Van Meter, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Van Meter, Iowa
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| Motto(s):
"Tradition with a Vision"
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Location of Van Meter, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Dallas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.33 sq mi (6.05 km2) |
| • Land | 2.31 sq mi (5.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 981 ft (299 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,484 |
| • Density | 641.5/sq mi (247.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50261
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| Area code(s) | 515 |
| FIPS code | 19-80445 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397116 |
Van Meter is a small city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States. It is located along the Raccoon River. In 2020, about 1,484 people lived there. Van Meter is part of the larger Des Moines area.
Contents
History of Van Meter
Van Meter was first planned as a town in 1869. The city got its name from Jacob Rhodes Van Meter and his family. They were Dutch settlers from a place called Meteren in the Netherlands. Van Meter officially became a city on December 29, 1877.
The Van Meter Visitor Story
In the fall of 1903, something strange happened in Van Meter. Many people said they saw a large, bat-like creature flying around. This creature was called the Van Meter Visitor. It was described as being about nine feet tall. People said it could shoot light from a horn on its forehead. Bullets did not seem to hurt it.
One witness, Clarence Dunn, even made a plaster cast of its three-toed footprints. Sometimes, a smaller creature that looked similar was seen with it. After about four days, the people of Van Meter decided to face the creature. After this meeting, the creature disappeared. Many believed it went into a nearby coal mine. Even today, some people still report seeing bat-like creatures or strange things in the area.
To remember these sightings, Van Meter holds a special festival every year. It is called the Van Meter Visitor Festival.
Geography of Van Meter
Van Meter is located at specific coordinates: 41.531505 degrees north and -93.955338 degrees west.
The city covers a total area of about 1.30 square miles (3.37 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 1.28 square miles (3.32 square kilometers). A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.
Van Meter is located to the west of Des Moines. It is also just south of Interstate 80, a major highway.
Population of Van Meter
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 376 | — |
| 1890 | 467 | +24.2% |
| 1900 | 407 | −12.8% |
| 1910 | 386 | −5.2% |
| 1920 | 358 | −7.3% |
| 1930 | 400 | +11.7% |
| 1940 | 436 | +9.0% |
| 1950 | 364 | −16.5% |
| 1960 | 385 | +5.8% |
| 1970 | 464 | +20.5% |
| 1980 | 747 | +61.0% |
| 1990 | 751 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 866 | +15.3% |
| 2010 | 1,016 | +17.3% |
| 2020 | 1,484 | +46.1% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Van Meter's Population in 2020
In 2020, the city of Van Meter had 1,484 people living there. There were 513 households, and 402 of these were families. The city had about 641 people per square mile.
About 94.6% of the people were White. A small number were Black, Native American, or Asian. About 1.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households, about 46.4%, had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in Van Meter was 34.8 years old. About 34% of the people were under 20 years old.
Arts and Culture in Van Meter
Bob Feller Museum
The Bob Feller Museum opened in Van Meter on June 10, 1995. It honors Bob Feller, a famous baseball pitcher. Bob Feller was born in Van Meter. He is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Iowa Veterans Cemetery
On November 11, 2006, which is Veterans Day, work began on the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. This special cemetery is located in the northern part of Van Meter. It is a place where military veterans are laid to rest. In 2018, a special monument called a Freedom Rock was also placed at the cemetery.
Education in Van Meter
The schools in Van Meter are run by the Van Meter Community School District. They provide public education for local students.
Notable People from Van Meter
- Myrtle Aydelotte: A nurse, professor, and hospital leader.
- Derek Benz: A science fiction author, known for his book The Revenge of the Shadow King.
- Bob Feller: A famous Major League Baseball pitcher and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was born in Van Meter.
- David Young: A former U.S. Representative for Iowa.
See also
In Spanish: Van Meter (Iowa) para niños
