Mount Ayr, Iowa
—  City  —
Location of Mount Ayr, Iowa
Coordinates: 40°42′51″N 94°14′13″W / 40.71417°N 94.23694°W / 40.71417; -94.23694Coordinates: 40°42′51″N 94°14′13″W / 40.71417°N 94.23694°W / 40.71417; -94.23694
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Ringgold
Area
• Total	2.5 sq mi (6.6 km2)
• Land	2.5 sq mi (6.6 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,220 ft (372 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	1,822
• Density	720.2/sq mi (278.1/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	50854
Area code(s)	641
FIPS code	19-54480
GNIS feature ID	0459275

Mount Ayr is a city in Ringgold County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,822 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ringgold County^[1].

Geography[link]

Mount Ayr's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 40°42′51″N 94°14′13″W / 40.714210°N 94.236892°W / 40.714210; -94.236892.^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.39% is water.

Demographics[link]

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,822 people, 780 households, and 492 families residing in the city. The population density was 720.2 people per square mile (278.1/km²). There were 856 housing units at an average density of 338.4 per square mile (130.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.96% White, 0.27% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.

There were 780 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 30.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,893, and the median income for a family was $37,188. Males had a median income of $27,333 versus $20,184 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,444. About 8.3% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture[link]

Library[link]

The Mount Ayr Public Library is a Carnegie Library and has a microfiche film collection dating back to 1838 and a specialized genealogy room.

Parks and recreation[link]

Local places for recreation include:^{[citation needed]}

• Judge Lewis Recreational Park, the city park
• Poe Hollow Park & Ringgold Trailway
• Sun Valley Lake and Resort, including a golf course and boating facilities
• Fife's Grove and Loch Ayr, including a park and lake

Education[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

Mount Ayr has one high school (grades 7-12) and one elementary school (grades K-6), as well as a preschool and alternative high school. Enrollment averages around 50 students in each class. The drama department of Mount Ayr Community High School (MACHS) has produced several students who have played at district and state competitions.

Education statistics[link]

For population 25 years and over in Mount Ayr:

• High school or higher: 81.4%
• Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.6%
• Graduate or professional degree: 5.2%

Airport[link]

Judge Lewis Field, that is located 2 miles South East of Mount Ayr 40°42′23″N 94°13′13″W / 40.70639°N 94.22028°W / 40.70639; -94.22028 and FAA Identified as 1Y3, is a small airport serving single-engine aircraft, operated by the city of Mount Ayr. The airport has a single gravel runway that is 2,600 feet (790 m) long by 40 feet (12 m) wide. ^[4]

Notable people[link]

• Peggy Whitson (born 1960) astronaut on two expeditions, As of 2011^[update] holds the office of The Chief Astronaut. ^[5]

Gallery[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mount Ayr, Iowa

Iowa portal

• School website
• City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Mount Ayr

v t e Municipalities and communities of Ringgold County, Iowa, United States County seat: Mount Ayr Cities Beaconsfield Benton Clearfield‡ Delphos Diagonal Kellerton Maloy Mount Ayr Redding Shannon City‡ Tingley Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Coordinates: 55°27′29″N 4°37′44″W / 55.458°N 4.629°W / 55.458; -4.629

Royal Burgh of Ayr
Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Àir [1]
Scots: Ayr
Ayr Skyline
Royal Burgh of Ayr  Royal Burgh of Ayr shown within South Ayrshire
Population	46,050 (est. 2006), excluding Prestwick[2]
OS grid reference	NS338214
Council area	South Ayrshire
Lieutenancy area	Ayrshire and Arran
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	AYR
Postcode district	KA6-KA8
Dialling code	01292
Police	Strathclyde
Fire	Strathclyde
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	Central Ayrshire
Scottish Parliament	Ayr
	South of Scotland
List of places: UK • Scotland •

Ayr (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Àir Mouth of the River Ayr) is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205. Ayr is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire council area, which is the unitary local authority.

To the north of Ayr is the adjoining town of Prestwick, famous for its golf and its aviation industry as home of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Other neighbouring settlements include Alloway, known for its associations with the poet Robert Burns.

In 2002, Ayr was one of four Scottish towns competing for city status to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, losing out to Stirling.^[3]

History[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

On April 26, 1315, the first Parliament of Scotland was held in Ayr by Robert The Bruce at St.John's Tower by the sea. It was once known as 'Inverair/Inverayr' and this usage is still retained in the Scottish Gaelic form of the name Inbhir Air.

Later, during Cromwellian times, the town was used as a base and fortress for some of his men. Cromwell built a huge wall around certain areas of the town, most of which can still be seen today. St John's Tower, in that area, was originally part of a massive church, but the church was knocked down, and the tower was used to practise on, and is now protected by the "Friends Of Saint Johns Tower" (FROST) residents of the "Fort Area" nearby.

Governance[link]

The Westminster constituency of Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock is currently held by the Labour Party, the Member of Parliament being Sandra Osborne. From 1950 to 1997 the former Westminster constituency of Ayr was a Conservative seat. The Member of Parliament for most of this period was George Younger, who represented the constituency from 1964 to 1992.

In the Scottish Parliament, Ayr still exists as a constituency and has been represented by Conservative MSP John Scott since 2000.

Geography and climate[link]

Ayr is a coastal town which lies on the mouth of the River Ayr. The river then flows out into the larger Firth of Clyde. From the coast Arran can be seen and on a very clear day, the north tip of Northern Ireland. It is within the region of Strathclyde. Much of the land in and around this area is very flat and low lying. Much of the land however towards the south of Ayr is higher than most areas in the county of Ayrshire. Ayr lies approximately 35 miles southwest of Glasgow.

Climate[link]

The nearest official Met Office weather station to Ayr is Auchincruive, about 2.4 miles to the West of Ayr town centre.

The area experiences very cool summers and somewhat mild winters. The air is cooler during the summer due to its proximity to the sea as water has a major cooling effect on summer temperatures. During the winter months the reverse happens and the sea air has a major warming effect on the climate. The area rarely ever sees extremes due to the effects of sea air. Rainfall is generally plentiful throughout the year due to Atlantic weather systems sweeping in from the west. Compared with the rest of Scotland, the area rarely sees much mist and fog. This is because the land is relatively flat and low lying and with the wind blowing across the flatter land, this generally hinders fog from developing widely. This has made Glasgow Prestwick International Airport particularly well known as one of the less fog-prone airports in Scotland. Snowfall is rare in this part of Scotland because of the mild sea air.^[6]

Destinations from Ayr

	Firth of Clyde	Prestwick	Kilmarnock
	Firth of Clyde		Cumnock
		Ayr    East
	Maybole	Galloway	Patna

Areas[link]

Craig Tara Holiday Park, Ayr

Economy[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

The Wallace Tower

Ayr's industry has flourished over the years mainly because of the River Ayr. Ships that were built on the mouth of the River Ayr in the eighteenth century improved Ayr's economy. From 1883 to 1901, 143 ships and barges were built on the Ayr by Samuel B Knight and the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company. Repair work on the Ayr ceased in 1960 when Ailsa moved its operations to Troon.

The North side of Ayr Harbour still operates as a commercial port today, mainly exporting coal, and extensive railway sidings still lead down from the main railway line near Newton-on-Ayr station.

In addition, the River Ayr and River Doon were used for the fishing of whitefish and salmon. These were then exported from Ayr Harbour.

Manufacturing of textiles such as carpets and lining was important to Ayr's economy until the factories closed in the 1970s. This caused mass unemployment in Ayr. Many of the old factories are still standing and can be seen on McCalls Avenue and Walker Road in Lochside, North Ayr, though many are derelict and unsafe. There was a large factory engaged in the production of fertilisers and other agricultural products. This has since closed, but parts of the old complex are sublet by local businesses.

Ayr has always been a hub for shopping in South Scotland with the first department store, Hourstons, opening in 1896. In the 1970s, Ayr flourished further with the opening of further stores including Marks and Spencers and Ayr's first shopping centre, the Kyle Centre (1988). Heathfield Retail park, an out-of-city retail park, opened in 1993 with shops such as Halfords and Homebase. Ayr Central Shopping Centre opened in March 2006 with shops such as Debenhams and H&M and underparking for 500 cars.

During the 19th and 20th centuries Ayr became a popular holiday resort. This was due to its fine sandy beach and its popularity was increased by the building of the rail link to Glasgow in 1840^[7].

Transport[link]

Ayr has three main roads serving the town:

• A79 — main road running through Ayr and linking Ayr with Prestwick and its airport.
• A77 (M77) — Ayr by-pass stretching from Glasgow to Stranraer. It was built in 1971.
• A70 — running from Ayr to Edinburgh.

Ayr railway station has services to Glasgow Central station with a half-hourly service except on Sundays. There are regular services to Stranraer, Girvan, Kilmarnock and Newcastle. These services are operated by SPT/First ScotRail.

The town has air links to European cities from Glasgow Prestwick International Airport just 2 miles from Ayr. Further destinations are available from Glasgow Airport, which is 35 miles away.

The town also has bus connections serving all of the town and Prestwick. These services are operated by Stagecoach West Scotland. The town has eight local services. There are express coaches to Glasgow Buchanan Street every 30–60 minutes. Ulsterbus operate bus services to Belfast via Stranraer Ferry service on Stena Line.

Although the town does not have any ferry services from its harbour, it has good access to ferry services mainly to Northern Ireland. Troon, 5 miles north of Ayr, has a seasonal service to Larne onboard P&O. Troon can also be reached by train with trains every 30 minutes, or by bus. Stranraer, 60 miles south of Ayr, has up to eight daily departures to Belfast.

Religion[link]

Ayr Police Station

In the early years of the burgh, Ayr's parish church was St John the Baptist. Today, Ayr has many churches of different denominations.

The Church of Scotland is the main denomination in Ayr, with nine churches spread throughout the town. The Roman Catholic Church has two churches, and the Diocese of Galloway Cathedral is in Ayr, St. Margaret's Cathedral. Previously there were three Roman Catholic churches. However, the Good Shepherd Cathedral closed in 2007. Baptist Church has one church located in Ayr i.e. Ayr Baptist. Riverside Church is a popular and modern evangelical church with Brethren^{[disambiguation needed ]} roots, located in John Street in Ayr. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a church located in Ayr, at Orchard Ave and Mossgiel Rd.^[8]

Demography[link]

This section requires expansion.

At the United Kingdom Census 2001, Ayr had a population of 46,431, a fall of -3.2% on 1991.^[9] Mid-2008 population estimates placed the total resident population at 46,070 making Ayr the 12th largest urban area in Scotland.^[10]

Nearly 0.36% (167) people in the town can speak Scottish Gaelic, although South Ayrshire Council provides no educational support for the language.^[11]

Education[link]

Primary[link]

Ayr is served by 15 primary schools:

Secondary[link]

On 24 November 2006, it was revealed that Mainholm Academy would be closed permanently for safety reasons.^[12] Pupils have been relocated to Ayr, Kyle, Belmont, and Queen Margaret academies.

Pupils living in North Ayr may happen to attend Prestwick Academy instead of Ayr's secondaries.

Wellington School is an independent day school in the Seafield area of Ayr. The school opened in 1836 providing private education for girls. As of 1994, Wellington has welcomed male and female pupils after Drumley House school (Mossblown) was incorporated into Wellington. It is the only independent school in Ayrshire.

Universities and colleges[link]

Ayr College, formerly named Ayr Technical College provides further and higher education courses to the people of Ayrshire and beyond. SQA courses are available in a large variety of areas such as Mathematics and Computing, Social Sciences and practical subjects. Another organisation that provides further and higher education courses is the Scottish Agricultural College based two miles outside of Ayr in Auchincruive.

Ayr has two university campuses:

• University Campus Ayr is part of the University of the West of Scotland. This campus provides courses in Creative and Cultural Industries (Music, Performance, Filmmaking, Screenwriting, Digital Art), Education, Nursing and Midwifery, and Business.
• Auchincruive is part of the Scottish Agricultural College. This campus provides degree courses awarded by The University of Glasgow in Agriculture, the Environment, Leisure Management, Adventure Tourism, Horticulture, Countryside Management, and Bioscience among others.

Situated on riverside site of the Craigie Estate, a new £70m campus brings together facilities for UWS and the Scottish Agricultural College. Construction was finished and the campus opened in August 2011.

Culture and community[link]

To the north of Ayr is the adjoining town of Prestwick, which is famous for its golf and its aviation industry thanks to the presence of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Only 5 miles north of Ayr is Troon, also famous for its golf and for hosting the Open Championship. Ayr has three golf courses in Bellisle, Seafield and Dalmilling, as well as a private one called St Cuthberts.

Several scenes for the 2007 TV movie The Donald Gray Show were filmed in and around the town.

Other neighbouring places include Alloway, known for its associations with the poet Robert Burns. To the south is Craig Tara, a Haven (formerly Butlins) holiday park, and the fishing village of Dunure, where there is a ruined castle formerly owned by the Kennedy family. Ayr is twinned with Saint-Germain-en-Laye in France.

Ayr has four libraries plus a mobile library. The main library in Ayr and South Ayrshire is the Carnegie Library beside the River Ayr. The other libraries are:

• Alloway Library
• Carnegie Library
• Forehill Library
• John Pollok Library

North Ayr also has connections for Prestwick Library.

Sport[link]

Horse Racing[link]

Ayr Racecourse is a well-known racecourse in Scotland and hosts both National Hunt and flat racing. It has the largest capacity in Scotland for horse racing.^{[citation needed]} Notable events include the Scottish Grand National (April) and Ayr Gold Cup (September) as well as several night meetings. It was recently put up for sale by the owners and included the Western House Hotel as part of the potential sale.

Football[link]

Ayr has a senior football team, Ayr United F.C., who play at Somerset Park in Division 1 after gaining promotion in May 2011. They reached the final of the 2001-2002 Scottish League Cup competition. The club was formed in 1910 with the merger of Ayr F.C. (who were formed in 1879 by the merger of Ayr Thistle and Ayr Academical football clubs) and Ayr Parkhouse F.C..

Whitletts Victoria F.C. are a Junior side from the Whitletts area of Ayr.

Ice Hockey[link]

The town has a strong history of Ice Hockey up to professional standard. The most recent being the Ayr Scottish Eagles who played in the British Superleague between 1996 and 2002. During this time they have success most famously their grand slam season in 1997-8 winning all 4 titles available and becoming British Champions. The following season seen them compete in the European Hockey league with famous victories home and away to Russian champions AK Bars Kazan. Eagles finished 3rd in a group also containing clubs from Germany and Czech Republic. The Centrum closed in 2003 and was demolished in 2009 for a Sainsbury supermarket. The Centrum was actually based in Prestwick just over the border from Ayr but was a facility enjoyed by many in South Ayrshire.

The first ice rink in Ayr was opened in 1939 at Beresford terrace and was demolished in 1972. In 1974 a new ice rink based in Limekiln Road opened and remains open today but due to ageing facilities is not deemed appropriate to host ice hockey beyond rec hockey. Ayr Bruins (established under the name Ayr Raiders played in both these rinks between 1939 and 1992. In the final season the club name reverted back to Ayr Raiders. The only ice hockey teams now representing Ayr are at recreational level. The Ayr Jets and Ayr Lions both play home matches at Limekiln road. Elsewhere in Ayrshire there are clubs from Kilmarnock (East Ayrshire) and Stevenston, (North Ayrshire) at amateur level in the Scottish National League. The nearest Professional club are the Braehead based just outside of Glasgow who have a strong contingent of fans who travel from Ayr and nearby town to home matches. There has been campaigning to get a modern ice rink built in South Ayrshire by Friends of Eagles Hockey and more recently by Think Rink. With the Centrum now gone combined with the poor economic climate it may be some time before Ayr has a facility of hosting ice hockey beyond recreation and junior levels.

Rugby Union[link]

Ayr's rugby union team, Ayr RFC, play at Millbrae and are reigning Scottish Cup Champions, and won the 2008/09 Scottish Hydro Premiership. Ayr RFC have twice competed in the British and Irish cup involving clubs from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

Ayr RFC celebrating winning the 2009 Premier League

Other sports[link]

A rugby league team, Ayr Knights ARLFC, play at Auchincruive.

Ayr Curling Club play at the curling rink in Limekiln Road and Ayr's cricket team plays in Cambusdoon, Burns Wicket.

Ayr only has one leisure centre, this being the Citadel, which opened in 1997, located at the mouth of the River Ayr and at the seafront at the South Harbour area. Its facilities include a main hall measuring 34 × 27 m (112 × 89 ft). This hall can accommodate various sports including 5-a-side football, basketball, volleyball, netball, indoor hockey, indoor cricket practise, badminton and short tennis. As well as individual sports, sporting events and competitions, the hall has hosted exhibitions, concerts, trade fairs, election counts and awards ceremonies. The Citadel is an expansion of the Ayr swimming pool, which opened in 1972. The Citadel features a Dance Studio approx 124 m² (1,330 sq ft). It is predominantly used for dance or exercise classes but also accommodates martial arts groups and drama workshops and two glass backed squash courts. The Citadel Leisure Centre in Ayr is home to South Ayrshire Volleyball Club^[13] as well as being the town's only public swimming pool and diving pool. The leisure centre has squash courts, a gymnasium, dance studio, cafeteria and adjacent salons and youth club. The Citadel Leisure Centre is adjacent to the site of the old Ayr Citadel, a fort built to defend the old town. An Ayrshire basketball team, the Troon Tornadoes, play their national league matches at the Citadel, despite not being an Ayr team. Additionally, Ayr has a Strathclyde league basketball team, Ayr Storm.

Ayr is also home to Scottish Bowling. The greens at Northfield host the SBA and SWBA finals each year as well as the Hamilton Trophy final.

Ayr beach

Speedway was staged at Dam Park in 1937, when two meetings, organised by Maurice and Roland Stobbart from Cumbria took place, featuring riders who raced in the north of England, at venues such as Workington and Hyde Road in Manchester.

Ayr has a sandy beach with an esplanade. This is very popular with joggers and day-trippers. Whitletts Activity Centre also serves the town of Ayr. It has an 11-a side outdoor soccer pitch and an indoor 5-a-side football pitch. Near Whitletts Activity Centre there is also a 5-a-side football complex called "Goals".

Public services[link]

The NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Board serves South, East and North Ayrshire. Part of Ayrshire and Arran's departmental headquarters is based in Ayr. Ayr used to have four NHS hospitals: Heathfield Hospital (originally a fever hospital, but latterly medical and ophthalmic), Seafield Hospital (children's), Ayr County (originally a voluntary hospital, and latterly confined to surgery) and Ailsa Hospital (psychiatric). It was then decided to build a hospital on the outskirts of Ayr called Ayr Hospital. Ayr Hospital opened in 1993. All the current hospitals are on the same road, next to each other.

Ayr currently has three hospitals:

• Ayr Hospital - Acute hospital with A&E
• Ailsa Hospital - mental health hospital
• The Abbey Carrick Glen Hospital - private hospital

Further along the same road is Hollybush House, used by a charity for the mental health welfare of ex-members of the UK Armed Forces.

Ayr is the regional headquarters of the Scottish Ambulance Service for south-west Scotland. It is located in Heathfield, next to the site of the old Heathfield Hospital, which has now been partly demolished.

Notable people[link]

Vintage postcard, dated 1899, showing Burns with the monument and cottage in Ayr

• William D. Brackenridge, (1810–1893), born in Ayr, botanist^[14]
• Robert Burns, (1759–1796), Scotland's national bard, poet and writer of songs; born in Alloway
• Gavin Gordon, (1901-1970), composer and singer
• Shaykh Abdalqadir as-Sufi, born 1930 as Ian Dallas
• Rikki Chamberlain, actor
• William Dalrymple, (1723–1814) minister and moderator
• Sydney Devine, singer
• Karen Dunbar, comedian
• Drew McIntyre (Drew Galloway), wrestler for WWE
• Kirsty Hume, model and face of Chanel
• William Maclure, (1763–1840), born in Ayr, noted geologist, drew the first geological map of the United States and was a president of the American Geological Society^[14]
• Rhona Martin, skip of the Olympic gold curling team
• John Loudon McAdam, (1756–1836), inventor of Tarmacadam road surface
• Alan McInally, former footballer and now TV pundit
• Thomas McIlwraith, 19th century Premier of Queensland, Australia
• Lee McKenzie, BBC Formula 1 pit lane reporter
• Glen Michael, children's TV presenter, Cartoon Cavalcade, often attends Ayr United matches
• Stuart Murdoch, singer-songwriter, Belle & Sebastian
• Sir David Murray, former Rangers F.C. chairman
• Simon Neil, guitarist and lead singer of Biffy Clyro
• Neil Oliver, BBC presenter of Coast and A History of Scotland
• Alan Reid, MP for the Liberal Democrats
• Mike Scott, Lead Singer/Songwriter of The Waterboys
• Sir John Wallace of Craigie, Sheriff of Ayr and hero of the Battle of Sark
• Stephen Jnr Miller, Author of many bookings about Spelling, Punctuation and Mathematics. Also noted as being a Mason.

Twinning arrangement[link]

Ayr has been twinned with Saint-Germain-en-Laye in Île-de-France since 1984.^[15]

See also[link]

• Ayr Cathedral

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Close, R (2005) Ayr A History & Celebration
• Kennedy, R&J (1992) Old Ayr
• Love, D (2003) Ayr Past and Present
• Love, D (2000) Ayr Stories
• Love, D (1995) Pictorial History of Ayr
• Reid, D & Andrew K (2001) Ayr Remembered

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ayr

• Ayr at the Open Directory Project
• About Ayr - About Ayr, South Ayrshire Council website information about Ayr
• [1] - About Ayrtime - Ayr's Free Live Culture.
• Ayrshire Philharmonic Opera Society - An amateur theatre company based in Ayr that performs operettas and musicals
• The Town of Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland - description and photographs
• Candidates and Constituency Assessments - some information on the political history of the constituency
• Labour's History in the Town of Ayr - article on Labour History by Sandra Osborne MP
• Activ Ayr - online directory of Ayr and Ayrshire
• South Ayrshire Council - South Ayrshire Council's website contains comprehensive information about the services provided by the Council
• National Library of Scotland: SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE (1937 archive film about the attractions of Ayr)

•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ayr". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

State of Iowa
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The Hawkeye State[1]
Motto(s): Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.
Official language(s)	English
Demonym	Iowan
Capital (and largest city)	Des Moines
Largest metro area	Des Moines metropolitan area
Area	Ranked 26th in the U.S.
- Total	56,272 sq mi (145,743 km2)
- Width	310 miles (500 km)
- Length	199 miles (320 km)
- % water	0.70
- Latitude	40° 23′ N to 43° 30′ N
- Longitude	90° 8′ W to 96° 38′ W
Population	Ranked 30th in the U.S.
- Total	3,062,309 (2011 est)[2]
- Density	54.8/sq mi  (21.2/km2) Ranked 36th in the U.S.
- Median household income	$48,075 (24th)
Elevation
- Highest point	Hawkeye Point[3][4] 1,671 ft (509 m)
- Mean	1,100 ft  (340 m)
- Lowest point	Confluence of Mississippi River and Des Moines River[3][4] 480 ft (146 m)
Before statehood	Iowa Territory
Admission to Union	December 28, 1846 (29th)
Governor	Terry E. Branstad (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Kim Reynolds (R)
Legislature	General Assembly
- Upper house	Senate
- Lower house	House of Representatives
U.S. Senators	Chuck Grassley (R) Tom Harkin (D)
U.S. House delegation	3 Democrats, 2 Republicans (list)
Time zone	Central: UTC -6/-5
Abbreviations	IA US-IA
Website	www.iowa.gov

Iowa (ⁱ/ˈaɪ.əwə/) is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration.^[5] Iowa was a part of the French colony of New France. After the Louisiana Purchase, settlers laid the foundation for an agriculture-based economy in the heart of the Corn Belt.^[6] Iowa is often known as the "Food Capital of the World".^[7]

In the latter half of the 20th century, Iowa's agricultural economy transitioned to a diversified economy of advanced manufacturing, processing, financial services, biotechnology, and green energy production.^[7][8] Iowa is the 26th most extensive and the 30th most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Des Moines. Iowa has been listed as one of the safest states to live in.^[9]

Geography[link]

Boundaries[link]

Topography of Iowa, with counties and major streams.

Iowa is bordered by the Mississippi River on the east; the Missouri River and the Big Sioux River on the west; the northern boundary is a line along 43 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude.^{[10][note 1]} The southern border is the Des Moines River and a not-quite-straight line along approximately 40 degrees 35 minutes north, as decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Missouri v. Iowa^[11] after a standoff between Missouri and Iowa known as the Honey War.^[12]

Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are formed entirely by rivers. Source: http://www.50states.com/facts/iowa.htm

Iowa has 99 counties, but 100 county seats because Lee County has two. The state capital, Des Moines, is located in Polk County.^[13]

DeSoto lake at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa

Fountain Springs Park in Delaware County, Iowa.

Geology and terrain[link]

Iowa's bedrock geology generally increases in age from west to east. In northwest Iowa Cretaceous bedrock can be 74 million years old, in eastern Iowa Cambrian bedrock dates to ca. 500 million years ago.^[14]

Iowa is generally not flat; most of the state consists of rolling hills. Prior^[15] divides Iowa into eight landforms based on glaciation, soils, topography, and river drainage. Loess hills lie along the western border of the state, some of which are several hundred feet thick.^[16] In the northeast, along the Mississippi River, is a section of the Driftless Zone, which in Iowa consists of steep hills and valleys which appear almost mountainous.

There are several natural lakes in the state, most notably Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake, and East Okoboji Lake in northwest Iowa (see Iowa Great Lakes). To the east lies Clear Lake. Man-made lakes include Lake Odessa,^[17] Saylorville Lake, Lake Red Rock, Coralville Lake, Lake MacBride, and Rathbun Lake. The northwest part of the state also contains a considerable number of remnants of the once common wetland areas such as Barringer Slough.

Ecology and environment[link]

Iowa's natural vegetation is tallgrass prairie and savanna in upland areas, with dense forest and wetlands in floodplains and protected river valleys, and pothole wetlands in northern prairie areas.^[18] Most of Iowa is used for agriculture, crops cover 60% of the state, grasslands (mostly pasture and hay with some prairie and wetland) cover 30%, and forests cover 7%; urban areas and water cover another 1% each.^[19] The explosion in the number of high-density livestock facilities in Iowa has led to increased risk of rural water contamination and a perceived decline in air quality.^[20] Other factors negatively affecting Iowa's environment include the extensive use of older coal-fired power plants,^[21] fertilizer and pesticide runoff from crop production,^[22] and diminishment of the Jordan Aquifer.^[23]

There is a dearth of natural areas in Iowa; less than 1% of the tallgrass prairie that once covered most of Iowa remain intact, only about 5% of the state's prairie pothole wetlands remain, and most of the original forest has been lost.^[24] Iowa ranks 49th of U.S. states in public land holdings.^[25] Threatened or endangered animals in Iowa include the Interior Least Tern, Piping Plover, Indiana Bat, Pallid Sturgeon, the Iowa Pleistocene Land Snail, Higgins' Eye Pearly Mussel, and the Topeka Shiner.^[26] Endangered or threatened plants include Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid, Mead's Milkweed, Prairie Bush Clover, and Northern Wild Monkshood.^[27]

Climate[link]

Iowa, like most of the Midwest, has a humid continental climate throughout the state (Koppen climate classification Dfa) with extremes of both heat and cold. The average annual temperature at Des Moines is 50 °F (10 °C); for some locations in the north the figure is under 45 °F (7 °C), while Keokuk, on the Mississippi River, averages 52 °F (11 °C). Winters are often harsh and snowfall is common.

Spring ushers in the beginning of the severe weather season. Iowa averages about 50 days of thunderstorm activity per year.^[28] Tornadoes are common during the spring and summer months, with an average of 37 tornadoes in a single year.^[29] In 2008, twelve people were killed by tornadoes in Iowa, making it the deadliest year since 1968 and also the second most tornadoes in a year with 105, matching the total from 2001.^[30]

Iowa summers are known for heat and humidity, with daytime temperatures often near 90 °F (32 °C) and sometimes exceeding 100 °F (38 °C). Average winters in the state have been known to drop well below freezing, even dropping below −18 °C (−0 °F). Iowa's all time hottest temperature of 118 °F (48 °C) was recorded at Keokuk on July 20, 1934; the all time lowest temperature of −47 °F (−44 °C) was recorded at Elkader on February 3, 1996.

Iowa has a relatively smooth gradient of varying precipitation across the state, with areas in the southeast of the state receiving an average of over 38 inches (97 cm) of rain annually, and the northwest of the state receiving less than 28 inches (71 cm).^[36] The pattern of precipitation across Iowa is seasonal, with more rain falling in the summer months. In Des Moines, roughly in the center of the state, over two-thirds of the 34.72 inches (88.2 cm) of rain falls from April through September, and about half of the average annual precipitation falls from May through August.^[37]

Prehistory[link]

Excavation of the 3,800 year old Edgewater Park Site.

When American Indians first arrived in what is now Iowa more than 13,000 years ago, they were hunters and gatherers living in a Pleistocene glacial landscape. By the time European explorers visited Iowa, American Indians were largely settled farmers with complex economic, social, and political systems. This transformation happened gradually. During the Archaic period (10,500–2,800 years ago), American Indians adapted to local environments and ecosystems, slowly becoming more sedentary as populations increased.

More than 3,000 years ago, during the Late Archaic period, American Indians in Iowa began utilizing domesticated plants. The subsequent Woodland period saw an increased reliance on agriculture and social complexity, with increased use of mounds, ceramics, and specialized subsistence. During the Late Prehistoric period (beginning about AD 900) increased use of maize and social changes led to social flourishing and nucleated settlements.

The arrival of European trade goods and diseases in the Protohistoric period led to dramatic population shifts and economic and social upheaval, with the arrival of new tribes and early European explorers and traders. There were numerous Indian tribes living in Iowa at the time of early European exploration. Tribes which were probably descendants of the prehistoric Oneota include the Dakota, Ho-Chunk, Ioway, and Otoe. Tribes which arrived in Iowa in the late prehistoric or protohistoric periods include the Illiniwek, Meskwaki, Omaha, and Sauk.^[38]

History[link]

Early exploration and trade, 1673–1808[link]

Iowa in 1718. Modern state area highlighted.

The first known European explorers to document Iowa were Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet who traveled the Mississippi River in 1673 documenting several Indian villages on the Iowa side.^[39][40] The area of Iowa was claimed for France and remained a French territory until 1763. The French, prior to their impending defeat in the French and Indian War, transferred ownership to their ally, Spain.^[41] Spain practiced very loose control over the Iowa region, granting trading licenses to French and British traders, who established trading posts along the Mississippi and Des Moines Rivers.^[39]

Iowa was part of a territory known as La Louisiane or Louisiana, and European traders were interested in lead and furs obtained by Indians. The Sauk and Meskwaki effectively controlled trade on the Mississippi in the late 18th century and early 19th century. Among the early traders on the Mississippi were Julien Dubuque, Robert La Salle, and Paul Marin.^[39] Along the Missouri River at least five French and English trading houses were built prior to 1808.^[42] In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte took control of Louisiana from Spain in a treaty.

After the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, Iowa was placed under United States control. Much of Iowa was mapped by Zebulon Pike in 1805,^[43] but it was not until the construction of Fort Madison in 1808 that the U.S. established tenuous military control over the region.^[44]

War of 1812 and unstable U.S. control[link]

Plan of Fort Madison, 1810.

Fort Madison was built to control trade and establish U.S. dominance over the Upper Mississippi, but it was poorly designed and disliked by the Sauk and Ho-Chunk, many of whom allied with the British, who had not abandoned claims to the territory.^[44][45] Fort Madison was defeated by British-supported Indians in 1813 during the War of 1812, and Fort Shelby in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, also fell to the British. Black Hawk took part in the siege of Fort Madison.^[46][47]

After the war, the U.S. reestablished control of the region through the construction of Fort Armstrong, Fort Snelling in Minnesota, and Fort Atkinson in Nebraska.^[48]

Trade and Indian removal, 1814–1832[link]

Map of Iowa Indian Territory Accessions

The U.S. encouraged settlement of the east side of the Mississippi and removal of Indians to the west. Trade continued in furs and lead, but disease and forced population movement decimated Indian cultures and economies. A disputed 1804 treaty between Quashquame and William Henry Harrison that surrendered much of Illinois to the U.S. enraged many Sauk and led to the 1832 Black Hawk War. As punishment for the uprising, and as part of a larger settlement strategy, treaties were subsequently designed to remove all Indians from Iowa.

The Sauk and Meskwaki were pushed out of the Mississippi valley in 1832, out of the Iowa River valley in 1843, and out of Iowa altogether in 1846. Many Meskwaki later returned to Iowa and settled near Tama, Iowa; the Meskwaki Settlement remains to this day. In 1856 the Iowa Legislature passed an unprecedented act allowing the Meskawki to purchase the land; Indians were not usually permitted to do so. The Ho-Chunk were removed from Iowa in 1850, and the Dakota were removed by the late 1850s. Western Iowa around modern Council Bluffs was used as a way station for other tribes being moved west, including the Potawatomi.

U.S. settlement and statehood, 1832–1860[link]

Iowa Territorial Seal.

The first American settlers officially moved to Iowa in June 1833.^[49] Primarily, they were families from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia.^[49] On July 4, 1838, the U.S. Congress established the Territory of Iowa. President Martin Van Buren appointed Robert Lucas governor of the territory, which at the time had 22 counties and a population of 23,242.^[50]

Almost immediately after achieving territorial status, a clamor arose for statehood. On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state in the Union when President James K. Polk signed Iowa's admission bill into law. Once admitted to the Union, the state's boundary issues resolved, and most of its land purchased from the Indians, Iowa set its direction to development and organized campaigns for settlers and investors, boasting the young frontier state's rich farmlands, fine citizens, free and open society, and good government.^[51]

Iowa has a long tradition of state and county fairs. The first and second Iowa State Fairs were held in the more developed eastern part of the state at Fairfield. The first fair was held October 25–27, 1854, at a cost of around $323. Thereafter, the fair moved to locations closer to the center of the state and in 1886 found a permanent home in Des Moines. The State Fair has been held every year since except for the year 1898 due to the Spanish-American War and the World's Fair being held in nearby Omaha, Nebraska. The fair was also a World War II wartime casualty from 1942–1945.^[52]

Civil War, 1861–1865[link]

Iowa supported the Union during the Civil War, voting heavily for Abraham Lincoln, though there was a strong antiwar "Copperhead" movement among settlers of southern origins and among Catholics.^{[citation needed]} There were no battles in the state, but Iowa sent large supplies of food to the armies and the eastern cities. Much of Iowa's support for the Union can be attributed to Samuel J. Kirkwood, its wartime governor. Of a total population of 675,000, about 116,000 men were subjected to military duty. Iowa contributed proportionately more men to Civil War military service than did any other state, north or south, sending more than 75,000 volunteers to the armed forces, over one-sixth of whom were in their graves before the South surrendered at Appomattox.^[53]

Most fought in the great campaigns in the Mississippi Valley and in the South.^[54] Iowa troops fought at Wilson's Creek in Missouri, Pea Ridge in Arkansas, Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Rossville Gap as well as Vicksburg, Iuka, and Corinth. They served with the Army of the Potomoc in Virginia and fought under Union General Philip Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. Many died and were buried at Andersonville. They marched on General Nathaniel Banks' ill-starred expedition to the Red River. Twenty-seven Iowans have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government, which was first awarded in the Civil War.^[55]

Iowa had several brigadier generals and four major generals—Grenville Mellen Dodge, Samuel R. Curtis, Francis J. Herron, and Frederick Steele—and saw many of its generals go on to state and national prominence following the war.^[53]

Agricultural expansion, 1865–1930[link]

Iowa farm, 1875.

Following the Civil War, Iowa's population continued to grow dramatically, from 674,913 people in 1860 to 1,194,020 in 1870. The introduction of railroads in the 1850s and 1860s transformed Iowa into a major agricultural producer.

In 1917, the United States entered World War I and farmers as well as all Iowans experienced a wartime economy. For farmers, the change was significant. Since the beginning of the war in 1914, Iowa farmers had experienced economic prosperity. In the economic sector, Iowa also has undergone considerable change. Beginning with the first farm-related industries developed in the 1870s, Iowa has experienced a gradual increase in the number of business and manufacturing operations.

Depression, World War II, and the rise of manufacturing, 1930–1985[link]

The transition from an agricultural economy to a mixed economy happened slowly. The Great Depression and World War II accelerated the shift away from smallholder farming to larger farms, and began a trend of urbanization that continues. The period since World War II has witnessed a particular increase in manufacturing operations. While agriculture continued to be the state's dominant industry, Iowans also produce a wide variety of products including refrigerators, washing machines, fountain pens, farm implements, and food products.

The Farm Crisis of the 1980s caused a major recession in Iowa, causing poverty not seen since the Depression.^[56] The crisis spurred a major population decline in Iowa that lasted a decade.^[57]

Reemergence as a mixed economy, 1985–present[link]

After bottoming out in the 1980s, Iowa's economy began to become increasingly less dependent on agriculture, and now has a mix of manufacturing, biotechnology, finance and insurance services, and government services.^[58] The population of Iowa has increased at a faster rate than the U.S. as a whole,^[57] and Iowa now has a predominantly urban population.^[59]

Demographics[link]

Major Cities[link]

Iowa Population Density Map