Wilton, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilton, Iowa
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Buildings on the north side of West Fourth Street
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| Motto(s):
"Welcome Home!"
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Location of Wilton, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Counties | Muscatine, Cedar |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.06 sq mi (5.33 km2) |
| • Land | 2.06 sq mi (5.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 679 ft (207 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,924 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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2,916 |
| • Density | 1,422.87/sq mi (549.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52778
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| Area code(s) | 563 |
| FIPS code | 19-86070 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0465185 |
Wilton is a city in Iowa, a state in the United States. It is located in both Cedar and Muscatine counties. In 2020, about 2,924 people lived there. The part of Wilton in Muscatine County is close to the larger city of Muscatine.
Contents
History of Wilton
Wilton became a city in 1855. The first person to build a home in the area was Christian Marolf in 1849. He built a small log house. Other early settlers like Ben Maurer and Peter Marolf soon followed.
From 1894 to 1905, Wilton was home to the Wilton German English College. After the college closed, its campus became the City Park. Some of the old college buildings are still there today.
Where is Wilton?
Wilton is located at coordinates 41.589350 degrees North and -91.017487 degrees West.
The city covers an area of about 5.33 square kilometers (2.06 square miles). All of this area is land. Wilton is about 207 meters (679 feet) above sea level.
People of Wilton
The city's population has changed over the years. Here's how many people lived in Wilton at different times:
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1870 | 1,317 | — |
| 1880 | 1,431 | +8.7% |
| 1890 | 1,212 | −15.3% |
| 1900 | 1,233 | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 1,157 | −6.2% |
| 1920 | 1,178 | +1.8% |
| 1930 | 1,104 | −6.3% |
| 1940 | 1,146 | +3.8% |
| 1950 | 1,446 | +26.2% |
| 1960 | 1,750 | +21.0% |
| 1970 | 1,873 | +7.0% |
| 1980 | 2,502 | +33.6% |
| 1990 | 2,577 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 2,829 | +9.8% |
| 2010 | 2,802 | −1.0% |
| 2020 | 2,924 | +4.4% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Wilton's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 2,924 people living in Wilton. There were 1,166 households and 761 families. The city had about 549 people per square kilometer (1,423 people per square mile).
Most people in Wilton (92.6%) were White. About 4.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
About 31.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average age in Wilton was 38.6 years old. About 27.4% of residents were under 20 years old.
Wilton's Population in 2010
In 2010, Wilton had 2,802 people. There were 1,155 households. The population density was about 555 people per square kilometer (1,437 people per square mile).
Most people (97.5%) were White. About 2.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 34.2% of households had children under 18. The average age was 37.7 years. About 26.2% of residents were under 18.
Fun Things to Do in Wilton
Wilton has a library and community center. It offers many resources for people living in the city.
There are also some cool historic places. The Wilton Candy Kitchen is the oldest ice cream parlor in the world. The old train station was built in 1898. Both of these places are in the downtown area and are listed as important historic sites.
Parks and Recreation
Wilton has four parks for everyone to enjoy:
- City Park: Also called the Blue Park, it's in the middle of town. It has a playground, a shelter house, and a baseball field.
- Westview Park: Located on the west side of town. It has tennis courts, playground equipment, a walking path, and a ball field.
- Elder Park: A small park downtown with a picnic area.
- Cherrydale Park: On the south side, this park has three baseball fields and a playground.
Places of Worship
Wilton is home to several churches. These include St. Mary's Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church, Grace United Church of Christ, Heartland Fellowship Church, United Methodist Church, and Zion Lutheran Church.
Education in Wilton
The Wilton Community School District serves Wilton and nearby areas. The school mascot is the Wilton Beavers. The district includes an elementary school and a junior/senior high school. The junior/senior high school is now connected to the new elementary school. There are about 12 students for every teacher.
News and Media
The Wilton-Durant Advocate News is a weekly newspaper for the area. Larger daily newspapers like The Muscatine Journal and Quad-City Times are also available.
Students at Wilton Jr./Sr. High School run a news website called This Just In. They also create a student newspaper called "The Beaver Tale." This newspaper is printed monthly in the Advocate News.
Getting Around Wilton
Wilton is located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Interstate 80. It is at the meeting point of County Highway F58 and Iowa Highway 38. This makes it easy to drive to nearby cities like Muscatine, the Quad Cities, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids.
The Iowa Interstate Railroad runs through Wilton. It helps local businesses move goods. The Quad City International Airport is about 30 miles east of Wilton. It offers flights to many places.
Important People from Wilton
- Mary Ryerson Butin (1857–1944), a doctor who was born and grew up in Wilton.
- Eddy Chandler, an actor born and raised in Wilton.
- Charles H. Gabriel, a hymn writer born and raised in Wilton.
- Wally Hilgenberg, an NFL player who played for the Detroit Lions and in Super Bowls with the Minnesota Vikings. He grew up partly in Wilton.
- S. J. Mathes, a printer and newspaperman.
See also
In Spanish: Wilton (Iowa) para niños
