Winterset, Iowa

History

Winterset was platted during a cool spell in the summer of 1849. The name was originally to be "Summerset", but the unseasonable coldness made the commissioners reverse this to "Winterset".

On March 5, 2022, a low-end EF4 tornado struck the areas just outside the city, killing six people.

Geography

Winterset is located in central Madison County at the intersection of U.S. Route 169 and Iowa State Highway 92. Middle River flows past the south side of the city. It is approximately 30 miles southwest of the state capital of Des Moines.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.72 sqmi, of which, 4.58 sqmi is land and 0.14 sqmi is water.

Climate

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

|Jan record high F = 67 |Feb record high F = 79 |Mar record high F = 90 |Apr record high F = 93 |May record high F = 105 |Jun record high F = 105 |Jul record high F = 111 |Aug record high F = 112 |Sep record high F = 103 |Oct record high F = 93 |Nov record high F = 82 |Dec record high F = 69

|Jan avg record high F = 54.2 |Feb avg record high F = 58.9 |Mar avg record high F = 75.3 |Apr avg record high F = 83.2 |May avg record high F = 86.3 |Jun avg record high F = 91.2 |Jul avg record high F = 94.8 |Aug avg record high F = 94.1 |Sep avg record high F = 89.4 |Oct avg record high F = 82.2 |Nov avg record high F = 68.8 |Dec avg record high F = 56.5 |year avg record high F = 96.4

|Jan avg record low F = -10.3 |Feb avg record low F = -6.9 |Mar avg record low F = 6.3 |Apr avg record low F = 21.5 |May avg record low F = 34.9 |Jun avg record low F = 45.8 |Jul avg record low F = 52.0 |Aug avg record low F = 49.1 |Sep avg record low F = 34.6 |Oct avg record low F = 22.7 |Nov avg record low F = 10.2 |Dec avg record low F = -5.9 |year avg record low F = -14.5

|Jan record low F = -34 |Feb record low F = -31 |Mar record low F = -35 |Apr record low F = 10 |May record low F = 24 |Jun record low F = 34 |Jul record low F = 40 |Aug record low F = 37 |Sep record low F = 24 |Oct record low F = 3 |Nov record low F = -8 |Dec record low F = -25 |year record low F =

|access-date = August 4, 2022 |access-date = August 4, 2022

Demographics

|1860|915 |1870|1485 |1880|2583 |1890|2281 |1900|3039 |1910|2818 |1920|2906 |1930|2921 |1940|3631 |1950|3570 |1960|3639 |1970|3654 |1980|4021 |1990|4196 |2000|4768 |2010|5190 |2020|5353

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 5,353 people, 2,231 households, and 1,354 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,166.9 inhabitants per square mile (450.5/km2). There were 2,451 housing units at an average density of 534.3 per square mile (206.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.

Of the 2,231 households, 27.8% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 7.0% were cohabitating couples, 29.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 16.3% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 39.3% of all households were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 40.1 years. 26.7% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.3% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 and 44; 22.7% were from 45 and 64; and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 5,190 people, 2,062 households, and 1,336 families living in the city. The population density was 1133.2 PD/sqmi. There were 2,267 housing units at an average density of 495.0 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 98.1% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0%.

Of the 2,062 households 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.2% were non-families. 31.7% of households were one person and 16% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age was 38.4 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 4,768 people, 1,884 households, and 1,230 families living in the city. The population density was 1,357.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,998 housing units at an average density of 569.0 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 98.87% White, 0.06% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59%.

Of the 1,884 households 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.5% of households were one person and 18.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.01.

Age spread: 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

The median household income was $33,142 and the median family income was $42,951. Males had a median income of $31,536 versus $22,146 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,274. About 5.8% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Winterset is widely known for its covered bridges. A total of six covered bridges are located in Madison County, including one in Winterset City Park. The annual Covered Bridge Festival celebrates the bridges and local heritage every second weekend in October.

The Winterset Stage is Madison County's live theatre venue providing family friendly dinner theatre, including musicals and concerts while offering a variety of children's theatre and educational programming. The Winterset Stage is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization located at 405 East Madison in Winterset.

Another notable landmark is Clark Tower, located in Winterset City Park, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding Middle River Valley area.

The Madison County Courthouse, in the middle of the town square, was built in 1868, and rebuilt in 1876 after being partially destroyed by fire.

Museums

In 2015, the John Wayne Birthplace Museum opened kitty-corner from Wayne's birthplace home. The $2.5million, 6,000-sq. ft. facility houses scripts, costumes, set pieces, posters, personal correspondence, an original Andy Warhol painting and a custom-made 1972 Pontiac station wagon. The museum is divided into three exhibitions: "The Actor", "The Family Man", and "The American". It is located at 205 S. John Wayne Dr. in Winterset.

The Iowa Quilt Museum offers seasonal exhibits and regular workshops. The current president of the museum, Marianne Fons, is the founder of the well known quilting show Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. The museum is located on the south side of the town square at 68 E. Court Ave.

The Madison County Historical Society is an 25-acre complex on the south side of town featuring a museum and 14 restored and historical buildings. The focal point of the complex is the Victorian Bevington Mansion. Built in 1856, the mansion, barn and 3-hole privy have been fully restored and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The complex is open May through October and is located at 815 S. 2nd Ave.

Education

The Winterset Community School District operates local public schools.

Popular culture

Winterset was used as a shooting location for the films Cold Turkey (1971), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), and The Crazies (2010).

Notable people

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• Robert O. Bare, Marine Corps lieutenant general
• William D. Bond, racing driver and mechanical engineer for General Motors
• Fred Clarke, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
• Henry J. B. Cummings, U.S. representative from Iowa
• Gail Huff, American broadcast journalist; wife of former U.S. senator and ambassador Scott Brown
• Mark Pearson, TV and radio personality
• Edward McMurray Smith, Iowa secretary of state
• George L. Stout, art conservation pioneer, World War II "Monument Man"
• Henry Cantwell Wallace, US Secretary of Agriculture
• John Wayne, actor

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 469011
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". United states Census Bureau.
5. Mueller, Herman A.. (1915). "History of Madison County, Iowa, and Its People, Volume 1". S. J. Clarke Publishing Company.
6. Howe, Samuel. (1882). "A Memoir of Indian Names in Iowa, With Their Signification". The Annals of Iowa.
7. (March 7, 2022). "NWS Damage Survey for 3/5/22 Tornado Event - Update #3". National Weather Service in Des Moines, Iowa.
8. (March 7, 2022). "Family remembers those who perished in central Iowa tornado".
9. ''Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer,'' DeLorme, 7th Edition, 2021 p. 47 {{isbn. 1946494003
10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
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13. "2020 Census". United States Census Bureau.
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16. "[https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_27-4653700_THEWINTERSETSTAGE_04222011_01.tif Determination letter]". ''Internal Revenue Service''. May 24, 2011.
17. "John Wayne museum spotlights Midwestern morals".
18. (May 4, 2015). "Home | Iowa Quilt Museum | Winterset, Iowa".
19. (June 6, 2015). "History on the Hill | Madison County Historical Museum & Complex".
20. "FY20 WINTERSET". Iowa Department of Education.
21. "Gail Huff Joins NH1 News as Contributor | Boston".