Mount Ayr, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mount Ayr, Iowa
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Location of Mount Ayr, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Ringgold |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.72 sq mi (7.05 km2) |
| • Land | 2.70 sq mi (6.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,234 ft (376 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,623 |
| • Density | 601.11/sq mi (232.10/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50854
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| Area code(s) | 641 |
| FIPS code | 19-54480 |
| GNIS feature ID | 468415 |
Mount Ayr is a small city in Ringgold County, Iowa, United States. It's a quiet, rural community in southwestern Iowa. In 2020, about 1,623 people lived there.
Mount Ayr was started in 1875. Its name comes from Ayr, Scotland, which was the birthplace of a famous poet named Robert Burns. The "mount" part was added because the city is built on one of the highest spots in the area.
Contents
Geography
Mount Ayr is located where two main roads meet: US Route 169 and Iowa Highway 2. Other nearby towns include Kellerton to the east and Diagonal to the northwest.
The city covers a total area of about 2.69 square miles (7.05 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit being water.
Climate
Mount Ayr has a type of climate called a hot-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters. You'll see all four seasons here, with snow in winter and hot days in summer.
Population and People
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1870 | 422 | — |
| 1880 | 1,275 | +202.1% |
| 1890 | 1,265 | −0.8% |
| 1900 | 1,729 | +36.7% |
| 1910 | 1,646 | −4.8% |
| 1920 | 1,738 | +5.6% |
| 1930 | 1,704 | −2.0% |
| 1940 | 1,930 | +13.3% |
| 1950 | 1,793 | −7.1% |
| 1960 | 1,738 | −3.1% |
| 1970 | 1,762 | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 1,938 | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 1,796 | −7.3% |
| 2000 | 1,822 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 1,691 | −7.2% |
| 2020 | 1,623 | −4.0% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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2020 Census Information
In 2020, there were 1,623 people living in Mount Ayr. There were 739 households, which means 739 different homes or groups of people living together.
Most people in Mount Ayr are White (about 95.4%). A small number of people are from other racial backgrounds, including Black or African American, Native American, and Asian. About 2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Mount Ayr was about 45.5 years old. About a quarter of the residents were under 20 years old. Also, about 27% of the people were 65 years old or older. Slightly more than half of the population was female (54%).
Arts and Culture
Library
The Mount Ayr Public Library is a special kind of library called a Carnegie Library. It has a lot of old records on microfiche film, going all the way back to 1838! It also has a special room for people who are researching their family history.
Parks and Recreation
Mount Ayr has several fun places for people to relax and play:
- Judge Lewis Recreational Park, which is the main city park.
- Poe Hollow Park & Ringgold Trailway, a great place for outdoor activities.
- Sun Valley Lake and Resort, where you can find a golf course and enjoy boating on the lake.
- Fife's Grove and Loch Ayr, which also offer a park and a lake.
Education
Mount Ayr is home to the Mount Ayr Community School District. This school district serves Mount Ayr and several nearby towns like Beaconsfield, Kellerton, and Tingley.
The district has one high school for grades 7-12 and one elementary school for grades K-6. There's also a preschool and an alternative high school. Each class usually has around 50 students. The high school's drama department is quite good, with many students performing well in state competitions.
Education Facts
For adults 25 years and older in Mount Ayr:
- Most people (81.4%) have finished high school or gone even further in their education.
- About 16.6% have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from a college or university.
- A smaller group (5.2%) have earned a graduate or professional degree.
Airport
Mount Ayr has a small airport called Judge Lewis Field. It's located about two miles southeast of the city. This airport is mainly used by small, single-engine airplanes. It has one gravel runway that is 2,600 feet (about 792 meters) long.
Notable People
Some well-known people have come from Mount Ayr:
- Peggy Whitson (born 1960) was the first female NASA Chief Astronaut. She's a very important person in space exploration!
- Duane Miller (born 1947) was a professional football player. He also holds records for playing football at Drake University.
Gallery
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Orr C. Fischer, The Corn Parade, 1941, oil on canvas, mural on wall of post office.
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Paving Lincoln St.,
about 1935
See also
In Spanish: Mount Ayr (Iowa) para niños
