Mason City, Iowa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mason City is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 29,172 at the 2000 census (2005 estimate 27,909) and has stayed close to 30,000 since 1995. It is the county seat of Cerro Gordo CountyGR6. It is the home of the North Iowa Area Community College and Hamilton College.
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[edit] Geography
Mason City is located at (43.148747, -93.201916)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 67.8 km² (26.2 mi²). 66.8 km² (25.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (1.45%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 29,172 people, 12,368 households, and 7,507 families residing in the city. The population density was 436.7/km² (1,131.3/mi²). There were 13,029 housing units at an average density of 195.1/km² (505.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.40% White, 1.17% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.
There were 12,368 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,852, and the median income for a family was $45,160. Males had a median income of $32,451 versus $21,756 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,899. About 7.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Architecture
Mason City is widely known for its sizable amount of Prairie School architecture, the largest concentration in one location outside of Oak Park, Illinois.
The Rock Glen and Rock Crest districts along Willow Creek feature homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Walter Burley Griffin.
Wright's Stockman House has been restored and is open to the public. Wright's Park Inn Hotel, which influenced Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius and other European Modern architects, is the only remaining hotel in the world designed by him still standing, and is in the process of being restored.
[edit] Transportation
The town is served by Iowa Highway 122, and U.S. Highway 65. U.S. Highway 18 now bypasses the town to the south. Interstate 35 (eight miles to the west) serves the town as well.
Mason City is home to the Iowa Traction Railroad. The IATR is one of the last surviving electric interurban railroads in the U. S., and the only one that still uses electric locomotives to haul freight in regular service.
The town also has a municipal airport, from which Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper took off from on the night of February 3, 1959 after a concert at the Surf Ballroom in nearby Clear Lake, IA, only to crash in a historic event later refered to as The Day the Music Died.
[edit] Sports
Mason City has some history of minor league sports teams despite its relatively small size.
The North Iowa Outlaws junior hockey team began play in the North American Hockey League in 2005. The former North Iowa Huskies played in the United States Hockey League until 1999.
The Mason City Bats of the very short lived Great Central League played baseball here in 1994.
[edit] Industry
The largest employer is Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. Other major industry includes door manufacturer Curries/Graham Company and the Kraft Foods plant that produces the nation's entire supply of refrigerated ready-to-eat Jell-O gelatin and Jell-O pudding snacks. Mason City is also a major production center for Portland Cement.
[edit] Media
- KIMT - Channel 3 CBS
- Globe Gazette - Daily newspaper
- KCMR FM 97.9 - Radio Station (TLC Broadcasting)
- KIAI FM 93.9 - Radio Station (Clear Channel Communications)
- KGLO AM 1300 - Radio Station (Clear Channel Communications)
- KLSS-FM FM 106.1 - Radio Station (Three Eagles Communications)
- KRIB-FM AM 1490 - Radio Station (Three Eagles Communications)
- KSMA-FM FM 98.7 - Radio Station (KISS-FM) (Clear Channel Communications)
- KUNY FM 91.5 - Radio Station (University of Northern Iowa)
[edit] Notable Natives
Meredith Willson - American composer and playwright, best known as the writer of The Music Man, was born in Mason City. The fictional "River City" that was the setting for the musical was inspired by Willson's childhood memories of Mason City. The city features a footbridge bearing his name.
Bil Baird - Puppeteer, grew up in Mason City; his creations were featured in The Sound of Music and are now exhibited at the MacNider Art Museum. Also from Mason City were book designer, author and concert impresario Merle Armitage; and Steven Clay, publisher of Granary Books (New York).
[edit] External links
- Tourism Information
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- North Iowa Outlaws hockey
- "History of Mason City: The Early Years" article from the Mason City Public Library
