Shenandoah, Iowa

Shenandoah, originally known as Fair Oaks, was platted in 1870, shortly after the arrival of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad into the neighborhood. Its name is derived from the local valley's resemblance to the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/historypagecoun01kersgoog | title=History of Page County, Iowa | publisher=S.J. Clarke Publishing Company | author=Kershaw, W. L. | year=1909 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/historypagecoun01kersgoog/page/n389 381]}}

In 1885, a smallpox epidemic in Shenandoah prompted the closing of schools, and the cancellation of church services and public meetings. Quarantine orders were established for households with smallpox, and guards were posted outside affected homes.{{Cite web |title=shenandoah_clerk_records.htm |url=https://genealogytrails.com/iowa/page/shenandoah_clerk_records.htm |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=genealogytrails.com}} On June 11, J.C. Wilson was employed as quarantine officer. During this time, Shenandoah musician W.F. Strong composed a piano arrangement called "Quarantine Polka".{{Cite web |title=Quarantine Polka, originally composed in 1885 by W.F. Strong during a smallpox quarantine and arrang - Woodwind Quartet - Digital Sheet Music |url=https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/quarantine-polka-originally-composed-in-1885-by-w-f-strong-during-a-smallpox-quarantine-and-arrang-21756963.html |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=www.sheetmusicplus.com |language=en}}

Shenandoah is located along Fourmile Creek near its confluence with the East Nishnabotna River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|3.75|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it 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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}

{{Weather box

|location = Shenandoah, Iowa (1991–2020, extremes 1918–present)

|single line = Y

|collapsed = Y

|width = auto

|Jan record high F = 69

|Feb record high F = 78

|Mar record high F = 90

|Apr record high F = 94

|May record high F = 99

|Jun record high F = 106

|Jul record high F = 112

|Aug record high F = 113

|Sep record high F = 105

|Oct record high F = 97

|Nov record high F = 84

|Dec record high F = 73

|year record high F = 113

|Jan avg record high F = 56.3

|Feb avg record high F = 62.4

|Mar avg record high F = 76.1

|Apr avg record high F = 85.9

|May avg record high F = 91.0

|Jun avg record high F = 94.3

|Jul avg record high F = 96.8

|Aug avg record high F = 95.8

|Sep avg record high F = 92.9

|Oct avg record high F = 87.0

|Nov avg record high F = 72.0

|Dec avg record high F = 60.0

|year avg record high F = 98.4

|Jan high F = 33.4

|Feb high F = 38.7

|Mar high F = 51.6

|Apr high F = 63.7

|May high F = 73.8

|Jun high F = 83.3

|Jul high F = 86.9

|Aug high F = 85.2

|Sep high F = 79.0

|Oct high F = 66.3

|Nov high F = 50.7

|Dec high F = 37.9

|year high F = 62.5

|Jan mean F = 23.5

|Feb mean F = 28.4

|Mar mean F = 40.4

|Apr mean F = 51.8

|May mean F = 63.2

|Jun mean F = 73.2

|Jul mean F = 76.8

|Aug mean F = 74.6

|Sep mean F = 66.7

|Oct mean F = 53.9

|Nov mean F = 40.1

|Dec mean F = 28.5

|year mean F = 51.8

|Jan low F = 13.7

|Feb low F = 18.0

|Mar low F = 29.3

|Apr low F = 39.9

|May low F = 52.5

|Jun low F = 63.1

|Jul low F = 66.7

|Aug low F = 64.0

|Sep low F = 54.5

|Oct low F = 41.6

|Nov low F = 29.4

|Dec low F = 19.1

|year low F = 41.0

|Jan avg record low F = -8.0

|Feb avg record low F = -1.6

|Mar avg record low F = 8.5

|Apr avg record low F = 23.9

|May avg record low F = 37.0

|Jun avg record low F = 50.2

|Jul avg record low F = 55.4

|Aug avg record low F = 52.7

|Sep avg record low F = 38.3

|Oct avg record low F = 24.8

|Nov avg record low F = 12.5

|Dec avg record low F = -1.6

|year avg record low F = -11.7

|Jan record low F = −26

|Feb record low F = −29

|Mar record low F = −22

|Apr record low F = 8

|May record low F = 26

|Jun record low F = 36

|Jul record low F = 41

|Aug record low F = 38

|Sep record low F = 23

|Oct record low F = 15

|Nov record low F = −8

|Dec record low F = −26

|year record low F = -29

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.92

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.21

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.06

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.34

|May precipitation inch = 6.16

|Jun precipitation inch = 5.53

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.36

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.77

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.02

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.84

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.76

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.40

|year precipitation inch = 36.37

|Jan snow inch = 7.0

|Feb snow inch = 7.5

|Mar snow inch = 2.8

|Apr snow inch = 1.2

|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 = 1.5

|Dec snow inch = 5.8

|year snow inch = 26.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 5.1

|Feb precipitation days = 5.9

|Mar precipitation days = 7.0

|Apr precipitation days = 9.8

|May precipitation days = 11.9

|Jun precipitation days = 10.2

|Jul precipitation days = 9.5

|Aug precipitation days = 8.6

|Sep precipitation days = 7.3

|Oct precipitation days = 7.5

|Nov precipitation days = 5.7

|Dec precipitation days = 5.3

|year precipitation days = 93.8

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 3.3

|Feb snow days = 3.0

|Mar snow days = 1.2

|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 = 0.3

|Nov snow days = 0.8

|Dec snow days = 2.3

|year snow days = 11.2

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=oax

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = November 27, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00137613&format=pdf

| title = Station: Shenandoah, IA

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = November 27, 2021}}

}}

{{Historical populations

|title= Historical populations

|type= USA

|align= left

|1880|1387

|1890|2440

|1900|3573

|1910|4976

|1920|5255

|1930|6502

|1940|6846

|1950|6938

|1960|6567

|1970|5968

|1980|6274

|1990|5572

|2000|5546

|2010|5150

|2020|4925

|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|access-date=June 4, 2015}}}}|footnote=Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|title=U.S. Census website|access-date=2020-03-28}} and [http://data.iowadatacenter.org/datatables/PlacesAll/plpopulation18502000.pdf Iowa Data Center]

}}

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 4,925 people, 2,241 households, and 1,236 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,319.4 inhabitants per square mile (509.4/km²). There were 2,536 housing units at an average density of 679.4 per square mile (262.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.6% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.1% from other races and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 4.5% of the population.

Of the 2,241 households, 23.3% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 6.5% were cohabitating couples, 30.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 23.4% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 44.8% of all households were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals, 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 44.3 years. 23.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.1% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 and 44; 24.5% were from 45 and 64; and 24.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

At the 2010 census there were 5,150 people, 2,310 households, and 1,366 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1373.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,611 housing units at an average density of {{convert|696.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0%.{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-05-11}}

Of the 2,310 households 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 37.0% of households were one person and 19% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age was 44.4 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 23% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

At the 2000 census there were 5,546 people, 2,421 households, and 1,486 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,599.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,645 housing units at an average density of {{convert|762.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.91% White, 0.11% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72%.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}

Of the 2,421 households 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.2% of households were one person and 17.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84.

Age spread: 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median household income was $29,435 and the median family income was $39,110. Males had a median income of $31,657 versus $18,588 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,301. About 11.0% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Recent excavations of at least three Jefferson's ground sloths, Megalonyx jeffersonii, have been coordinated by the Iowa Museum of Natural History along West Tarkio Creek near Shenandoah.The Tarkio Valley Sloth Project, {{cite web |url=http://slothcentral.com/?page_id=2 |title=The Tarkio Valley Sloth Project · Project Summary |access-date=2009-09-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101073804/http://slothcentral.com/?page_id=2 |archive-date=2009-01-01 }}

Shenandoah was home to minor league baseball. The Shenandoah Pin Rollers played as members of the Class D level Southwest Iowa League in 1903 and Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League (MINK) in 1910 and 1911.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Shenandoah, Iowa Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

The Southwest Iowa Herald (formerly the Valley News) Shenandoah and its neighbor city Clarinda's community newspaper. Published every Wednesday and distributed to homes throughout Page and Fremont Counties, the Southwest Iowa Herald is the community's oldest continually-operated business. Its predecessors include the award-winning Evening Sentinel.

The radio stations KMA AM and KFNF were early pioneering radio stations attracting listeners throughout the Mid-West and drawing thousands of visitors to the city in the 1920s. The radio station KMA-FM 99.1 is in the same complex as KMA. Both stations share a simulcast, except for sporting events and other special programming.

Shenandoah Community School District Operates Public Schools

Iowa Western Community College Shenandoah Campus

Jefferson Lines provides intercity bus service in Shenandoah, on a route between Kansas City and Sioux Falls.{{cite web|url=https://www.jeffersonlines.com/bus-stops/iowa/|title=Iowa Bus Stops|access-date=September 28, 2023}}

== Notable people ==

• Leanna Field Driftmier, long-time radio host (1886–1976)
• Chip Duncan, American Filmmaker (1955–Present)
• Everly Brothers, musicians, spent their childhood in Shenandoah
• Willis Glassgow, American football player and attorney
• Charlie Haden, jazz musician (1937–2014)
• Gary Kellgren, founder of The Record Plant (Record Plant Studios) (1939–1977)
• James Ross Lightfoot, US Congressman (1938–Present)
• Bernie Masterson, Former Chicago Bears coach, (1911–1963)
• Derryl McLaren, Iowa state legislator and politician (1949–Present)
• Michael J. O'Brien, American politician in the state of Iowa, (1939–Present)
• James Pearson, Radio preacher of KFNF radio, (1873–1950)
• Agnes Samuelson, educator (1887–1963)
• Jay Scheib, theatre director (1969–Present)
• Jessie Field Shambaugh, founder of 4-H (1881–1971)
• Jessie Young (1900–1987), widely regarded as the first of the radio homemakers.Birkby, Evelyn (1991). [https://archive.org/details/neighboringonair0000birk/page/38/mode/2up "Jessie Young"]. Neighboring on the Air : Cooking with the KMA Radio Homemakers. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. pp. 38–39. {{ISBN|0-87745-316-0}}.

• Women's Christian Temperance Union Public Fountain

{{reflist}}

• [http://shenandoahiowa.net/ Shenandoah's Chamber of Commerce Homepage]
• [https://sciaiowa.com/ Shenandoah Chamber of Industry Homepage]
• [https://valleynewstoday.com/ The Valley News], Shenandoah and world news
• [https://www.kmaland.com/news/local_news/ KMA], News and radio

{{Fremont County, Iowa}}

{{Page County, Iowa}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Iowa

Category:Cities in Fremont County, Iowa

Category:Cities in Page County, Iowa