Oelwein, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oelwein, Iowa
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The Hotel Mealey in downtown Oelwein
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| Nickname(s):
Hub City
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| Motto(s):
Hub of Northeast Iowa
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Location of Oelwein, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Fayette |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council government|Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.85 sq mi (12.55 km2) |
| • Land | 4.81 sq mi (12.47 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,047 ft (319 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,920 |
| • Density | 1,229.75/sq mi (474.81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50662
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| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-58620 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0459805 |
| Website | http://www.cityofoelwein.org/main |
Oelwein is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. In 2020, about 5,920 people lived there. This was a bit less than in 2000. Oelwein is the biggest town in Fayette County. You can find it where State Highways 3 and 150 meet.
Contents
History
The town of Oelwein started in 1872. It was built on a corn field bought from a pioneer named Gustav Oelwein. This happened when the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railroad came through. Later, two main streets in Oelwein were named after Gustav's sons, Frederick and Charles.
J. B. Burch first settled in Oelwein's area in 1852. Oelwein officially became a small village in 1873. It became a town in 1888, and Dr. Israel Pattison was its first mayor. In 1887, a big fire destroyed most of the old Main Street business area. By 1890, about 830 people lived in Oelwein.
In 1892, Oelwein was chosen to be a major center for the Chicago Great Western Railway. The railway built large shops here to repair locomotives and cars. Four different rail lines met in Oelwein. Work on the shops began in 1894 and finished in 1899. Because of these repair shops and the many rail lines, Oelwein became known as the "Shop City" and later the "Hub City."
By 1895, the population grew to 1,928. In 1897, Oelwein officially became a city. By 1900, there were 5,142 people living in Oelwein. Many Italian immigrants came to Oelwein to work in the railroad industry. The population continued to grow, reaching 6,028 in 1910 and 7,801 in 1940.
In 1968, a large tornado hit Oelwein. It swept through the main business area. 68 homes were completely destroyed, and many more were badly damaged. Every business in the downtown area was affected, with 51 being destroyed. Two churches, an elementary school, and the middle school were also destroyed. The tornado caused a lot of damage in nearby Maynard too. Sadly, 5 people died along the tornado's path, and 156 were injured. The damage cost about $21 million at the time.
Oelwein was a "railroad town" until the early 1980s. At that time, many of the railroad tracks were no longer used. Today, Transco Railway Products is still in Oelwein. This company repairs railroad cars and employs about 190 people. Transco workers helped fix up a old Chicago Great Western train engine. It is now on display near the Hub City Heritage Museum. This museum shows off items from the railroad's past.
Geography
Oelwein is located at 42.676996 degrees north latitude and -91.915745 degrees west longitude.
The city covers a total area of about 4.86 square miles (12.59 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 4.81 square miles (12.46 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.05 square miles (0.13 square kilometers), is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 397 | — | |
| 1890 | 830 | 109.1% | |
| 1900 | 5,142 | 519.5% | |
| 1910 | 6,028 | 17.2% | |
| 1920 | 7,455 | 23.7% | |
| 1930 | 7,794 | 4.5% | |
| 1940 | 7,801 | 0.1% | |
| 1950 | 7,858 | 0.7% | |
| 1960 | 8,282 | 5.4% | |
| 1970 | 7,735 | −6.6% | |
| 1980 | 7,564 | −2.2% | |
| 1990 | 6,493 | −14.2% | |
| 2000 | 6,692 | 3.1% | |
| 2010 | 6,415 | −4.1% | |
| 2020 | 5,920 | −7.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Details
In 2020, Oelwein had 5,920 people living in the city. There were 2,550 households. The city had about 1,230 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Oelwein were White (90.7%). About 1.4% were Black or African American. About 4.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The average age in the city was 43.1 years old. About 24.9% of the people were under 20 years old.
2010 Census Details
In 2010, there were 6,415 people living in Oelwein. There were 2,763 households. The city had about 1,334 people per square mile.
About 96.1% of the people were White. About 2.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The average age was 42.9 years. About 23.1% of residents were under 18 years old.
Arts and Culture
The Williams Center for the Performing Arts is a modern theater in Oelwein. It can seat 800 people. Many different performers come to the center. You can see both local and national acts there.
Parks and Recreation
Oelwein offers many fun outdoor activities. There are public parks, places to camp, playgrounds for kids, and picnic spots. You can go canoeing, boating, and swimming at City Park. A paved trail is being built to connect all the parks in town. Wings Park has tennis courts, a skateboard rink, and softball fields. There is also a 9-hole golf course. In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing.
- Walter P. Chrysler Park
This park is 2 acres (8,094 square meters) big. It's located at North Frederick and 2nd Street. It used to be called "Twin Parks." The park is named after Walter P. Chrysler, who founded the Chrysler car company and once lived in Oelwein. One part of the park has a gazebo and picnic areas. The other part has memorials for Korean and Vietnam Veterans.
- Orville Christophel Park
This park is 1 acre (4,047 square meters) in size. It is also known as Log Cabin Park. Many people think Gustav Oelwein built the log cabin here, but it was actually built by J.B Burch in 1852. The cabin is still standing today. The park has picnic tables and benches.
- City Park
City Park is a large park, 69 acres (279,233 square meters) big. It is next to Lake Oelwein, which is a 55-acre (222,577 square meters) artificial lake. The park has new playground equipment for kids.
You can find picnic shelters, open play areas, and tennis courts here. There are also sand volleyball and horseshoe courts. The lake allows "no wake" boating. The campground at the park overlooks Lake Oelwein. It has spots for RVs and primitive camping.
- Levin Park
This park is 2 acres (8,094 square meters) in size. It is located at 4th Avenue and 4½ Street SW. Levin Park has picnic tables and an open field for play. A bike, skateboard, and walking trail runs along its west side.
- Platt's Park
Platt's Park is 16 acres (64,750 square meters) big. It is at 7th Street and 7th Avenue SE. The park has 1.25 miles (2.01 kilometers) of walking paths. It also has picnic shelters, playground equipment, and a horseshoe court. A gazebo and a "Trail of Dreams" are also found here. New playground equipment was added recently.
- Redgate Park
This park is 24 acres (97,125 square meters) in size. It's on West Charles Street. Redgate Park has a large wooded area. It also offers picnic facilities, playground equipment, and tennis courts. There are horseshoe courts and Bocce Ball courts too. New playground equipment has been installed here.
- Reidy Park
Reidy Park is 3 acres (12,141 square meters) big. It is located at 2nd Street and Hillside Drive SE. This park has a basketball court and playground equipment. It also has picnic facilities and new tennis courts. New playground equipment has been added to this park.
- Wings Park
Wings Park is 24 acres (97,125 square meters) in size. It is home to the Oelwein Family Aquatics Center. The park has picnic shelters, tennis courts, and three softball fields. You can also find a basketball court, horseshoe courts, and playground equipment here.
- Great Western Park
This is the newest park in Oelwein. It is on the northwest side of town. It is a special area set aside to protect wildlife.
Education
The Oelwein Community School District runs the public schools in Oelwein. Children from Oelwein, Hazleton, and Stanley go to these schools. The schools are:
- Little Husky Learning Center – For Kindergarten, preschool, and Head Start students.
- Wings Park Elementary – For 1st through 4th Grade.
- Oelwein Middle School – For 5th through 8th Grade.
- Oelwein High School – For 9th through 12th Grade.
Sacred Heart School is a Catholic school in Oelwein. It opened in 1904. In 2019, the school needed more support to keep going. As of 2020, about 165 students attend Sacred Heart School.
Oelwein also has the Regional Academy for Math and Science (RAMS). RAMS helps high school students and adult learners. It offers courses through Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC). RAMS provides classes for high school and college students. It also has summer programs for gifted and talented students. RAMS works with universities to offer summer classes for teachers too.
Notable People
- Maurice E. Baringer (1921–2011), a state treasurer and representative for Iowa.
- Walter Chrysler (1875–1940), the person who started the Chrysler car company.
- Walter P. Chrysler Jr. (1909–1988), an art collector and supporter of museums.
- Arthur T. Gibbons (1903–1986), a businessman and state representative for Minnesota.
- Ray Hanken (1911–1980), a football player.
- John Francis Kinney (1937–2019), a former bishop in the Catholic Church.
- Gustav Oelwein (1838–1913), the founder of the town of Oelwein.
- Kermit Tyler (1913–2010), a US Air Force pilot during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- Dick Wagner (1942–2014), an American rock music guitarist, songwriter, and author.
- Stacey Blitsch (1975–), an athlete and entertainer who was a roller derby captain and swim coach for Haiti's Olympic team.
- Troy Boleyn (1979–), an international TV and film actor, musician, and producer.
Other Points of Interest
- Oelwein Sports Complex
This complex is 32 acres (129,499 square meters) in size. It is on 20th Street SE. The park has two soccer fields and two softball/baseball fields. It is also the home baseball field for the Oelwein Huskies school team. This complex is mainly for league games. It has modern restrooms, a snack stand, and drinking fountains.
- Oelwein Family Aquatics Center
This swimming facility is at 411 4th Street NE. It has a pool with a shallow entry, like a beach. There's a 150-foot (46-meter) water slide and six racing lanes. You can also find 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards. The center has areas for sunbathing, changing rooms, a playground, and a snack bar. It is located near Wings Park.
- Williams Wellness Center
The Wellness Center is open every day of the week. It offers many fitness and dance classes. You can use weight machines and cardio equipment. There is also a gym and an indoor track. The center provides personal training and massage therapy services.
See also
In Spanish: Oelwein (Iowa) para niños
