Parnell, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Parnell, Iowa
City
Aerial view of Parnell
Location of Parnell, Iowa
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Iowa
Area
• Total	0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2)
• Land	0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	863 ft (263 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	194
• Density	1,096.05/sq mi (422.06/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	52325
Area code(s)	319
FIPS code	19-61770
GNIS feature ID	0460031

Parnell is a small city located in Iowa County, Iowa, in the United States. In 2020, about 194 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a rich history.

History of Parnell

Parnell, located in Fillmore Township, Iowa County, was named after Charles Stewart Parnell. He was an important Irish leader who spoke up for the rights of farmers in Ireland. He even visited America to ask for help for his people.

How Parnell Started

The city of Parnell was created thanks to the Milwaukee Railroad. In 1884, a nearby small Irish town called Lytle City decided to move. Its residents packed up their homes, shops, and even entire buildings. They moved about three miles west to be closer to where the new railroad was being built.

Most of the people from Lytle City were members of the Catholic Church. When they moved, they became the first residents of Parnell. The town officially became a city on March 24, 1891. At that time, it had a population of 156 people.

Early Businesses in Parnell

In its early days, Parnell was a busy little town. It had many different businesses to serve its residents. Some of these included:

• a hardware store
• a grocery store
• a drug store
• a place where metal items were made and repaired (a foundry and blacksmith)
• a newspaper office
• a hotel
• a stable for horses and carriages (a livery stable)
• a tavern
• a dry goods store (selling fabric and clothes)
• a hat shop (millinery shop)
• a photographer's studio
• an opera house (for performances)
• a bank

Churches in Parnell

Catholic church services started in Parnell in the fall of 1888. The very next year, St. Joseph's Catholic Church was built. Its first leader was Reverend James Davis. This church was the largest Catholic church in the county for many years. It was the only church in Parnell until March 16, 1958. That's when the Parnell Mennonite Church became an organized group.

The St. Joseph's Cemetery, a burial ground, was created in 1892 just east of town. Sadly, because the church building became very old and worn out, it was taken down on April 27, 2010.

Schools in Parnell

The first school district in Parnell was called Locust Grove Independent district. For the first two years, the school building was located about a mile east of town. To make it easier for students living in Parnell, classes were held in a store building during the winter of 1888–1889. Birdie Costello and W.J. Naughton were the first teachers.

In 1889, a new one-room school building was built. Later, in 1899, a larger brick building with four rooms was constructed. The school became a high school in 1899. It added the eleventh grade in 1907 and the twelfth grade in 1915.

In 1916, the Parnell Consolidated School opened. This was Parnell's first public school. Interestingly, Catholic nuns, called the Sisters of Humility, taught at this public school until 1955. This was quite unusual for a public school in Iowa at the time.

Early Families and Later Businesses

Many families helped build Parnell into the community it is today. Some of these early families included the Shuells, Murphys, Hannons, Tiernans, Kellys, McDonalds, Dwyers, Callans, Eagletons, Lawlers, Tourneys, McCunes, Mullinex', Naughtons, Quinns, Sheridans, Mastersons, Ryans, Leahys, Murrins, Coakleys, Carneys, Sullivans and Weldons.

By 1985, Parnell still had several local businesses. These included Weldon's DX, Shamrock Cafe, Royal Beauty Salon, Parnell Sandwich & Cone Shoppe, Parnell Tavern, Parnell Post Office, Central Midwest Petroleum, Parnell Cycle Shop, and Johnny O's Car Wash.

Just four miles east of Parnell, in a small area called Holbrook, there's a historic site. The St. Michael's Church, Cemetery, Rectory and Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's an important place to protect because of its history.

Geography of Parnell

Parnell is located at 41°35′1″N 92°0′18″W / 41.58361°N 92.00500°W / 41.58361; -92.00500. This means it's in a specific spot on the Earth's surface. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers a total area of about 0.17 square miles (0.46 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the city limits.

Population Information

Parnell's Population in 2020

The census in 2020 counted 194 people living in Parnell. There were 81 households and 48 families. A household is a group of people living together, and a family is a group related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

The city had about 1,093 people per square mile (422 per square kilometer). There were 93 housing units, which are places where people live, like houses or apartments.

Most people in Parnell were White (about 89.7%). A smaller number were Black or African American (2.6%), Native American (0.5%), or from two or more races (5.2%). About 2.6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In terms of households, about 37% had children under 18 living with them. About 43.2% were married couples. The median age in Parnell was 39 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39, and half were older. About 25.3% of residents were under 20 years old.

Parnell's Population in 2010

In the census of 2010, Parnell had 193 people. There were 87 households and 43 families. The population density was about 1,135 people per square mile (438 per square kilometer). There were 100 housing units.

Most residents were White (97.4%). About 2.1% were Native American, and 0.5% were from two or more races. About 0.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 26.4% of households had children under 18. The median age was 41.7 years. About 25.4% of residents were under 18 years old.

Notable People from Parnell

• William Edwin Franklin: He was born in Parnell and later became a Roman Catholic bishop, an important leader in the Catholic Church.
• Patsy Gharrity: He was a professional baseball player.