Marshalltown, Iowa


Marshalltown is a city in, and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, compared to 26,009 in 2000.

History

Henry Anson was the first European settler in what is now called Marshalltown. In April 1851, Anson found what he described as “the prettiest place in Iowa.” On a high point between the Iowa River and Linn Creek, Anson built a log cabin. A plaque at 112 West Main Street marks the site of the cabin. In 1853 Anson named the town Marshall, after Marshall, Michigan, a former residence of his.
The town became Marshalltown in 1862 because another Marshall already existed in Henry County, Iowa. With the help of Potawatomi chief Johnny Green, Anson persuaded early settlers to stay in the area. In the mid-1850s, Anson donated land for a county courthouse. Residents donated money for the building's construction. In 1863 the title of county seat transferred from the village of Marietta to Marshalltown. The young town began growing. By 1900, Marshalltown had 10,000 residents. Many industries began developing in Marshalltown, like Fisher Controls, Lennox International and Marshalltown Company.

Baseball

, son of Henry and Jennette Anson, was the first European child born in the new pioneer town and is today known as Marshalltown's “first son.” Adrian became a Major League Baseball player and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. He was regarded as one of the greatest players of his era and one of the first superstars of the game.
Baseball steadily became popular as Marshalltown grew in the mid-1800s. Adrian's brother Sturgis also became a talented baseball player and both went to play on intra-school teams at the University of Notre Dame. Both later returned to Marshalltown to play baseball for the town team. Along with their father Henry, the town's founder, they put together a team and became the most prominent team in the state of Iowa. The Marshalltown team, with Henry Anson at third base, Adrian's brother Sturgis in center field, and Adrian at second base, won the Iowa state championship in 1868. In 1870 Marshalltown played an exhibition game with the talented Rockford Forest Citys. Although Marshalltown lost the game, Rockford's management offered contracts to all three of the Ansons. Adrian accepted the contract, which began his professional career in baseball in 1871.
Baseball continued its popularity in Marshalltown. In the early 1880s Billy Sunday played for the town baseball team. In 1882, with Sunday in left field, the Marshalltown team defeated the state champion Des Moines team 13–4. Marshalltown later formed a minor league team naming it after the Anson family, the Marshalltown Ansons. From 1914-1928 the team played in the Central Association and Mississippi Valley League.

2018 tornado

On July 19, 2018 at 4:32 p.m. local time, an EF3 tornado with peak winds of 144 mph devastated the north side of Marshalltown. It destroyed the spire from the top of the courthouse, along with several homes, businesses, and historic downtown buildings. It left a path of destruction 1200 yards wide and just over 8.9 miles long. There were no deaths as a result of the storm or its aftermath.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water. Neighboring counties include Hardin and Grundy to the north, Tama County to the east, Jasper to the south, and Story County to the west.

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 27,552 people in 10,335 households, including 6,629 families, in the city. The population density was. There were 11,171 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 84.8% White, 2.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 7.9% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.1%.
Of the 10,335 households 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.9% were non-families. 29.8% of households were one person and 12.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.18.
The median age was 37.3 years. 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 16.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 26,009 people in 10,175 households, including 6,593 families, in the city. The population density was 1,442.7 people per square mile. There were 10,857 housing units at an average density of 602.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 86.8% White, 1.3% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 8.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.6%.
Of the 10,175 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.7% of households were one person and 13.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.
Age spread: 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median household income was $35,688 and the median family income was $45,315. Males had a median income of $32,800 versus $23,835 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,113. About 8.8% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Local businesses

According to Marshalltown's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
#Employer# of Employees
1JBS USA 2,400
2 Emerson Electric - Fisher Flow Controls1,135
3Marshalltown Community School District950
4Lennox Industries, Inc.915
5Iowa Veterans Home865
6UnityPoint Health400
7Hy-Vee340
8Walmart300
9Marshalltown Community College245
10City of Marshalltown199
11McFarland Clinic PC185
12Marshall County183

Education

serves Marshalltown.
The first schoolhouse in Marshalltown was a log cabin built in 1853. The building stood on Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets. Neary Hoxie served as the first teacher.
In 1874 high school classes were held in an old building on North Center Street. The high school had 45 students and C.P. Rogers served as the school's superintendent.
In 2020, there are multiple schools in Marshalltown, Iowa. There are 5 elementary schools, one intermediate school, a catholic and Christian school, and a middle school. There is also Marshalltown High School, with over 1,000 students.
East Marshall Community School District serves small portions of the Marshalltown city limits. The district was established on July 1, 1992 by the merger of the LDF and SEMCO school districts. The BCLUW Community School District serves some rural areas nearby Marshalltown.

Infrastructure

Transportation

bypasses the town to the south, while Iowa Highway 14 runs through the center of town. An expressway, Iowa Highway 330 connects Marshalltown to Des Moines.
Marshalltown has bus and taxicab services. It is also served by Trailways Coach Nationwide.
A municipal airport serves the county, approximately four miles north of town. The closest commercial airport is Des Moines International Airport, miles to the southwest.
There currently is no passenger rail service.

Notable people