Cresco, Iowa#Media

File:Cresco airport.jpg

Cresco was platted in 1866, when the railroad was expanding into the area.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4QUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA416 | title=History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa, Volume 1 | publisher=S. J. Clarke Publishing Company | author=Fairbairn, Robert Herd | year=1919 | pages=416}} "Cresco" is Latin for "I grow". Cresco was incorporated on June 6, 1868.{{cite web|url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Cresco-Iowa.html|title= Cresco, Iowa|publisher= City-Data.com |access-date= September 25, 2012}}

On October 20, 1980, The David Letterman Show was broadcast from Cresco, the winner of a competition to host the show.{{cite episode

|title=The David Letterman Show

|air-date=October 20, 1980

|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CdJu-5-zpfw&t=289s

| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/CdJu-5-zpfw| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|network=NBC

|credits=David Letterman}}{{cbignore}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of {{convert|3.35|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |df=mdy }}

File:Cresco, Iowa.jpg runs through town]]

Cresco experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with long, cold, snowy winters and very warm, humid summers.

{{Weather box

|collapsed = Y

|single line = yes

|location= Cresco

|Jan record high F = 54

|Feb record high F = 63

|Mar record high F = 83

|Apr record high F = 91

|May record high F = 91

|Jun record high F = 100

|Jul record high F = 102

|Aug record high F = 101

|Sep record high F = 98

|Oct record high F = 92

|Nov record high F = 75

|Dec record high F = 62

|year record high F = 102

|Jan high F = 21.5

|Feb high F = 27.6

|Mar high F = 40.0

|Apr high F = 55.6

|May high F = 68.7

|Jun high F = 78.3

|Jul high F = 81.9

|Aug high F = 79.7

|Sep high F = 71.6

|Oct high F = 59.2

|Nov high F = 41.4

|Dec high F = 26.7

|Jan low F = 2.8

|Feb low F = 9.4

|Mar low F = 21.9

|Apr low F = 34.0

|May low F = 45.8

|Jun low F = 55.5

|Jul low F = 59.6

|Aug low F = 57.3

|Sep low F = 47.9

|Oct low F = 36.2

|Nov low F = 23.5

|Dec low F = 9.4

|Jan record low F = −35

|Feb record low F = −36

|Mar record low F = −29

|Apr record low F = −1

|May record low F = 23

|Jun record low F = 34

|Jul record low F = 40

|Aug record low F = 34

|Sep record low F = 24

|Oct record low F = 10

|Nov record low F = −16

|Dec record low F = −30

|year record low F = −36

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.02

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.88

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.21

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.52

|May precipitation inch = 3.92

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.65

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.54

|Aug precipitation inch = 5.17

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.69

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.40

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.36

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.27

|Jan snow inch = 10.0

|Feb snow inch = 6.9

|Mar snow inch = 6.4

|Apr snow inch = 2.5

|May snow inch = trace

|Jun snow inch = 0

|Jul snow inch = 0

|Aug snow inch = 0

|Sep snow inch = 0

|Oct snow inch = 0.4

|Nov snow inch = 4.9

|Dec snow inch = 9.0

|year snow inch = 40.1

|source 1= NOAA{{Cite web |url=http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/ia/131954.pdf |title=Climatography of the United States NO.20 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=February 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803201453/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/ia/131954.pdf |archive-date=August 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

|date=March 2011}}

{{US Census population

|1870= 912

|1880= 1875

|1890= 2018

|1900= 2806

|1910= 2658

|1920= 3195

|1930= 3069

|1940= 3530

|1950= 3638

|1960= 3809

|1970= 3927

|1980= 3860

|1990= 3669

|2000= 3905

|2010= 3868

|2020= 3888

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|df=mdy }}

}}

File:CrescoIowaPopPlot.png

As of the census of 2020,{{cite web |title=2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-census-main.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} there were 3,888 people, 1,699 households, and 970 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,164.2 inhabitants per square mile (449.5/km²). There were 1,846 housing units at an average density of 552.7 per square mile (213.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.

Of the 1,699 households, 26.8% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 7.2% were cohabitating couples, 28.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 20.7% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 42.9% of all households were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 41.1 years. 25.8% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.3% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 and 44; 24.8% were from 45 and 64; and 20.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-05-11}} of 2010, there were 3,868 people, 1,660 households, and 962 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1154.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,821 housing units at an average density of {{convert|543.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.3% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 1,660 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.0% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 39.8 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website |df=mdy }} of 2000, there were 3,905 people, 1,652 households, and 1,004 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,184.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,791 housing units at an average density of {{convert|543.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.77% White, 0.23% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.03% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.

There were 1,652 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.5% 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 2.95.

Age spread: 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,236, and the median income for a family was $43,682. Males had a median income of $30,088 versus $21,444 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,190. About 2.1% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

The Mighty Howard County Fair takes place in June each year. Originally established in 1868, the inaugural Howard County Fair took place in the Howard County Court House Square. The arts and crafts, as well as produce exhibits, were housed on the top floor of the Court House, while larger exhibits were situated on the lawn surrounding the Court House.{{cite web|url= http://www.mhcfair.com|title= Mighty Howard County Fair|publisher=Howard County Fairgrounds|access-date=March 22, 2011}}

Cresco Community Theatre is a nonprofit organization open to anyone with an idea or the desire to contribute. Contributing members decide which shows will be produced on the Cresco stage, and have ranged from famous productions to locally written plays.{{cite web|url=http://www.cctheatre.net|title=Cresco Community Theatre|publisher=CCT|access-date=March 22, 2011}}

Cresco is home to the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa, which had its first inductee banquet in 1970. {{As of|2010|April|url= http://www.iowawhof.com}}, 97 members had made outstanding contributions to the sport of amateur wrestling.{{cite web|url= http://www.iowawhof.com|title= Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame|publisher=IROC Web Design|access-date=March 22, 2011}}

Although Cresco is no longer on a railroad line, it is home to a restored Milwaukee Road FP7 diesel engine known as the Heritage Train, displayed in Beadle Park at the center of the city on Highway 9. Cresco is also the headquarters of Featherlite Trailers.

The Cresco post office contains a mural, Iowa Farming, painted in 1937 by Richard Haines. Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department.{{cite web|title=Public Library mural, Cresco, Iowa|url=http://livingnewdeal.org/projects/post-office-mural-cresco-ia/|website=livingnewdeal.org|publisher=Living New Deal|access-date=10 October 2015}}

The city newspaper is the weekly Cresco Times Plain Dealer, published on Wednesdays. The Cresco Shopper is published on Tuesdays.

KCZQ 102.3 FM is a licensed radio station based in Cresco, known as "Super C". The station's studios, near Elm Street, serve as its central operational hub. Mega Media LTD has owned KCZQ since it began broadcasting in 1991.

Notre Dame Catholic School in Cresco and Trinity Catholic school in Protivin offer private education to elementary students.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}} There was previously a Notre Dame High School in Cresco. Its final class graduated in 1989.{{cite web |date=2003-08-10 |title=CHS Handbook |url=http://www.howard-winn.k12.ia.us/about.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810062055/http://www.howard-winn.k12.ia.us/about.html |archive-date=2003-08-10 |access-date=2019-07-15 |publisher=Howard–Winneshiek Community School District}}

The school board's earliest documented minutes date to December 1871. Among the board's initial members were Augustus Beadle, Edward Gillette, W. R. Mead, S. A. Stone, and W. H. Patterson. During this period bonds were issued and subsequently sold for cash, providing the financial resources to expand the school building with the addition of the west wing.

The next year brought changes in both the composition and governance of the board. In January 1872, the board welcomed new members D. W. Owe and Charles I. White. A series of appointments took place in March of that same year, with Beadle assuming the role of president, John E. Peck appointed treasurer, and White taking on the position of secretary.

During the course of 1872, the board undertook initiatives to further enhance the educational facilities. An allocation of $400 was approved for the acquisition of four lots adjacent to the schoolhouse, aiming to provide ample space for future development. Additionally, a tax levy of 10 mills on the dollar was introduced to contribute to the school house fund.

In 1878, an east wing was added to the building. The project was completed by 1880, with a total estimated cost of $13,000. Cresco High School's inaugural commencement ceremony took place on June 18, 1880, in Lyric Hall. The principal, L. T. Weld, delivered an address to the graduating class of six students. Although historical records from this period are somewhat limited, it is known that the high school offered a three-year course of study at the time. The curriculum was expanded to a four-year program in 1901.

The physical infrastructure of Cresco's schools continued to evolve to meet its expanding student population's needs. In 1893, a grade school building was erected on the central campus. This structure experienced a devastating fire in 1917.

In response to the growing demands of Cresco's educational landscape, the South Ward grade school was constructed in 1896. This facility underwent a comprehensive renovation in 1953.

To meet Cresco's ever-changing educational requirements, a new high school building was erected in 1905. Citizens in the independent school district approved the project, with a budget not exceeding $25,000, in March that year. The construction bids were awarded in May, and by December, classes were already being held in the newly completed facilities.

The structure, 100 feet by 80 feet, was built out of pressed brick and Postville stone. It reached a height of 84 feet from the grade line to the top of its dome. The cornice and bell tower were made of galvanized iron. Though called a high school, the building held classes for students in grades 3 to 12.

The building's first floor consisted of the superintendent's office and five grade rooms. On the second floor was the seventh-grade room, six high-school classrooms, four recitation rooms, an assembly room, and a laboratory. The basement housed the manual training department and the furnace room.

The building used a steam heating system and an advanced ventilation system. In 1910, The Howard County Times wrote: "a series of air ducts lead to the cupola where a number of radiators form an upward current that completely changes the air of all rooms in approximately three minutes. Fresh air from the outside is first warmed over radiators and then conducted to all the rooms, after which it passes out through the ducts leading to the cupola."

In 1919, Cresco opened the east high school building and the West Ward school building. To finance these projects, bonds totaling $56,000 were issued.

Cresco Junior College, founded on September 6, 1927, was in a renovated house opposite the high school buildings. It enrolled 19 students in its first year and 23 students the next year. The college faced a setback due to small enrollment and ceased operations after two years.

In 1935, a new corridor was constructed, linking the 1905 building with the 1919 building. The same year, plans began for the construction of a gymnasium. It was completed in 1938. As part of this expansion, the gymnasium in the 1919 building was reconfigured into a small performance space.

Further expansions and additions were made in 1951 with a new garage and bus barn, and a band room for the music program.

The Howard-Winneshiek Community School District was established on July 1, 1960, through the consolidation of public schools. This brought together the public schools of Chester, Cresco, Elma, Lime Springs, and Ridgeway, necessitating the expansion of educational infrastructure to accommodate the growing student population.

In December 1965, voters approved a $1,500,000 bond proposal whose primary objective was to fund the construction of new elementary buildings in Lime Springs and Ridgeway and a high school in Cresco. Construction of the high school began in 1967, and Crestwood High School opened in 1968. During the transition to the new high school, the original school buildings in the Central Complex continued to be used for elementary and junior high courses. In 1983, these buildings underwent extensive renovations.

In July 1991, the citizens of the Howard-Winneshiek Community School District approved a bond issue of $5.975 million to fund construction of a new K-8 building north of Crestwood High School. They also approved the allocation of $700,000 from an existing schoolhouse fund balance specifically designated for the renovation of the outlying centers, ensuring that these educational spaces would receive the necessary upgrades and improvements.

The total cost of this initiative was $7.2 million. A majority of 64.5% voted in favor of the new school.

• Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, attended Cresco High School{{Cite web |url=https://borlaug.cfans.umn.edu/about-borlaug/child |title=Norman Borlaug: The Child |website=Driven to Discover |publisher=University of Minnesota, College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences |access-date=April 18, 2024 }}
• Charles Bowers, cartoonist and filmmaker{{Cite web|url=https://www.howard-county.com/iowa/charles-bowers.html|title=Howard County Economic Development: Howard County, Iowa {{!}} Cresco, Iowa {{!}} Riceville, Iowa {{!}} Elma, Iowa {{!}} Lime Springs, Iowa {{!}} Protivin, Iowa {{!}} Chester, Iowa|website=www.howard-county.com|access-date=2019-04-25}}
• Ellen Church, the world's first female flight attendant{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3847732/first-stewardess-ellen-church/|title=Hired for Their Looks, Promoted For Their Heroism: The First Flight Attendants|last=Latson|first=Jennifer|date=May 15, 2015|magazine=Time|access-date=19 April 2019}}
• Edward Aloysius Fitzgerald, the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=67MNAQAAIAAJ&q=Edward%20Aloysius%20Fitzgerald%20cresco&pg=PA144|title=The American Catholic Who's Who|publisher=Walter Romig|year=1911|volume=14|location=Grosse Pointe, MI|pages=144|issn=0364-6394}}
• Wilma Anderson Gilman (1881–1971), concert pianist, music teacher, clubwoman{{cite book |last1=Foster |first1=Mary Dillon |title=Who's who Among Minnesota Women: A History of Woman's Work in Minnesota from Pioneer Days to Date, Told in Biographies, Memorials and Records of Organizations |date=1924 |publisher=Mary Dillon Foster |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027811010&view=1up&seq=7 |via=HathiTrust |page=120 |chapter=Wilma Anderson Gilman |access-date=21 June 2022 |language=en }} {{Source-attribution}}
• Maurice C. Gregory, United States Marine Corps brigadier general{{Cite book|title=United States Marine Corps Generals of World War II: A Biographical Dictionary|last=Clark|first=George|publisher=McFarland|year=2008|isbn=978-0786432035|location=Jefferson, NC|pages=56}}
• Hal Holmes, United States congressman
• Edward Howard, Roman Catholic archbishop of Portland, Oregon{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/01/04/obituaries/edward-howard-105-senior-us-archbishop.html|title=Edward Howard, 105, Senior U.S. Archbishop|date=January 4, 1983|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
• Edouard Izac, Medal of Honor recipient{{Cite web|url=https://www.usna.edu/Notables/moh/1915izac.php|title=Edouard Victor Michel Izac|website=www.usna.edu|language=en|access-date=2019-05-09}}
• Frank J. Lowry, United States admiral{{Cite web|url=https://www.extension.iastate.edu/howard/page/five-admirals|title=Five Admirals {{!}} Howard County|website=www.extension.iastate.edu|access-date=2019-05-09}}
• Oliver Munson, Wisconsin state senator{{Cite book|title=Southwestern Wisconsin, a history of old Crawford County|last=Gregory|first=John|publisher=S.J. Clarke Pub. Co|year=1932|volume=3|pages=57|oclc=834199797}}
• Harold Nichols, former Iowa State University wrestling coach {{Cite web|url=https://data.desmoinesregister.com/hall-of-fame/single.php?id=459|title=Register Sports Hall of Fame Database - Harold Nichols {{!}} DesMoinesRegister.com|website=data.desmoinesregister.com|access-date=2019-05-09}}
• Robert E. Smylie, 24th governor of Idaho; raised in Cresco{{Cite book|title=American State Governors, 1776-1976|last=Kallenbach|first=Joseph|publisher=Oceana Publications|year=1977|isbn=9780379006650|volume=2|location=Dobbs Ferry, N.Y|pages=243}}
• Elmarie Wendel, American actress and singer{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920800/|title=Elmarie Wendel|website=IMDb|access-date=2019-05-09}}
• Ernest J. Windmiller, Minnesota state legislator and businessman[https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=11836 Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-Ernest J. Windmiller]

{{Portal|Iowa}}

• Polygonal Barn, New Oregon Township, listed on the National Register of Historic Places{{Cite web|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/86001437_text|title=Iowa Site Registry - Polygonal Barn|last=Iowa State Historical Department - Office of Historic Preservation|date=May 27, 1986|website=National Parks Gallery|access-date=June 18, 2019}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons}}

• [http://www.cityofcresco.com/ Cresco, Iowa Home Page] Portal style website, Government, Business, Library, Recreation and more
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050403205914/http://www.aea1.k12.ia.us/notredame/ Notre Dame Elementary School]
• [http://www.crescotimes.com Cresco Times Plain Dealer]
• [http://www.city-data.com/city/Cresco-Iowa.html City-Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Cresco

{{Howard County, Iowa}}

{{Iowa county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Iowa

Category:Cities in Howard County, Iowa

Category:County seats in Iowa

Category:Populated places established in 1866

Category:1866 establishments in Iowa