Pierson, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierson, Iowa
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Pierson, Iowa
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Woodbury |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.47 sq mi (1.23 km2) |
| • Land | 0.47 sq mi (1.23 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,280 ft (390 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 337 |
| • Density | 709.47/sq mi (273.94/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
51048
|
| Area code(s) | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-62760 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0460129 |
Pierson is a small city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the larger Sioux City area, which stretches across Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. In 2020, the city had a population of 337 people.
Pierson was planned and built in 1883. Railroads and lumberyards helped it grow a lot in its early days. It started small, with just eight blocks, but grew bigger over time. Today, Pierson has a library, a school district, and several churches. It also has other businesses and fun places for people to visit.
Contents
History of Pierson
Pierson was officially laid out in 1883 by the Railroad Land Co. The city might have been named after Moses Pearson, an early settler. Pierson began with only eight blocks of land. New areas were added starting in July 1892.
Railroads were very important for the growth of northwest Iowa, including Pierson. They carried lumber and other materials needed for building and expanding the area. Lumberyards were a big business in Pierson's early days. The first one, Joyce Lumber Company, started in 1883. A local newspaper, Pierson Press, was published from 1882 until 1957. John C. Pierson was the mayor from 1898 to 1905.
Henry Castle opened a store in Pierson that sold groceries and hardware. It also served as the post office. This store changed owners several times over the years. It finally closed in July 2016.
The Farmers' Elevator Co. began in 1904. It handled grain from five counties in northwest Iowa. This company sold corn, oats, and barley. It could process 3,500 bushels of grain every hour. The facility was rebuilt in 1936.
Herman and Henry Rock ran a John Deere business from the late 1920s to the mid-1930s. It reopened in 1936 as the Rock-Karsten Implement Company. This business also had many owners over the years and closed in 1986. Koch Construction, started by Bill Koch in the 1970s, focused on cement work. It closed when Koch retired in 2000.
In 2000, Pierson's main business area got new streets and sidewalks. A big celebration was held with church services, live music, food, and kids decorating the streets with chalk. The 4 Angels Memorial was created to remember four girls from Kingsley–Pierson. They died in a snowmobile accident in December 2003. The girls were between 10 and 13 years old.
In 2018, Pierson's World War I memorial was rededicated. This was part of a program by the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. The program aimed to honor 100 memorials during the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Local citizens and American Legion Post 291 helped get a $15,000 grant to improve the monument.
Pierson's Location
Pierson is located at 42°32′41″N 95°52′7″W / 42.54472°N 95.86861°W. It is in the northeastern part of Woodbury County, in the northwest part of Iowa. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers about 0.47 square miles (1.23 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits. The closest major road is U.S. Route 20. Pierson is surrounded by rural areas.
Population and People
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1900 | 358 | — |
| 1910 | 416 | +16.2% |
| 1920 | 554 | +33.2% |
| 1930 | 551 | −0.5% |
| 1940 | 531 | −3.6% |
| 1950 | 453 | −14.7% |
| 1960 | 425 | −6.2% |
| 1970 | 421 | −0.9% |
| 1980 | 408 | −3.1% |
| 1990 | 341 | −16.4% |
| 2000 | 371 | +8.8% |
| 2010 | 366 | −1.3% |
| 2020 | 337 | −7.9% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
||
2020 Census Details
In 2020, Pierson had 337 people living in 131 households. About 90 of these were families. The city had about 709 people per square mile. Most residents (95.5%) were White. A small number were Native American or from two or more races. About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 36.6% of households had children under 18. The median age in Pierson was 32.3 years. This means half the people were younger than 32.3 and half were older. Many residents (35%) were under 20 years old. The population was slightly more female (53.7%) than male (46.3%).
2010 Census Details
In 2010, Pierson had 366 people living in 147 households. About 102 of these were families. The population density was about 590 people per square mile. Most residents (94.5%) were White. There were also small groups of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 1.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 35.4% of households had children under 18. The median age was 36.7 years. About 30.1% of residents were under 18. About 18% were 65 years or older. The population was slightly more male (51.1%) than female (48.9%).
Schools and Community Life
The Kingsley–Pierson Community School District serves the area. Elementary school students attend classes in either Kingsley, Iowa, or Pierson. Middle school students go to school in Pierson. High school students attend school in Kingsley.
The Pierson Public Library started in 1902 as a "Literary and Reading Club." In 1912, a library association was formed, and the library moved into the town hall. The library has moved a few more times. Its current home is on Main Street inside the city hall.
Pierson has an ambulance service. Many groups are active in Pierson, such as the Pierson Library Friends, 4-H, and the Golf Club Association. The only cemetery in Pierson is Greenwood Cemetery. It was founded in 1904 and is located about a mile from the city.
Fun and Recreation
Pierson's city park has an area with plants and flowers native to the region. This was part of Pierson's Source Water Protection Plan. The city park features a shelter house built from rocks in 1941. It also has an outdoor shelter, a baseball field, a sand volleyball court, and a golf course. Jenni Battern Memorial Park offers a basketball court and a playground. Pierson has three churches: the United Methodist Church, Salem Lutheran Church, and Pierson Christian Church.
The Old School Bell Memorial is in front of the middle school. It has a bell from the 1893 school and bricks from the 1915 school. The Veterans War Memorial was built in 1921 to honor World War I veterans. Another memorial was added in 2004 for veterans of later wars.
In August 2021, Pierson hosted Golphstok 2021, an arts and music festival. The festival began in 2017 when the founder wanted to play music with his sons. The first event, then called GolfStock, raised money for Pierson's golf course. People soon realized it could become a yearly tradition for the city. The name changed to Golphstok when it was no longer just for the golf course.
Images for kids
-
A robot for kids
