Rockwell City, Iowa

Rockwell City was platted in 1876. It is named for its founders, John M. Rockwell, and his wife Charlotte M. Rockwell.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yZAUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA136 | title=Past and Present of Calhoun County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress, and Achievement, Volume 1 | publisher=Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Company | author=Stonebraker, Beaumont E. | year=1915 | pages=136}}

{{Historical populations

|title= Rockwell City
historical population

|type= USA

|align= left

|width= 20%

|state= Iowa

|shading=

|percentages=

|1880|90

|1890|516

|1900|1222

|1910|1528

|1920|2039

|1930|2108

|1940|2391

|1950|2333

|1960|2313

|1970|2396

|1980|2276

|1990|1981

|2000|2264

|2010|1709

|2020|2240

|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}}

}}

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,709 people, 773 households, and 471 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|405.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 916 housing units at an average density of {{convert|217.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.4% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.[https://www.census.gov/popfinder/ "2010 Population Finder: Rockwell City, Iowa." (listed under 'Rockwell City city')] United States Census Bureau. www.census.gov. Retrieved June 10, 2014.

There were 773 households, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20% 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 2.77.

The median age in the city was 47.6 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 25.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

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 2,264 people, 818 households, and 503 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|537.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 951 housing units at an average density of {{convert|225.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.99% White, 3.09% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.80% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.68% of the population.

There were 818 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.79.

18.0% are under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 125.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,071, and the median income for a family was $42,625. Males had a median income of $28,519 versus $22,929 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,671. About 6.1% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Rockwell City is located at {{coord|42|23|45|N|94|37|59|W|type:city}} (42.395906, −94.632946).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|4.21|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.[http://www.usa.com/rockwell-city-ia.htm "Rockwell City, IA."] www.usa.com. Retrieved June 10, 2014.

Humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is relatively well distributed year-round in many areas with this climate. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfa" (Hot Summer Continental Climate).[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=161731&cityname=Rockwell+City%2C+Iowa%2C+United+States+of+America&units= "Climate Summary for Rockwell City."] www.weatherbase.com. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

{{Weather box

|location = Rockwell City, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 70

|Feb record high F = 70

|Mar record high F = 87

|Apr record high F = 97

|May record high F = 106

|Jun record high F = 105

|Jul record high F = 109

|Aug record high F = 110

|Sep record high F = 102

|Oct record high F = 94

|Nov record high F = 80

|Dec record high F = 70

|Jan avg record high F = 48.5

|Feb avg record high F = 54.1

|Mar avg record high F = 71.3

|Apr avg record high F = 82.6

|May avg record high F = 88.5

|Jun avg record high F = 91.8

|Jul avg record high F = 93.0

|Aug avg record high F = 91.4

|Sep avg record high F = 89.3

|Oct avg record high F = 83.6

|Nov avg record high F = 68.2

|Dec avg record high F = 53.0

|year avg record high F = 94.8

|Jan high F = 26.5

|Feb high F = 31.4

|Mar high F = 45.1

|Apr high F = 59.2

|May high F = 70.0

|Jun high F = 79.6

|Jul high F = 82.9

|Aug high F = 80.7

|Sep high F = 75.0

|Oct high F = 62.2

|Nov high F = 45.8

|Dec high F = 32.0

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 17.4

|Feb mean F = 21.8

|Mar mean F = 34.7

|Apr mean F = 47.4

|May mean F = 59.4

|Jun mean F = 69.6

|Jul mean F = 72.9

|Aug mean F = 70.6

|Sep mean F = 63.0

|Oct mean F = 50.3

|Nov mean F = 35.6

|Dec mean F = 23.4

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 8.4

|Feb low F = 12.3

|Mar low F = 24.4

|Apr low F = 35.6

|May low F = 48.7

|Jun low F = 59.5

|Jul low F = 62.9

|Aug low F = 60.5

|Sep low F = 51.1

|Oct low F = 38.4

|Nov low F = 25.4

|Dec low F = 14.8

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -13.1

|Feb avg record low F = -8.3

|Mar avg record low F = 2.8

|Apr avg record low F = 21.4

|May avg record low F = 35.0

|Jun avg record low F = 47.4

|Jul avg record low F = 52.5

|Aug avg record low F = 50.7

|Sep avg record low F = 36.7

|Oct avg record low F = 23.3

|Nov avg record low F = 8.8

|Dec avg record low F = -6.0

|year avg record low F = -16.4

|Jan record low F = -35

|Feb record low F = -33

|Mar record low F = -22

|Apr record low F = 4

|May record low F = 17

|Jun record low F = 34

|Jul record low F = 42

|Aug record low F = 36

|Sep record low F = 20

|Oct record low F = -3

|Nov record low F = -16

|Dec record low F = -32

|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.76

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.99

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.99

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.76

|May precipitation inch = 5.02

|Jun precipitation inch = 5.04

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.54

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.53

|Sep precipitation inch = 2.95

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.35

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.48

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.34

|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 7.4

|Feb snow inch = 7.6

|Mar snow inch = 4.9

|Apr snow inch = 1.9

|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 = 0.6

|Nov snow inch = 2.4

|Dec snow inch = 7.3

|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 5.3

|Feb precipitation days = 5.2

|Mar precipitation days = 7.0

|Apr precipitation days = 9.4

|May precipitation days = 12.4

|Jun precipitation days = 10.9

|Jul precipitation days = 8.8

|Aug precipitation days = 8.8

|Sep precipitation days = 7.8

|Oct precipitation days = 8.1

|Nov precipitation days = 5.0

|Dec precipitation days = 5.4

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 3.9

|Feb snow days = 3.4

|Mar snow days = 2.3

|Apr snow days = 0.8

|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 = 0.2

|Nov snow days = 1.3

|Dec snow days = 3.6

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00137161&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 4, 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 4, 2022

}}

}}

Rockwell City is within the South Central Calhoun Community School District."[https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_SOUTH%20CENTRAL%20CALHOUN.pdf South Central Calhoun]." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on July 18, 2018.

It was a part of the Rockwell City Community School District until July 1, 1993, when it merged into the Rockwell City–Lytton Community School District. That in turn merged into South Central Calhoun on July 1, 2014."[https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/District%20Reorganization%20History%20final.pdf REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66]." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on July 20, 2018.

==Notable people==

• Charles G. Boyd, 4-Star General of the United States Air Force was born in rural Rockwell City.
• Hubert Stanley Wall, mathematician, was born in Rockwell City.[http://www.utexas.edu/faculty/council/2000-2001/memorials/SCANNED/wall.pdf "In Memoriam: Hubert Stanley Wall."] www.utexas.edu. Retrieved August 22, 2014.

In 1958, Rockwell City resident Barry Wichmann was recognized for his IQ of 162Wilson, John Rowan. Life Science Library: The Mind. New York: Time Inc. 128-129. 1964.Sochurek, Howard, and Stan Wayman. [https://books.google.com/books?id=PlYEAAAAMBAJ "Crisis in Education: Schoolboys Point Up A U.S. Weakness."] Life Magazine 44.12. 24 March 1958: 25-35. Google Books. Retrieved June 10, 2014.Villet, Grey. [https://books.google.com/books?id=sFMEAAAAMBAJ "Crisis in Education: Part III. The Waste of Fine Minds."] Life Magazine 44.14. 7 Apr. 1958: 89-97. Google Books. Retrieved June 10, 2014. Wichmann's school lacked the resources to fully meet his needs, and his high intelligence led to frequent bouts of loneliness. He also suffered from dyscalculia, a learning disability similar to dyslexia. He eventually moved to Winchester, Virginia, where he finished high school and went on to obtain a PhD in clinical psychology from James Madison University.Bracey, Gerald W. [https://www.aasa.org/uploadedfiles/policy_and_advocacy/files/braceyconditionofedu2007.pdf "The First Time 'Everything Changed.'"] The 17th Bracey Report on the Condition of Public Education. www.aasa.org, October, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2014.

Since 2009, Rockwell City has hosted the annual "Sweet Corn Daze" festival, which typically takes place on the first weekend in August and includes a parade, various events, and vendors.{{Cite web |title=A DECADE OF SWEETNESS {{!}} The Graphic-Advocate |url=https://thegraphic-advocate.com/content/decade-sweetness |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=thegraphic-advocate.com}}{{Cite web |title=Sweet Corn Daze {{!}} Rockwell City, IA {{!}} Cruise Calhoun County, Iowa |url=https://www.cruisecalhoun.com/events/sweet_corn_daze/402/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.cruisecalhoun.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Sweet Corn Daze |url=https://www.rockwellcity.com/sweet-corn-daze |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.rockwellcity.com}}

Rockwell City also hosts the annual Calhoun County Expo, Calhoun County's county fair.{{Cite web |title=Calhoun County Exposition, Iowa |url=http://calhouncountyexpo.com/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=calhouncountyexpo.com |language=en-US}} Rockwell City was selected as the location for the county fair in a county-wide election in 1980.{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://calhouncountyexpo.com/history/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=calhouncountyexpo.com |language=en-US}} Prior to that time, Calhoun County had two county fairs, one in Rockwell City and one in neighboring Manson. A 1979 state law, however, required counties to select a single county fair to be the "Official State Fair" which necessitated the vote and consolidation of county fairs in Calhoun County (among other Iowa counties).

Calhoun County Courthouse. The courthouse was constructed in 1914, with an architectural style of Neoclassical Revival and outer walls of limestone, with a red clay tile roof.{{Cite web |title=Calhoun County Courthouse |url=https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/educational-resources-and-services/iowa-courts-history/iowa-county-courthouse-history/calhoun-county-courthouse |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.iowacourts.gov |language=en-us}}

Calhoun County Historical Museum. Formerly the building of the Rockwell City High School, this building has been home to the Calhoun County Historical Museum since 1986.{{Cite web |date=2016-06-29 |title=About Cal. Co. Museum {{!}} Calhoun County Historical Museum |url=https://www.calhouncountyiowamuseum.org/about-us/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.calhouncountyiowamuseum.org |language=en-US}} The museum traces its origins back to 1902 and seeks to preserve documents and artifacts related to the history and people of Calhoun County. As of January 2023, the museum is open on Sundays from 1-3pm from June to September or by appointment.

Rockwell City Bridge. One of two rainbow bridges in Calhoun County (the other being in Lake City), this bridge was built in 1915 and put into disuse with the realignment of U.S. Highway 20 in 1981.{{Cite web |title='A nice, quiet place' |url=https://www.messengernews.net/news/local-news/2020/10/a-nice-quiet-place/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=messengernews.net |language=en-US}} The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. In 2020, the bridge and some adjacent land was turned into a local park.

On the December 18, 2003, episode of Jeopardy!, the $500 answer in the category "U.S. City Nicknames" was "Rockwell City in this state calls itself the 'Golden buckle on the Corn Belt.' "[http://www.jeoparchive.com/121803.html "JEOPARDY! Game - December 18, 2003."] www.jeoparchive.com. Retrieved March 27, 2019.‌

{{portal|Iowa}}

• List of cities in Iowa

{{reflist|22em}}

{{commons category|Rockwell City, Iowa}}

• [http://www.rockwellcity.com/ Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.thegraphic-advocate.com Graphic-Advocate Newspaper]
• [http://www.city-data.com/city/Rockwell-City-Iowa.html City-Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Rockwell City

{{Calhoun County, Iowa}}

{{Iowa county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Calhoun County, Iowa

Category:Cities in Iowa

Category:County seats in Iowa