Webster City, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Webster City
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Downtown Webster City
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Location of Webster City, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Hamilton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.91 sq mi (23.07 km2) |
| • Land | 8.89 sq mi (23.03 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,040 ft (317 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,825 |
| • Density | 879.91/sq mi (339.73/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50595
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| Area code(s) | 515 |
| FIPS code | 19-83145 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0462774 |
Webster City is a city in Hamilton County, Iowa, United States. In 2023, about 7,717 people lived there. It is the main city, or county seat, of Hamilton County. Webster City is also known as 'Boone River Country' because the Boone River flows along its eastern side.
Contents
History of Webster City
Webster City was first called Newcastle by the people who settled there. A man named Wilson Brewer planned the city in 1854. In 1855, Walter C. Willson arrived in Newcastle.
The next year, Willson was chosen to be part of the Iowa State House. He worked with John F. Duncombe to create a law that would split the very large Webster County in half. Newcastle was then renamed "Webster City" after Daniel Webster, a famous person from Massachusetts. It became the county seat of the new county. Willson also suggested "Hamilton County" for the new area, named after William W. Hamilton, who was the president of the State Senate.
This new law started on January 1, 1857. It officially renamed Webster City and made it the county seat of the new Hamilton County. Willson also helped make sure the Dubuque & Sioux City train line was built through Webster City on its way to Fort Dodge. He even helped supervise the building of the tracks.
Geography of Webster City
Webster City is located at 42°27′59″N 93°49′14″W / 42.46639°N 93.82056°W.
The city covers a total area of about 8.88 square miles (23.0 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 8.86 square miles (22.9 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.
Climate in Webster City
Webster City has a type of climate called a hot-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters. On climate maps, this is shown as "Dfa".
| Climate data for Webster City, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
72 (22) |
89 (32) |
97 (36) |
107 (42) |
107 (42) |
109 (43) |
109 (43) |
103 (39) |
96 (36) |
81 (27) |
69 (21) |
109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 48.9 (9.4) |
53.2 (11.8) |
71.2 (21.8) |
82.5 (28.1) |
88.2 (31.2) |
92.1 (33.4) |
93.0 (33.9) |
91.2 (32.9) |
89.5 (31.9) |
83.3 (28.5) |
68.6 (20.3) |
53.5 (11.9) |
94.6 (34.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 26.2 (−3.2) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
44.1 (6.7) |
58.9 (14.9) |
70.0 (21.1) |
79.5 (26.4) |
82.8 (28.2) |
80.5 (26.9) |
74.8 (23.8) |
61.9 (16.6) |
45.4 (7.4) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
57.2 (14.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 16.6 (−8.6) |
20.9 (−6.2) |
33.7 (0.9) |
46.4 (8.0) |
58.3 (14.6) |
68.3 (20.2) |
71.8 (22.1) |
69.2 (20.7) |
61.8 (16.6) |
49.2 (9.6) |
34.8 (1.6) |
22.5 (−5.3) |
46.1 (7.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 6.9 (−13.9) |
10.9 (−11.7) |
23.3 (−4.8) |
33.9 (1.1) |
46.7 (8.2) |
57.2 (14.0) |
60.8 (16.0) |
58.0 (14.4) |
48.9 (9.4) |
36.5 (2.5) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
13.3 (−10.4) |
35.0 (1.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −15.2 (−26.2) |
−10.5 (−23.6) |
1.9 (−16.7) |
19.8 (−6.8) |
32.0 (0.0) |
44.8 (7.1) |
50.1 (10.1) |
48.1 (8.9) |
33.7 (0.9) |
20.6 (−6.3) |
7.5 (−13.6) |
−7.5 (−21.9) |
−19.0 (−28.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −33 (−36) |
−34 (−37) |
−29 (−34) |
4 (−16) |
17 (−8) |
33 (1) |
39 (4) |
34 (1) |
20 (−7) |
−8 (−22) |
−16 (−27) |
−28 (−33) |
−34 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.87 (22) |
1.34 (34) |
2.05 (52) |
3.72 (94) |
5.27 (134) |
5.76 (146) |
4.41 (112) |
4.75 (121) |
3.36 (85) |
2.65 (67) |
1.70 (43) |
1.36 (35) |
37.24 (945) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.9 (20) |
9.8 (25) |
4.4 (11) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
1.4 (3.6) |
8.1 (21) |
32.9 (83.86) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.9 | 6.3 | 7.4 | 9.9 | 12.8 | 11.6 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 98.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.5 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 18.1 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Population and People
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1870 | 1,339 | — |
| 1880 | 1,848 | +38.0% |
| 1890 | 2,829 | +53.1% |
| 1900 | 4,613 | +63.1% |
| 1910 | 5,208 | +12.9% |
| 1920 | 5,657 | +8.6% |
| 1930 | 7,024 | +24.2% |
| 1940 | 6,738 | −4.1% |
| 1950 | 7,611 | +13.0% |
| 1960 | 8,520 | +11.9% |
| 1970 | 8,488 | −0.4% |
| 1980 | 8,572 | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 7,894 | −7.9% |
| 2000 | 8,176 | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 8,070 | −1.3% |
| 2020 | 7,825 | −3.0% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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What the 2020 Census Showed
In 2020, the census counted 7,825 people living in Webster City. There were 3,320 homes. About 28% of these homes had children under 18.
Most people in the city, about 80.8%, were White. Other groups included 1.0% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, and 3.9% Asian. About 15.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Webster City was 40.7 years old. About 25.6% of residents were under 20. About 20.9% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (50.3%) and females (49.7%).
What the 2010 Census Showed
The census in 2010 found 8,070 people living in Webster City. There were 3,433 homes. About 29.2% of these homes had children under 18.
Most residents, 90.8%, were White. Other groups included 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, and 3.4% Asian. About 7.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age was 40.2 years. About 24.5% of people were under 18. About 19.3% were 65 or older. The city had slightly more females (51.5%) than males (48.5%).
Businesses and Jobs
Webster City is home to several companies. These include Vantec, Van Diest Supply Company, Mary Ann's Specialty Foods, Webster City Custom Meats, and Tasler. The main types of jobs in Webster City are in advanced manufacturing, making plastics, food processing, farm-related products, and storing and distributing goods.
Since 2010, Webster City has seen new projects and business growth. This includes the Van Diest Medical Center, a new hospital that cost $35 million. Also, a new competition gym was built at the high school for $13 million.
Education in Webster City
Public schools in Webster City are part of the Webster City Community School District. Students attend Webster City High School, Webster City Middle School, and either Pleasant View or Sunset Heights for elementary school. There is also a private Catholic school at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. It offers classes from preschool up to 6th grade.
Transportation in Webster City
U.S. Route 20 is a four-lane highway that runs east-west through northern Iowa. It passes by Webster City. About 12 miles east of the city is Interstate 35.
The city has its own airport. It has a runway that is 4,007 feet long. There is also a full-time Fixed-base operator, which helps with aircraft services. Train lines from the Canadian National and Union Pacific Railroads meet in Webster City.
Fun and Recreation
Webster City has many places for fun and activities. There are eleven parks, two golf courses, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The city also has a recreation center, over seven miles of walking trails, and many camping spots.
- Kendall Young Park: This park is along the Boone River. It has shelter houses, picnic areas, a baseball field, and a playground. You can also find walking trails and a fishing area here.
- Twin Parks: Located in downtown Webster City, this park has a new shelter, picnic tables, a modern playground, and a skatepark.
- Nokomis Park: This park offers a place where you can easily get your canoe into the water.
- Middleton Sports Complex: Here you'll find two softball fields and an ice rink for skating.
- Lions Park: This park includes a play area, picnic spots, and a basketball court.
- Riverside Park: You can find this park off East Second Street.
- Brewer Creek Park: This park is open all year. It has a shelter with picnic tables along Brewer Creek. There's also a 2.2-mile nature and walking trail, a volleyball court, and a nine-hole disc golf course. In winter, "Hospital Hill" is a popular spot for sledding.
- Sketchly Park: This park features a picnic area and a playground.
- E.V. Wehrhelm Park: A neighborhood park with play equipment and a shelter.
- Boone River Recreational Trail: This trail is 5.7 miles long. It goes from the Webster City Links Golf Course in the north to Briggs Woods Park in the south. The trail follows the Boone River and has a wide concrete path for biking, walking, running, and rollerblading.
- Briggs Woods Park: This is a large 550-acre park. It has an 18-hole golf course, 81 campsites, and cabins. There's also a 62-acre lake where you can fish, boat, and swim.
- Webster City Municipal Swimming Pool: This is an outdoor swimming pool. It has a zero-depth entry (like a beach), lap lanes for swimming, and diving boards. There's also a fun waterslide.
- Fuller Hall Recreation Center: This center offers activities for all ages. It has a swimming pool with lap lanes, a fitness room, and a game room with pool tables. You can also find a basketball court, locker rooms, and racquetball courts.
- Briggs Woods Golf Course: An 18-hole public golf course located south of town.
- The Webster City Links Golf Course: This is a nine-hole public golf course along the Boone River. It used to be a private club.
Events and Activities
Webster City is home to the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The county fair is held there every July. The fairgrounds also has the Historic Hamilton County Speedway.
The city's yearly community celebration is called the Boone Bash River Dash. This event, held every June, includes a fun cardboard regatta where people race boats made of cardboard!
Media in Webster City
The local radio stations in Webster City are KZWC and KQWC-FM. The city's local newspaper is the Daily Freeman Journal, which is published Monday through Friday.
Famous People from Webster City
- Jeremy Ferguson (Jinxx), a rhythm guitarist and violinist for the band Black Veil Brides.
- John Gregory, a football coach and player.
- Asher Howard, a lawyer and Minnesota state legislator.
- MacKinlay Kantor, a writer who won a 1956 Pulitzer Prize for his novel Andersonville.
- Chuck Lamson, a professional football player.
- Alan Larson (born 1949), a diplomat and ambassador.
- Faye Cashatt Lewis, a doctor and writer.
- Clark R. Mollenhoff, a journalist who won a 1958 Pulitzer Prize for his reporting.
- Carla Nelson, a Minnesota state Senator.
- Rod Rust, a football coach.
- Jennifer Simpson, a distance runner who won medals at the Olympics and World Championships.
- Abastenia St. Leger Eberle, a sculptor.
See also
In Spanish: Webster City (Iowa) para niños
