Blairstown, Iowa

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Blairstown, Iowa
City
Nickname(s): 
B-Town
Location of Blairstown, Iowa
Location of Blairstown, Iowa
Coordinates: 41°54′25″N 92°5′0″W / 41.90694°N 92.08333°W / 41.90694; -92.08333Coordinates: 41°54′25″N 92°5′0″W / 41.90694°N 92.08333°W / 41.90694; -92.08333
Country United States
State Iowa
CountyBenton
Area
 • Total0.50 sq mi (1.29 km2)
 • Land0.50 sq mi (1.29 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
840 ft (256 m)
Population
 • Total692
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
659
 • Density1,328.63/sq mi (512.75/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
52209
Area code(s)319
FIPS code19-06805
GNIS feature ID0454677

Blairstown is a city in southern Benton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 692 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[edit]

Blairstown was platted in 1862.[4] It was named for John Insley Blair, a railroad official.[5]

Geography[edit]

Blairstown is located at 41°54′25″N 92°5′0″W / 41.90694°N 92.08333°W / 41.90694; -92.08333 (41.906976, -92.083465).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.52 square miles (1.35 km2), all land.[7]

Demographics[edit]

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1870682—    
1880652−4.4%
1890583−10.6%
1900592+1.5%
1910532−10.1%
1920540+1.5%
1930488−9.6%
1940525+7.6%
1950523−0.4%
1960583+11.5%
1970612+5.0%
1980695+13.6%
1990672−3.3%
2000682+1.5%
2010692+1.5%
2019659−4.8%
Source:"U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-03-29. and Iowa Data Center
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 692 people, 295 households, and 199 families living in the city. The population density was 1,330.8 inhabitants per square mile (513.8/km2). There were 314 housing units at an average density of 603.8 per square mile (233.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.8% White, 0.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 0.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.

There were 295 households, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 39 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

2000 census[edit]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 682 people, 289 households, and 195 families living in the city. The population density was 1,434.7 people per square mile (548.6/km2). There were 309 housing units at an average density of 650.0 per square mile (248.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.41% White, 0.15% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.29% of the population.

There were 289 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.87.

24.8% are under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,662, and the median income for a family was $47,778. Males had a median income of $36,705 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,828. About 5.9% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Culture[edit]

Blairstown holds an annual "Sauerkraut Days" celebration.[10]

Rolle Bolle[edit]

People playing and watching Rolle Bolle in Blairstown, June 2019.

Many Blairstown residents still play the Belgian yard game Rolle Bolle (called krulbollen in Belgium), first brought to the region by Belgian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[11] Blairstown's courts are located in the Blairstown Ball Park. A game of Rolle Bolle is part of the annual Sauerkraut Days celebration. Rolle Bolle is also played in the nearby towns of Belle Plaine, Clutier, Victor, Marengo, and Ladora.

Education[edit]

Benton Community School District operates local public schools.[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  3. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. ^ The History of Benton County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Western Historical. 1878. p. 328.
  5. ^ Henry Gannett (1905). The origin of certain place names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 48.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ^ "Blairstown". County of Benton, IA. Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  11. ^ Amato, Joseph Anthony. (1990). Servants of the land : God, family, and farm : the trinity of Belgian economic folkways in southwestern Minnesota. Longmont, Colo.: Crossings Press. ISBN 0961411929. OCLC 24039158.
  12. ^ "Benton" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2020-03-27.

External links[edit]

Media related to Blairstown, Iowa at Wikimedia Commons

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