Wellman, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wellman, Iowa
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Location of Wellman, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Washington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.07 sq mi (2.78 km2) |
| • Land | 1.07 sq mi (2.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 755 ft (230 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,524 |
| • Density | 1,421.64/sq mi (548.93/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52356
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| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-83280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397248 |
Wellman is a small city in Washington County, Iowa, in the United States. It's part of the larger Iowa City area. In 2020, about 1,524 people lived there.
Contents
Wellman's Story: A Look Back
Wellman got its name from Joseph Edward Wellman. In July 1879, he gave 40 acres of his land. This land was used to build a railroad and new lots near the train station. Mr. Wellman was born in Kentucky in 1824 and passed away in Wellman in 1901.
Early Settlements Near Wellman
The first European settlers arrived in this area in 1839. They settled north of Wellman, near the English River. A gristmill (a mill for grinding grain) started working in 1842.
The community of Wassonville was planned out in 1848. A ferry in Wassonville was important for a main road. This road connected Iowa City to Oskaloosa and the western frontier. By 1850, a roadhouse was built, and about 300 people lived there.
Moving to Higher Ground
Wassonville often had problems with floods from the English River. Because of this, people decided to move. In 1855, they started a new village called Dayton on higher ground. Dayton became the main trading spot from about 1860 to 1880. The United States Post Office changed its name to Daytonville in 1878.
Wellman Becomes a City
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway built a train station south of Daytonville. This made Wellman the new center for trade. The City of Wellman officially became a city in 1885. A city water system was finished in 1896.
The volunteer fire department started in 1893. They faced a big challenge in 1902 when a fire destroyed part of Main Street. The railway became part of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad in 1903. The first concrete sidewalk was built in 1904. Main Street was paved in 1927. A sewage treatment plant was built in 1940. The first fire truck started service in 1946. Natural gas became available in 1963.
Where is Wellman?
Wellman is located in the northwest part of Washington County. This county is in the southeast part of Iowa. The city covers about 1.14 square miles (2.95 square kilometers) of land.
Life in Wellman: A Caring Community
Wellman was founded in 1878. The town celebrated its 100th birthday in 1979. Every year, Wellman holds a fun, family-friendly Fourth of July celebration. The city's motto is: "A Town That Cares."
The local newspaper is called the Wellman Advance. The city has its own volunteer ambulance service and fire department. The fire department celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1978.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
Wellman has two city parks. North Park offers many fun things to do. It has lighted tennis courts, lighted baseball fields, and playgrounds. There's also a YMCA and a band shelter.
South Park is next to the "Smith Creek" waterway. It's often used for horse shows and other entertainment. The English River flows just north of Wellman. It's a great place for sightseeing, hiking, canoeing, and watching birds. Wellman also has one of the few golf courses left that still uses sand greens!
Wellman's Population Over Time
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1900 | 654 | — |
| 1910 | 724 | +10.7% |
| 1920 | 875 | +20.9% |
| 1930 | 853 | −2.5% |
| 1940 | 1,129 | +32.4% |
| 1950 | 1,071 | −5.1% |
| 1960 | 1,085 | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 977 | −10.0% |
| 1980 | 1,125 | +15.1% |
| 1990 | 1,085 | −3.6% |
| 2000 | 1,393 | +28.4% |
| 2010 | 1,408 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 1,524 | +8.2% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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In 2020, 1,524 people lived in Wellman. The city had 589 households. Most people (92.1%) were White. About 4.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Wellman was 42.0 years. About 26.5% of residents were under 20 years old.
Schools in Wellman
Students in Wellman go to public schools like Mid Prairie High School and West Elementary. These schools are part of the Mid-Prairie Community School District. There is also a private Christian school nearby called Hillcrest Academy. The University of Iowa is about 25 miles (40 km) away in Iowa City.
Churches in Wellman
Wellman has seven different churches:
- Asbury Methodist Church
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church
- First Baptist Church
- New Life Community Church
- Wellman Mennonite Church
- Good Shepard Lutheran Church
- Zion Christian Fellowship
Famous People from Wellman
- Rudy W. Roethlisberger, who was a farmer and a Wisconsin State Assemblyman, was born in Wellman.
See also
In Spanish: Wellman (Iowa) para niños
