Riverside, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Riverside, Iowa
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| Motto(s):
Where the Trek Begins
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Location of Riverside, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Washington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.85 sq mi (4.78 km2) |
| • Land | 1.85 sq mi (4.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 689 ft (210 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,060 |
| • Density | 574.21/sq mi (221.67/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52327
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| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-67440 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396384 |
| Website | City of Riverside |
Riverside is a small city in Washington County, Iowa, United States. It is located along the English River and is part of the Iowa City area. In 2020, about 1,060 people lived there.
Riverside is famous for something special: it claims to be the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk. He is a well-known character from the Star Trek science fiction TV show. The creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, even agreed to this idea!
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History of Riverside
Riverside was first settled in 1872. It officially became a city in 1882. The name "Riverside" likely came from its location right next to the English River. A doctor named Dr. Ott suggested the name.
A railway line was built through Riverside in 1879. This railway connected Iowa City to What Cheer. Riverside was an important stop on this line. It helped the town grow by making it easier to travel and transport goods.
Where is Riverside Located?
Riverside is about 1.72 square miles (4.45 square kilometers) in size. All of this area is land. The city is located about 15 miles (24 km) south of Iowa City. It is also about 30 miles (48 km) west of Muscatine. The city sits on the north side of the English River.
Who Lives in Riverside?
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 412 | — |
| 1890 | 608 | +47.6% |
| 1900 | 698 | +14.8% |
| 1910 | 652 | −6.6% |
| 1920 | 667 | +2.3% |
| 1930 | 638 | −4.3% |
| 1940 | 633 | −0.8% |
| 1950 | 631 | −0.3% |
| 1960 | 656 | +4.0% |
| 1970 | 758 | +15.5% |
| 1980 | 826 | +9.0% |
| 1990 | 824 | −0.2% |
| 2000 | 928 | +12.6% |
| 2010 | 993 | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 1,060 | +6.7% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Riverside's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 993 people living in Riverside. These people lived in 435 households. The city had about 577 people per square mile.
Most people in Riverside were of European American background (97.8%). A small number were African American (0.8%) or Native American (0.3%). About 1.1% of the population identified with two or more races. About 1.2% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (31.7%) had children under 18 living with them. Almost half (49.4%) were married couples. About 31.0% of households were individuals living alone. About 9.7% of people living alone were 65 years or older. The average household had 2.28 people.
The average age in Riverside was 37.5 years old. About 24.5% of residents were under 18. About 13.3% were 65 or older. Slightly more females (51.5%) lived in Riverside than males (48.5%).
Schools in Riverside
The Highland Community School District serves the students of Riverside. Highland Elementary School is located right in Riverside. However, the middle school and high school are in a nearby area outside the city limits.
Riverside and Star Trek
Gene Roddenberry, the person who created Star Trek, wrote in his book that the character James Tiberius Kirk was born in Iowa. In the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Kirk himself says he is from Iowa.
How Riverside Became Kirk's Birthplace
In March 1985, the city of Riverside was looking for a fun theme for its yearly festival. Steve Miller, a city council member, had read Roddenberry's book. He suggested that Riverside should declare itself the future birthplace of Captain Kirk. The city council loved the idea and voted for it right away!
This idea became an official part of Star Trek stories in 2023. In an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Kirk confirms he was born in Riverside, Iowa. Some Star Trek novels also feature Riverside. For example, the book Best Destiny shows Kirk's childhood in Riverside. Another novel, Final Frontier, shows an adult Kirk thinking about his career in Riverside.
Riverside in the 2009 Star Trek Movie
The 2009 Star Trek movie shows a different story. In this movie, Kirk is born on a shuttlecraft in space. But he is still raised in Iowa. The movie also shows a fictional "Riverside Quarry" where a young Jim Kirk causes some trouble. It also mentions "Riverside Shipyards," where the famous USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) was built.
Invasion Iowa Reality Show
In 2004, the city of Riverside became part of a reality TV show called Invasion Iowa. The show was inspired by the city's Star Trek connection. Actor William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the original series, came to Riverside. He pretended to film a science fiction movie, but it was actually a reality show.
The Voyage Home Riverside History Center
The Voyage Home Riverside History Center is often called the "Star Trek Museum." It has many cool Star Trek exhibits and items. You can see a time capsule and a Star Trek themed bathroom! There are also displays about the history of Riverside.
The museum also features exhibits about Leonard Nimoy (who played Spock) and other Star Trek TV shows. There's even a display about NASA and William Shatner's visit. Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov, visited the museum when it opened in 2008.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Riverside (Iowa) para niños
