Mount Ayr, Iowa
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Mount Ayr, Iowa
|settlement_type = City
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = Mount Ayr, IA.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_map = Ringgold_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Mount_Ayr_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location of Mount Ayr, Iowa
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Iowa}}
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Ringgold
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|established_title =
|established_date =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 7.05
|area_land_km2 = 6.99
|area_water_km2 = 0.05
|area_total_sq_mi = 2.72
|area_land_sq_mi = 2.70
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.02
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_est =
|pop_est_as_of =
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 1623
|population_density_km2 = 232.10
|population_density_sq_mi = 601.11
|timezone = Central (CST)
|utc_offset = -6
|timezone_DST = CDT
|utc_offset_DST = -5
|elevation_ft = 1234
|coordinates = {{coord|40|42|51|N|94|14|15|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 50854
|area_code = 641
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 19-54480
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 468415{{GNIS|468415}}
|website =
|footnotes =
|pop_est_footnotes =
}}
Mount Ayr is a city in Ringgold County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,623 at the time of the 2020 census.{{cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=12 August 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|accessdate=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}} Mount Ayr is a rural community in southwestern Iowa, 22 miles west of Interstate 35 on State Highway 2. Mount Ayr was founded in 1875 and the community was named in honor of poet Robert Burns’ birthplace in Ayr, Scotland. The “mount” was added to indicate its location on the highest point of land in the area.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mountayriowa.org/,%20http://www.mountayriowa.org/|title=| Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce}}
Geography
Mount Ayr is at the intersection of US Route 169 and Iowa Highway 2. Kellerton is approximately nine miles to the east and Diagonal is about eight miles to the northwest.Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 7th Edition, 2021 pp. 56-7 {{isbn|1946494003}}
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|2.69|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.67|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{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|accessdate=2012-05-11|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archivedate=2012-07-02}}
=Climate=
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Mount Ayr has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.
{{Weather box
|location = Mount Ayr, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 67
|Feb record high F = 80
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 103
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 112
|Aug record high F = 111
|Sep record high F = 105
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 82
|Dec record high F = 70
|year record high =
|Jan avg record high F = 54.2
|Feb avg record high F = 59.3
|Mar avg record high F = 73.2
|Apr avg record high F = 81.2
|May avg record high F = 86.1
|Jun avg record high F = 90.4
|Jul avg record high F = 94.6
|Aug avg record high F = 93.3
|Sep avg record high F = 89.4
|Oct avg record high F = 82.6
|Nov avg record high F = 69.4
|Dec avg record high F = 58.6
|year avg record high F = 95.5
|Jan high F = 31.9
|Feb high F = 36.8
|Mar high F = 49.4
|Apr high F = 61.4
|May high F = 70.8
|Jun high F = 80.3
|Jul high F = 84.6
|Aug high F = 83.3
|Sep high F = 76.4
|Oct high F = 64.1
|Nov high F = 49.0
|Dec high F = 36.8
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = 21.8
|Feb mean F = 26.5
|Mar mean F = 38.5
|Apr mean F = 49.7
|May mean F = 60.2
|Jun mean F = 70.0
|Jul mean F = 74.2
|Aug mean F = 72.5
|Sep mean F = 64.5
|Oct mean F = 52.1
|Nov mean F = 38.4
|Dec mean F = 27.2
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 11.7
|Feb low F = 16.1
|Mar low F = 27.5
|Apr low F = 38.
|May low F = 49.7
|Jun low F = 59.6
|Jul low F = 63.9
|Aug low F = 61.8
|Sep low F = 52.7
|Oct low F = 40.2
|Nov low F = 27.9
|Dec low F = 17.7
|year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = -10.1
|Feb avg record low F = -3.4
|Mar avg record low F = 7.1
|Apr avg record low F = 21.8
|May avg record low F = 35.2
|Jun avg record low F = 47.3
|Jul avg record low F = 53.7
|Aug avg record low F = 51.0
|Sep avg record low F = 37.2
|Oct avg record low F = 24.0
|Nov avg record low F = 10.7
|Dec avg record low F = -3.4
|year avg record low F = -14.2
|Jan record low F = -30
|Feb record low F = -29
|Mar record low F = -20
|Apr record low F = 5
|May record low F = 22
|Jun record low F = 36
|Jul record low F = 41
|Aug record low F = 37
|Sep record low F = 24
|Oct record low F = 0
|Nov record low F = -15
|Dec record low F = -28
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.73
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.25
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.16
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.37
|May precipitation inch = 5.35
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.39
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.40
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.98
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.71
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.88
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.11
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.63
|year precipitation inch =
|Jan snow inch = 5.8
|Feb snow inch = 5.9
|Mar snow inch = 2.6
|Apr snow inch = 0.7
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.3
|Nov snow inch = 1.2
|Dec snow inch = 4.0
|year snow inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 4.0
|Feb precipitation days = 4.6
|Mar precipitation days = 6.2
|Apr precipitation days = 8.5
|May precipitation days = 11.0
|Jun precipitation days = 9.2
|Jul precipitation days = 8.2
|Aug precipitation days = 7.9
|Sep precipitation days = 6.5
|Oct precipitation days = 7.1
|Nov precipitation days = 5.0
|Dec precipitation days = 4.7
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.9
|Feb snow days = 3.4
|Mar snow days = 1.1
|Apr snow days = 0.3
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 0.7
|Dec snow days = 2.5
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00135769&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = August 3, 2022
}}
|source 2 = National Weather Service
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=dmx
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = August 3, 2022
}}
}}
Demographics
{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= left
|1870|422
|1880|1275
|1890|1265
|1900|1729
|1910|1646
|1920|1738
|1930|1704
|1940|1930
|1950|1793
|1960|1738
|1970|1762
|1980|1938
|1990|1796
|2000|1822
|2010|1691
|2020|1623
|source={{center|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|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}}}|footnote=Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|title=U.S. Census website|access-date=2020-03-29}} and [http://data.iowadatacenter.org/datatables/PlacesAll/plpopulation18502000.pdf Iowa Data Center]
}}
=2020 census=
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 1,623 people, 739 households, and 437 families residing in the city. The population density was 601.1 inhabitants per square mile (232.1/km2). There were 811 housing units at an average density of 300.4 per square mile (116.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.0% of the population.
Of the 739 households, 26.0% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 4.6% were cohabitating couples, 32.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 17.9% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 40.9% of all households were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the city was 45.5 years. 24.2% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.3% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 and 44; 23.3% were from 45 and 64; and 27.0% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.0% male and 54.0% female.
=2010 census=
As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2012-05-11}} of 2010, there were 1,691 people, 746 households, and 437 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|633.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 822 housing units at an average density of {{convert|307.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.1% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 746 households, of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.4% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.80.
The median age in the city was 49.5 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 29.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.5% male and 55.5% female.
=2000 census=
As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 1,822 people, 780 households, and 492 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|720.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 856 housing units at an average density of {{convert|338.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 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.
Age spread: 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
=Library=
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
Local places for recreation include:
- Judge Lewis Recreational Park, the city park{{cite web |url=http://www.southerniowatourism.com/index.php/ringgold-county-iowa.html |title=Ringgold County Iowa |accessdate=2013-04-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208093942/http://www.southerniowatourism.com/index.php/ringgold-county-iowa.html |archivedate=2013-02-08 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lon=-94.2491211&lat=40.7124923&datum=nad83|title = State Topo Maps}}
- Poe Hollow Park & Ringgold Trailway{{Cite web |url=http://ringgold.iowa-assessors.org/cgi/wiki.pl?POE_HOLLOW_PARK |title=Ringgold County: POE HOLLOW PARK |access-date=2013-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304133829/http://ringgold.iowa-assessors.org/cgi/wiki.pl?POE_HOLLOW_PARK |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}
- Sun Valley Lake and Resort, including a golf course and boating facilities
- Fife's Grove and Loch Ayr, including a park and lake{{Cite web |url=http://ringgold.iowa-assessors.org/cgi/wiki.pl?action=browse&id=Parks&revision=17 |title=Ringgold County: Parks |access-date=2013-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305025734/http://ringgold.iowa-assessors.org/cgi/wiki.pl?action=browse&id=parks&revision=17 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }}
Education
Mount Ayr is the home of the Mount Ayr Community School District, which serves Mount Ayr, Beaconsfield, Benton, Delphos, Ellston, Kellerton, Maloy, Redding, Tingley, and portions of Clearfield.{{cite web|url=https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_MOUNT%20AYR.pdf|title=Mount Ayr|publisher=Iowa Department of Education|accessdate=2018-06-21|archive-date=2018-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427124130/https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_MOUNT%20AYR.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Mount Ayr has one high school (grades 7-12){{cite web |url=http://www.mtayrschools.org/secondary |title=Secondary - Mt. Ayr Community Schools |website=www.mtayrschools.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116220540/http://www.mtayrschools.org/secondary |archive-date=2012-01-16}} and one elementary school (grades K-6),{{cite web |url=http://www.mtayrschools.org/elementary |title=Elementary - Mt. Ayr Community Schools |website=www.mtayrschools.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116214524/http://www.mtayrschools.org/elementary |archive-date=2012-01-16}} 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=
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
Judge Lewis Field, located two miles southeast of Mount Ayr {{coord|40|42|23|N|94|13|13|W|type:airport}} 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 {{convert|2600|ft|m}} long by {{convert|40|ft|m}} wide.{{cite web|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/1Y3|title=Judge Lewis Field Mount Ayr Municipal Airport|publisher=AirNav|accessdate=May 23, 2011}}
==Notable people==
- Peggy Whitson (born 1960) first female NASA Chief Astronaut.{{cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/whitson.html |title=Peggy A. Whitson (Ph.D.) Bio |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration|date=October 2009|accessdate=May 23, 2011}}
- Duane Miller (born 1947) professional football player and Drake football record-holder.
Gallery
File:Wall Mural, Mt Ayr, IA Post Office, 1998.jpg|Orr C. Fischer, The Corn Parade, 1941, oil on canvas, mural on wall of post office.{{cite web|url=http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6702|title= The Corn Parade|publisher= History Matters|accessdate=May 23, 2011}}
File:Paving Lincoln St in Mount Ayr, Iowa.jpg|Paving Lincoln St.,
about 1935
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
{{Portal|Iowa}}
- [https://www.mtayrnews.com/ Mount Ayr Record News], weekly newspaper, e-edition
- [http://www.mtayrschools.org School website]
- [http://www.city-data.com/city/Mount-Ayr-Iowa.html City-Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Mount Ayr
{{Ringgold County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa county seats}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Cities in Ringgold County, Iowa