Corning, Iowa

Corning, Iowa
City

Icarian colony site near Corning
Corning, Iowa
Coordinates: 40°59′29″N 94°44′13″W / 40.99139°N 94.73694°W / 40.99139; -94.73694Coordinates: 40°59′29″N 94°44′13″W / 40.99139°N 94.73694°W / 40.99139; -94.73694
Country  United States
State  Iowa
County Adams
Township Quincy
Area[1]
 • Total 1.58 sq mi (4.09 km2)
 • Land 1.58 sq mi (4.09 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 1,194 ft (364 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 1,635
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 1,581
 • Density 1,034.8/sq mi (399.5/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 50841
Area code(s) 641
FIPS code 19-16500
GNIS feature ID 0455634

Corning is a city in Quincy Township, Adams County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,635 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Adams County.[4]

Corning is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Johnny Carson. Daniel Webster Turner, who was governor of Iowa from 1931 to 1933, was born in Corning on March 17, 1877.

History

French Icarian settlement

The first European settlers here were a group of French Icarians who came from Nauvoo, Illinois in 1852; they established a community near Lake Icaria, north of Corning in 1854.[5] The new state of Iowa gave the town of "Icaria" a corporate charter in 1860. This community was dedicated to the utopian principles of Etienne Cabet and the democratic principles of the American Revolution and the French Revolution; this small French-speaking community considered themselves to be very patriotic Americans. In the 1860s, the community split between "traditionalists" and "progressives" (the latter favored women's right to vote). The "progressives" left the original site and moved to a new location about three miles (5 km) east of Corning's current location. Although the corporation formally dissolved in 1878, some continued to live in the communal dwellings until 1898, making this the longest-lasting Icarian colony in the United States.[6] Eventually the community disbanded and merged into the general population. Displays and documents about the Icarian community can be found at the Icarian History Foundation office and in the Adams County offices, both in Corning. The former colony east of Corning is slowly being restored with the help of state and federal grants, and it will become a historical site; as of 2006, only a couple of partially restored buildings and a very small cemetery (with grave markers inscribed in French) remain. Around the first weekend of June each year, Corning celebreates "Le Festival De L'Heritage Francais" in the French market.[7]

American settlement

Nearby Queen City had been established around 1854. Surveyors came to the current location of Corning in 1857, though the area was largely uninhabited (except by the Icarians) until 1869.

The first Adams County seat was established by act of the Iowa Legislature on January 12, 1853, at Quincy (now nonexistent) Iowa. The building was later used as a schoolhouse and in 1932 it was torn down. In November, 1872, the people voted to remove the courthouse from Quincy and locate the county seat in Corning.[8]

Point of interest

The Corning post office contains a mural, Band Concert, painted in 1941 by Marion Gilmore. Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department. Gilmore's original entry won a federal-sponsored Forty-Eight States design competition in 1939 and depicted a Sunday band concert but a local jury of concerned citizens requested that Gilmore’s image contain only actual architecture and landmarks in the downtown district and that she remove a cannon and an obelisk from the image. Gilmore made the changes to accommodate a WPA requirement stipulating that murals should "suit the taste of the local townspeople".[9]

Sports

Corning is home to Adams County Speedway, which holds races on Saturday nights from April through September. Adams County Speedway is a part of the Whelen All-American Series, with Late Models, Modifieds, B-Mods, Pro Stocks, and Hobby Stocks.

Corning is also home to the Carnac Family Skatepark, a 1,200 sq ft (110 m2) skatepark built with donated money. Major donations included $75,000 from Corning native Johnny Carson, and $5,000 from well known skateboarder Tony Hawk. The skatepark is known as one of the best in the area, and draws big summer crowds.

Geography

Corning is located at 40°59′29″N 94°44′13″W / 40.99139°N 94.73694°W / 40.99139; -94.73694 (40.991340, -94.737028).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.58 square miles (4.09 km2), all of it land.[1]

Demographics

Corning historical population
YearPop.±%
18801,526—    
18901,682+10.2%
19002,145+27.5%
19101,702−20.7%
19201,840+8.1%
19302,026+10.1%
19402,162+6.7%
19502,104−2.7%
19602,041−3.0%
19702,095+2.6%
19801,939−7.4%
19901,806−6.9%
20001,783−1.3%
20101,635−8.3%
20141,564−4.3%
20151,537−1.7%
Source: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. 
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,635 people, 725 households, and 427 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,034.8 inhabitants per square mile (399.5/km2). There were 849 housing units at an average density of 537.3 per square mile (207.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 725 households of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 45.3 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 24.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 1,783 people, 803 households, and 452 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,132.3 people per square mile (438.5/km²). There were 880 housing units at an average density of 558.9 per square mile (216.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.16% White, 0.17% African American, 0.22% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.

There were 803 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% were single, and 43.6% were non-families. 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.4% 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 2.87.

Age spread: 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,977, and the median income for a family was $45,227. Males had a median income of $26,667 versus $19,569 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,836. About 5.0% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education for elementary and secondary school students is available from Corning Community Schools, which is the local public school district. Students completing their studies graduate from Corning High School. The school's mascot and athletic emblem are the Red Raiders.

However, the school system, as of 2013, began whole grade sharing with nearby town Villisca, and is now known as Southwest Valley High School, with the mascot being the Timberwolf.

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ↑ Mutual Aid Community (1868). The Communist. 1. The Mutual Aid Community. p. 87. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  6. ↑ "History of the Icarian Movement". National Icarian Heritage Society. 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  7. ↑ "Le Festival de l'Heritage Francais (sic)". March 1997. Archived from the original on 2006-05-09. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  8. ↑ "Adams County web site".
  9. ↑ Marling, Karal A. (1982). Wall-to-Wall America : A Cultural History of Post Office Murals in the Great Depression (First ed.). University of Minnesota Press. pp. 95 to 104. ISBN 0816611165.
  10. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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