Sheldon, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sheldon, Iowa
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| Motto(s):
Families Come First
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Location of Sheldon, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Counties | O'Brien, Sioux |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.75 sq mi (12.29 km2) |
| • Land | 4.75 sq mi (12.29 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,427 ft (435 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,512 |
| • Density | 1,161.64/sq mi (448.48/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
51201
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| Area code(s) | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-72390 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0461558 |
Sheldon is a city in Iowa, a state in the United States. It is located in O'Brien and Sioux counties, right by the Floyd River. In 2020, about 5,512 people lived there. Sheldon is the biggest city in O'Brien County.
Contents
Sheldon's Story: History and Culture
Sheldon began in 1873. This was after the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad built tracks through the area. The city was named after Israel Sheldon, who helped promote the railroad.
Sheldon became an important spot for businesses. This was especially true after another railroad, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, joined in 1878. This made Sheldon a key meeting point for trains.
Today, Sheldon continues to be a hub for travel. It sits where Iowa Highway 60 and U.S. Route 18 cross. Trains still run through the city. The IC&E Railroad (now part of Canadian Pacific Railway) provides east-west service. The Union Pacific Railroad offers north-south service.
Sheldon's first bank, Sheldon State Bank, closed in 1903. Later, in 1961, a big financial issue happened at the Sheldon National Bank.
Sheldon is famous for its bright marigold flowers. You can see them displayed every year. The local school sports teams are called the "Orabs." This name comes from the school colors: orange and black. Sheldon High School also has a summer theater program. Sheldon is home to Northwest Iowa Community College and the historic Carnegie Library. The library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Where is Sheldon? Geography and Climate
Sheldon is located at coordinates 43°10′52″N 95°50′53″W / 43.18111°N 95.84806°W. The city covers about 4.50 square miles (12.29 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Sheldon's Weather: Climate Details
Sheldon has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. Here's a look at the typical weather:
| Climate data for Sheldon, Iowa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1899−2019) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 69 (21) |
66 (19) |
86 (30) |
98 (37) |
107 (42) |
104 (40) |
110 (43) |
107 (42) |
104 (40) |
94 (34) |
77 (25) |
66 (19) |
110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 46.0 (7.8) |
51.9 (11.1) |
69.2 (20.7) |
82.7 (28.2) |
88.2 (31.2) |
92.2 (33.4) |
93.6 (34.2) |
92.0 (33.3) |
88.2 (31.2) |
81.5 (27.5) |
65.1 (18.4) |
48.4 (9.1) |
95.2 (35.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 24.6 (−4.1) |
29.5 (−1.4) |
42.5 (5.8) |
57.0 (13.9) |
69.0 (20.6) |
79.2 (26.2) |
82.7 (28.2) |
80.3 (26.8) |
74.0 (23.3) |
60.5 (15.8) |
43.9 (6.6) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
56.1 (13.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 14.9 (−9.5) |
19.3 (−7.1) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
44.7 (7.1) |
57.6 (14.2) |
68.2 (20.1) |
71.5 (21.9) |
68.9 (20.5) |
60.9 (16.1) |
47.5 (8.6) |
32.8 (0.4) |
20.3 (−6.5) |
44.9 (7.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 5.2 (−14.9) |
9.1 (−12.7) |
21.3 (−5.9) |
32.4 (0.2) |
46.2 (7.9) |
57.2 (14.0) |
60.4 (15.8) |
57.5 (14.2) |
47.9 (8.8) |
34.6 (1.4) |
21.6 (−5.8) |
11.0 (−11.7) |
33.7 (0.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −17.3 (−27.4) |
−12.6 (−24.8) |
0.3 (−17.6) |
17.4 (−8.1) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
42.7 (5.9) |
48.0 (8.9) |
44.9 (7.2) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
18.9 (−7.3) |
3.2 (−16.0) |
−12.6 (−24.8) |
−22.0 (−30.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −32 (−36) |
−35 (−37) |
−24 (−31) |
2 (−17) |
17 (−8) |
33 (1) |
41 (5) |
33 (1) |
15 (−9) |
−9 (−23) |
−20 (−29) |
−28 (−33) |
−35 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.88 (22) |
1.00 (25) |
1.91 (49) |
3.22 (82) |
4.03 (102) |
4.67 (119) |
3.61 (92) |
3.26 (83) |
3.39 (86) |
2.43 (62) |
1.52 (39) |
1.17 (30) |
31.09 (790) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.7 (22) |
7.2 (18) |
6.6 (17) |
3.3 (8.4) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
4.7 (12) |
9.6 (24) |
40.8 (104) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.0 | 6.5 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 13.2 | 11.7 | 8.6 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 7.8 | 5.9 | 7.1 | 103.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.0 | 5.2 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 5.8 | 25.4 |
| Source: NOAA (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Sheldon? Population Facts
Sheldon's population has grown over the years. Here's how it has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 730 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,478 | 102.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,282 | 54.4% | |
| 1910 | 2,941 | 28.9% | |
| 1920 | 3,488 | 18.6% | |
| 1930 | 3,820 | 9.5% | |
| 1940 | 3,768 | −1.4% | |
| 1950 | 4,001 | 6.2% | |
| 1960 | 4,251 | 6.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,535 | 6.7% | |
| 1980 | 5,003 | 10.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,937 | −1.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,914 | −0.5% | |
| 2010 | 5,188 | 5.6% | |
| 2020 | 5,512 | 6.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Sheldon's People: The 2020 Census
In 2020, there were 5,512 people living in Sheldon. There were 2,186 households. A household is a group of people living in one home. The city had about 1,161 people per square mile.
Most people in Sheldon were White (85.2%). Other groups included Black or African American (1.4%), Native American (0.9%), and Asian (1.0%). About 11.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 28.3% of households had children under 18. Many households (48.4%) were married couples. The average age in Sheldon was 37.0 years. About 27.7% of residents were under 20 years old.
Learning in Sheldon: Schools and College
The Sheldon Community School District serves the city. This includes Sheldon High School. There are also two private schools. Both the Sheldon Christian School and St. Patrick's Catholic School offer classes from preschool to eighth grade.
Sheldon is also home to Northwest Iowa Community College. This is a two-year college where students can earn an associate degree.
Famous Faces from Sheldon: Notable People
Sheldon has been home to several well-known individuals:
- William D. Boies (1857–1932) – A lawyer and politician.
- Tom Brands (born 1968) – A freestyle wrestling champion. He won a World Championship and an Olympic gold medal. He is now a wrestling coach at the University of Iowa.
- Terry Brands (born 1968) – Also a freestyle wrestling champion. He won two World Championships and an Olympic bronze medal.
- Eugene Burdick (1918–1965) – A famous writer.
- A.G. Kruger (born 1979) – An athlete who competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
- Dennis Marion Schnurr (born 1948) – A leader in the Catholic Church, the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Michael J. Streit (born 1950) – A former justice on the Iowa Supreme Court.
- George Kelly (1905–1967) – An American psychologist.
Sheldon News: Media and Publications
Sheldon has its own radio stations, KIWA (AM) and KIWA-FM.
Iowa Information, Inc., publishes two local newspapers. These are The Sheldon Mail-Sun and The N'West Iowa REVIEW. The N'West Iowa REVIEW has won many awards. It has been named Iowa's Newspaper of the Year 17 times. It was also named the best weekly newspaper in the United States by the National Newspaper Association multiple times.
See also
In Spanish: Sheldon (Iowa) para niños
