession stand and restrooms. This park is also a stop on the Heartland Bike Trail.
• Scout Park: The Boy Scouts built and maintain this park. It's near Legion Park and has playground equipment, an open shelter, and tables.

The Collins–Maxwell–Baxter soccer club offers soccer for different age groups, starting from 5 years old. This league is part of the Central Iowa Soccer League and Iowa Soccer.

See also

In Spanish: Maxwell (Iowa) para niños