Indianola, Iowa

History

Indianola was founded in 1849 as the county seat of Warren County. The town was located near the geographic center of the new county. The town's name was taken from a newspaper account of a Texas ghost town of the same name.

Indianola was incorporated in 1863.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.25 sqmi, all land. The Summerset Trail's southern terminus is in Indianola.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Indianola has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

|Jan record high F = 70 |Feb record high F = 79 |Mar record high F = 89 |Apr record high F = 92 |May record high F = 106 |Jun record high F = 105 |Jul record high F = 112 |Aug record high F = 113 |Sep record high F = 104 |Oct record high F = 95 |Nov record high F = 82 |Dec record high F = 70

|Jan avg record high F = 54.9 |Feb avg record high F = 59.0 |Mar avg record high F = 74.3 |Apr avg record high F = 82.7 |May avg record high F = 88.0 |Jun avg record high F = 91.5 |Jul avg record high F = 94.5 |Aug avg record high F = 93.4 |Sep avg record high F = 90.4 |Oct avg record high F = 84.6 |Nov avg record high F = 70.9 |Dec avg record high F = 58.6 |year avg record high F = 96.0

|Jan avg record low F = -11.7 |Feb avg record low F = -6.4 |Mar avg record low F = 7.0 |Apr avg record low F = 22.3 |May avg record low F = 34.7 |Jun avg record low F = 46.5 |Jul avg record low F = 53.5 |Aug avg record low F = 51.1 |Sep avg record low F = 36.5 |Oct avg record low F = 23.8 |Nov avg record low F = 10.1 |Dec avg record low F = -3.3 |year avg record low F = -16.1

|Jan record low F = -33 |Feb record low F = -35 |Mar record low F = -20 |Apr record low F = -2 |May record low F = 21 |Jun record low F = 36 |Jul record low F = 40 |Aug record low F = 38 |Sep record low F = 23 |Oct record low F = 4 |Nov record low F = -11 |Dec record low F = -26 |year record low F =

|access-date = July 26, 2022 |access-date = July 26, 2022

Demographics

|1860|836 |1870|1428 |1880|2146 |1890|2254 |1900|3261 |1910|3283 |1920|3628 |1930|3488 |1940|4123 |1950|5145 |1960|7062 |1970|8852 |1980|10843 |1990|11340 |2000|12998 |2010|14782 |2020|15833

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 15,833 people, 5,886 households, and 3,886 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,398.9 inhabitants per square mile (540.1/km2). There were 6,409 housing units at an average density of 566.3 per square mile (218.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.8% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.

Of the 5,886 households, 32.3% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 6.5% were cohabitating couples, 27.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 16.3% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 34.0% of all households were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 36.0 years. 28.5% of the residents were under the age of 20; 8.5% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.0% were from 25 and 44; 21.4% were from 45 and 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

Other census counts

In 2005, a special census was conducted that revised Indianola's population to 14,156.

As of 2013, there were 15,108 people, 5,477 households, and 3,579 families living in the city. The population density was 1314.0 PD/sqmi. There were 5,893 housing units at an average density of 523.8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

Of the 5,477 households 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 28.6% of households were one person and 13.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age was 34.1 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 15.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 22.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 12,998 people, 4,748 households, and 3,261 families living in the city. The population density was 1,414.7 pd/sqmi. There were 4,981 housing units at an average density of 542.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.92% White, 0.40% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85%.

Of the 4,748 households 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 26.5% of households were one person and 12.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.

The age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 15.8% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median household income was $43,725 and the median family income was $52,238. Males had a median income of $36,945 versus $24,401 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,574. About 5.6% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

21.%-Catholic

64.5%-Protestant

14.1%-non affiliated

.4%- Karen Buddhist, (in 2022 a Karen Buddhist temple was established at the old St Thomas A. Catholic Church site)

Current elected officials

City Council:

Arts and culture

Indianola is also the home of the National Balloon Classic and National Balloon Museum.

Points of interest

• Buxton Park Arboretum
• Des Moines Metro Opera
• Summerset Winery
• Simpson College
• U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame

Education

Public school system

Indianola is served by the Indianola Community School District.

Indianola has four elementary schools:

Indianola Middle School is the only middle school.

Indianola High School is the only senior high school.

Colleges and universities

Simpson College, a liberal arts college of the United Methodist Church, is in Indianola, and was founded in 1860.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highways

Iowa Highway 92 runs east and west through the city and crosses US Highways 65 and 69 southeast of the central business district.

Railroads

Indianola no longer has railroad service. At one time, it served as a terminus for a branch line of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad which came off the CB&Q mainline at Indianola Junction, which was four miles west of Chariton. There was a brick and stucco depot that stood across the tracks from the Rock Island depot. This line was abandoned in the early 1960s.

The other railroad was the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, which branched off a branch line from Carlisle, which is just southeast of Des Moines, to Summerset Junction, a few miles north of Indianola and on into Winterset. The Winterset to Summerset Junction portion of the line was discontinued in the early 1960s, leaving the Indianola to Carlisle line in place. There was a brick Rock Island depot just to the west of US Highway 65 & 69 in the center of Indianola. This line maintained sporadic service until the Rock Island went bankrupt in 1980. The line was then operated by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad until the early 1990s, at which point the line was abandoned back to Carlisle. The line was converted to the Summerset Trail from Indianola to Carlisle after abandonment.

The Rock Island and CB&Q lines both came in from the east and paralleled each other as they came into Indianola. They could interchange cars and there was at one point, first class Pullman passenger trains came down the Rock Island and then moved to the CB&Q railroad to Chariton and on to St. Joseph, Missouri. The Rock Island purchased a portion of the CB&Q after it was abandoned. Freight cars were sometimes stored there.

Air service

Scheduled passenger service and general aviation services are provided by Des Moines International Airport, which is 13 miles northwest of Indianola. There are two privately owned airports near Indianola: Nash Field is four miles south of Indianola and is open to the public. Laverty Field is three miles north of Indianola and requires prior permission to land.

Notable people

• Edwin K. Barker (1928–2019), educator
• Mary Alice Barton (1917–2003), American quilter, quilt historian, collector, and philanthropist
• Casey Blake, baseball player and assistant coach
• Todd Blythe, former football player
• George Washington Carver, botanical researcher and agronomy educator
• Dayton Duncan, writer and documentary filmmaker
• Junior D. Edwards, posthumous Medal of Honor honoree
• Erasmus Haworth, geologist
• James C. Hickman, actuary
• Paul Homan (1893–1969), economist
• John Paul Jones, painter
• Lane Sisters, four sibling singers, including film actress Priscilla Lane (1915–1995)
• Ralph Parcaut, wrestler
• Steve Spray, golfer
• Chris Street, Iowa Hawkeye basketball player
• Edwin Edgar Voigt, bishop of the Methodist Church
• Ilo Browne Wallace, Second Lady of the United States, wife of Vice President Henry A. Wallace
• Ed Yost, inventor of the modern hot air balloon

Technology

• Indianola has a municipal, Gigabit-capable, fiber optic network and entrepreneurial development programs that links STEM-related activities at its schools and Simpson College to the local tech economy.

References

References

1. "City of Indianola, Iowa". Denman & Company, LLP.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
3. {{GNIS. 468071
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". United states Census Bureau.
6. "Warren County".
7. (1879). "The History of Warren County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c, Volume 1". Higginson Book Company.
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
9. Warren County Conservation Board. [http://www.warrenccb.org/areas/st/st.html Summerset Trail.] {{webarchive. link. (2007-02-19)
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
11. "2020 Census". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Revised 2000 Census Population and Housing Counts for Iowa Places and Counties.".
13. "Indianola - Iowa, United States".
14. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. Brown, Robert C; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Co. Iowa Mail Line and Branch Lines Depots and Towers; April 1999; No Publisher Listed; p 133
16. AirNav.com website
17. "Obituary of Edwin K Barker {{!}} Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service".
18. "20th Century Women at Iowa State {{!}} Mary Barton".
19. Lutz, Bob. (18 January 2017). "Former Shocker Blake battled his way onto the MLB Hall of Fame ballot". The Wichita Eagle.
20. Gengler, Matt. (7 April 2017). "WH grad chases pro football dream".
21. "George Washington Carver".
22. "Dayton Duncan".
23. Albertson, Teresa May. (5 November 2018). "Freedom Rock honors Indianola Medal of Honor recipient". Des Moines Register.
24. "Haworth, Erasmus - KS-Cyclopedia - 1912".
25. "James C. Hickman, former business school dean, dies".
26. "Homan, Paul T. (Paul Thomas), 1893-1969 @ SNAC".
27. "John Paul Jones".
28. Longden, Tom. (August 2025). "Leota Lane".
29. (16 March 1921). "PARCAUT AND RUEBENS WILL MEET IN BOXING AND WRESTLING SHOW". The Daily Iowan.
30. "12 August 1996 My piece on Steve Spray - Newspapers.com".
31. (1993-01-21). "BASKETBALL; Iowa Player Dies in Crash". The New York Times.
32. "Bishop Edwin Edgar Voigt".
33. Saxon, Wolfgang. (1981-02-25). "Ilo Browne Wallace, 92, Widow of a Vice President to Roosevelt". The New York Times.
34. Indianola, First Connected Community in Iowa. (February 15, 2013). "Gigabit IMU Network".