Pella, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pella, Iowa
City
Molengracht Canal, Downtown Pella
Motto(s):  "A Touch of Holland"
Location of Pella, Iowa
Pella, Iowa Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Marion
Area
• Total	9.18 sq mi (23.79 km2)
• Land	9.18 sq mi (23.78 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	876 ft (267 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,464
• Density	1,139.57/sq mi (439.99/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	50219
Area code(s)	641
FIPS code	19-62040
GNIS feature ID	2396174
Website	cityofpella.com

Brinkhoff Park, Pella

Pella is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. About 10,464 people lived there in 2020. It was started by people who moved from the Netherlands. Pella is about 40 miles southeast of Des Moines. It is home to Central College and several factories, including Pella Corporation and Vermeer Manufacturing Company.

Pella's History

In 1847, about 800 Dutch immigrants came to this area. They were led by a minister named Hendrik "Henry" P. Scholte. They named the new settlement "Pella." This name comes from an ancient city called Pella where Christians found safety long ago. The Dutch settlers chose this name because they also wanted a safe place to practice their religion freely.

Pella was the childhood home of Wyatt Earp, a famous lawman from the American Old West. His father, Nicholas Porter Earp, had a farm near Pella. Wyatt's brothers, Warren and Morgan, were also born in Pella.

On July 19, 2018, a strong tornado hit the Vermeer factory in Pella. It was an EF3 tornado, which means it was very powerful. Luckily, only seven people were hurt, even though thousands were at the factory. This was because people got an early warning and could find shelter.

Where is Pella?

Pella is located in Iowa. The city covers an area of about 8.73 square miles (22.6 square kilometers), and all of it is land. Since 2013, Pella has been part of Iowa's 2nd congressional district.

Who Lives in Pella?

In 2020, Pella had 10,464 people living there. The city is home to people from many different backgrounds. Most residents are White (91.2%), but there are also people who are Black or African American (1.1%), Asian (2.5%), and from other races. About 2.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Pella in 2020 was 37.4 years old. About 26.9% of the people were under 20 years old.

Pella's Culture and Fun Events

Pella's Vermeer Mill

Franklin Street in Pella, showing the Tulip Toren and Information Windmill

Shops on Main Street in Pella with Dutch-style buildings

Pella has many interesting places and events, especially ones that show off its Dutch heritage.

The Vermeer Mill is a real working windmill, just like the ones in the Netherlands. It stands 134 feet (41 meters) tall! This mill uses only wind power to grind wheat into flour. It's the tallest working windmill in the United States.

The Pella Opera House was built in 1900. It was updated in 1990 and is now a popular place for shows and events. It has beautiful stained-glass windows and fancy tin ceilings. Nearby, Molengracht Plaza has shops, restaurants, a movie theater, and even a working drawbridge over a canal.

One of the biggest events is the annual Tulip Time Festival. This festival celebrates Pella's Dutch roots. You can see beautiful tulip gardens, watch performances, enjoy music, eat Dutch food, and see people dressed in traditional Dutch costumes. There are parades every day of the festival, which happens for three days in early May. In 2010, people at the festival set a world record for the most people dancing in wooden shoes! Over 2,600 people danced together for more than six minutes.

Some people in Pella even speak a special kind of Dutch language called Pella Dutch.

Schools and Learning

The Pella Community School District runs the public schools in Pella. There are also private schools like Pella Christian Grade School (for younger students) and Pella Christian High School (for older students).

Central College is a four-year college located right in Pella.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Just a few miles west of Pella is Lake Red Rock. This is Iowa's largest lake created by a dam. It's a great spot for biking, hiking, boating, and fishing. Pella also has the Bos Landen golf club. And, of course, the Pella Tulip Festival, mentioned earlier, is a big outdoor event that brings lots of fun to the town every year.

Famous People from Pella

Many interesting people have come from Pella:

• Bert Bandstra: A former U.S. Representative (a type of politician).
• Rachel Brand: She worked as a high-ranking lawyer for the U.S. government.
• Kory DeHaan: A former professional baseball player.
• The Earp Brothers:
  • Morgan Earp: A lawman, born in Pella.
  • Virgil Earp: Another lawman and deputy U.S. Marshal.
  • Wyatt Earp: A very famous lawman and gunfighter, known for the OK Corral shootout. He spent most of his childhood in Pella.
  • Warren Earp: The youngest of the Earp brothers, also born in Pella.
• Paul Emerick: A professional rugby player.
• John Hospers: A professor and the first person to run for president for the Libertarian Party.
• Dave Keuning: A guitarist for the famous band The Killers.
• Barb Kniff McCulla: A member of the Iowa House of Representatives.
• Kyle Korver: A former professional basketball player.
• Louis LeCocq: An early auto racer who was from Pella.
• Wendell L. Roelofs: A well-known scientist.
• Ron Schipper: A football coach who is in the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Edward Owings Towne: An author and playwright.
• Andy Thompson: A state representative from Ohio, born in Pella.

Images for kids

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  Molengracht Canal, Downtown Pella

• 

  Location of Pella, Iowa

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  Brinkhoff Park, Pella

• 

  Pella's Vermeer Mill

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  Franklin Street in Pella and some of the businesses located there: Notable in the background are the Tulip Toren (tall white statue) and Information Windmill located in Pella's Central Park.

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  Shops on Main Street in Pella illustrating Dutch architecture

See also

In Spanish: Pella (Iowa) para niños