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Seymour, Iowa
City
Location of Seymour, Iowa
Location of Seymour, Iowa
Country USA
State  Iowa
County Wayne
Area
 • Total 2.39 sq mi (6.20 km2)
 • Land 2.39 sq mi (6.20 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,073 ft (327 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 634
 • Density 265.05/sq mi (102.32/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
52590
Area code(s) 641
FIPS code 19-71760
GNIS feature ID 0461518

Seymour is a city in Wayne County, Iowa, United States. The population was 634 at the time of the 2020 census.

History

The first coal mines in Seymour were opened in 1884. In 1902, the Numa Block Coal Company took over these mines. In 1908, "Big Jim", Numa Block number 2 was 1 mile east of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway depot, was the largest coal mine in Appanoose-Wayne Coalfield, able to produce 100,000 tons per year at full capacity. The Mystic coal seam was just over 2 feet thick here, reached by a 202-foot shaft. Numa Block Mine number 3, the Sunshine Mine, was in the southeast part of town, served by the Rock Island, with a 240-foot shaft to the Mystic seam.

In 1884, Local Assembly 3143 of the Knights of Labor, based in Seymour, had 40 members. In 1912, United Mine Workers Local 206 in Seymour had 299 members, approximately 13% of the entire population.

On March 6, 2017 a storm event hit Seymour around 7:00pm CST damaging homes and the High School which had been undergoing a process to pass a bond to renovate the school. As a result of the storm damage school had been closed on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, electricity remained out while Alliant Energy worked to assess the damage and expected to restore power by Tuesday morning.

Geography

Seymour is located at 40°40′58″N 93°7′15″W / 40.68278°N 93.12083°W / 40.68278; -93.12083 (40.682854, −93.120732).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.35 square miles (6.09 km2), all of it land.

Transportation

Seymour is served by a county-maintained road which used to be Iowa Highway 55 and is now County Road S60.

Seymour is served by the Canadian Pacific Railway which currently operates the former Milwaukee Railroad tracks.

Seymour was also served by the CRI&P (Rock Island) until the early 1980s. This line passed on the southwest corner of the town square with the depot in this location. This line was abandoned when the Rock Island went bankrupt. It used to be part of the Golden State Route which was a luxury passenger train operated by the Rock Island and the Southern Pacific.

The two railroad lines crossed at the western edge of Seymour and was protected by an interlocking tower until the Rock Island was abandoned.

Demographics

Historical populations
Year Pop. ±%
1880 501 —    
1890 1,058 +111.2%
1900 1,703 +61.0%
1910 2,290 +34.5%
1920 1,746 −23.8%
1930 1,571 −10.0%
1940 1,539 −2.0%
1950 1,223 −20.5%
1960 1,117 −8.7%
1970 931 −16.7%
1980 1,036 +11.3%
1990 869 −16.1%
2000 810 −6.8%
2010 701 −13.5%
2020 634 −9.6%
Iowa Data Center
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 701 people, 295 households, and 192 families residing in the city. The population density was 298.3 inhabitants per square mile (115.2/km2). There were 348 housing units at an average density of 148.1 per square mile (57.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.7% White, 0.4% Asian, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 295 households, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 47.1 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20% were from 25 to 44; 27.4% were from 45 to 64; and 24.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

Education

The Seymour Community School District operates local area public schools.

Notable people

  • John C. Mabee, Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder
  • Marcus Collins, actor and singer part of The Texas Tenors

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Seymour (Iowa) para niños

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