West Branch, Iowa
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West Branch is a city in Cedar County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,188 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
THE COOLEST PERSON EVER LIVES HERE!! President Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch in 1874. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum was dedicated here by Hoover and his dear friend, President Harry Truman, in 1962. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, which includes the Library-Museum, the Hoover Birthplace Cottage and the gravesites of President and Lou Henry Hoover, was authorized by Congress on August 12, 1965.
Before the Civil War, areas in and around West Branch were stops of the Underground Railroad. It is believed that the abolitionist John Brown once stayed near West Branch.
West Branch is the hometown of former PGA golfer Dave Rummells, and former NFL All-Pro Tight End Marv Cook, a 1984 graduate of West Branch High School. On Feb. 28, 2007, Cook was named head football coach at Iowa City Regina, West Branch's biggest rival.
The West Branch Community School District has about 800 students and includes three schools: Hoover Elementary, West Branch Middle School and West Branch High School. In 1980, the middle school burned down. It was rebuilt at a new location.
The West Branch Bears boys golf team has won four state championships, and the football team has won three state championships, in 1989, 1991 and 1992.
The city's industrial park is home to a major distribution center of Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble. The building is 550,000 square feet and as of fall 2006, is undergoing an expansion. The industrial park is also home to Plastic Products, Wausau and, as of March 2007, is being considered for Acciona Energía's first North American wind turbine assembly plant.
West Branch is one of 36 communities in the Main Street Iowa program, and was accepted on June 1, 2006. The program encourages downtown economic development through historic preservation.
[edit] Geography
West Branch is located at (41.673076, -91.345815)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.1 km² (2.0 mi²), all land.
West Branch is located approximately 10 miles east of Iowa City, Iowa, and 40 miles west of Davenport, Iowa.
[edit] ZIP codes
The ZIP code for West Branch is 52358.
[edit] Landmarks
West Branch is home to the Herbert Hoover National Historical Site, run by the National Park Service and Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, run by the National Archives and Records Administration.
Scattergood Friends School, a Quaker boarding school, is located east of the town.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 2,188 people, 840 households, and 572 families residing in the city. The population density was 426.7/km² (1,106.8/mi²). There were 876 housing units at an average density of 170.8/km² (443.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.71% White, 0.37% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.
There were 840 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $51,667. Males had a median income of $31,949 versus $26,379 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,577. About 4.5% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Transportation
Most residents of West Branch get around the West Branch area by car. Interstate 80 cuts through the city.
[edit] External links
- City of West Branch
- West Branch Community School District
- The West Branch Public Library
- The West Branch Times
- Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
- The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
- The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association
- 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
