Le Claire, Iowa

LeClaire, Iowa
City
Dawn in Downtown Le Claire by Burt Gearhart
Location of LeClaire, Iowa Location of LeClaire, Iowa
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Scott
Government
• Mayor	Robert Scannell
Area
• City	4.87 sq mi (12.61 km2)
• Land	4.67 sq mi (12.10 km2)
• Water	0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2)
Elevation	587 ft (179 m)
Population (2010)
• City	3,765
• Estimate (2014)	3,929
• Density	770/sq mi (300/km2)
• Metro	381,580
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	52753
Area code(s)	563
FIPS code	19-44085
GNIS feature ID	0466067
Website	http://visitleclaire.com/

Le Claire is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,765 in the 2010 census, a 32.2% increase from 2,847 in the 2000 census, making it one of the fastest growing communities in the Quad Cities. Le Claire is part of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which include the area of Davenport and Bettendorf (in Iowa) and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline (in Illinois). As of 2014, Le Claire has a population estimate of 3,929.

History

The city takes its name from Antoine LeClaire, a Métis trader of First Nations-French Canadian descent who originally owned the land. Although the city's official name is "Le Claire," it is often spelled "LeClaire," and it has also been recorded as "LeClare."

The town was incorporated in 1855, having been settled by European Americans as early as the 1830s.

Le Claire is known as the site of the reality television series American Pickers, aired by the History Channel, and home to Antique Archeology, an antiques store featured on the show. It is the birthplace of William Frederick Cody aka Buffalo Bill Cody.

Geography

Le Claire is located at (41.596233, -90.356252).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.87 square miles (12.61 km²), of which, 4.67 square miles (12.10 km²) is land and 0.20 square miles (0.52 km²) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	1,448		—
1870	1,093		−24.5%
1880	1,061		−2.9%
1890	906		−14.6%
1900	997.3		10.1%
1910	690		−30.8%
1920	724		4.9%
1930	691		−4.6%
1940	881		27.5%
1950	1,124		27.6%
1960	1,546		37.5%
1970	2,520		63.0%
1980	2,899		15.0%
1990	2,734		−5.7%
2000	2,847		4.1%
2010	3,765		32.2%
Est. 2014	3,929		4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,765 people, 1,500 households, and 1,089 families residing in the city. The population density was 806.2 inhabitants per square mile (311.3/km²). There were 1,602 housing units at an average density of 343.0 per square mile (132.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 1.0% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 1,500 households of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.4% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 40 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.6% were from 45 to 64; and 12% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,847 people, 1,104 households, and 819 families residing in the city. The population density was 680.0 people per square mile (262.3/km²). There were 1,175 housing units at an average density of 280.6/sq mi (108.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.72% White, 0.21% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.21% of the population.

There were 1,104 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 2.98.

26.7% are under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,644, and the median income for a family was $51,546. Males had a median income of $42,188 versus $26,395 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,243. About 2.9% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

LeClaire is part of the Pleasant Valley School District (District Web site), and is host to three of the district's schools. In-town elementary students attend Bridgeview Elementary, while students living in outlying areas are assigned to Cody Elementary. Junior high students are bussed to Pleasant Valley Junior High School (formerly known as Blackhawk Junior High from 1970–2001), also on the city's outskirts. The district's three other elementary schools (Pleasant View, Riverdale Heights, and Hopewell), the high school, and the district's administrative offices are located in eastern Bettendorf.

LeClaire residents have one district director on Pleasant Valley's seven-member board of education. Another director serves the city's adjacent rural areas.

From early in the town's history until 1966, the LeClaire Independent School District served the educational needs of students. Students attended a brick building at 425 N. Third St., known as Albert Gross School, which housed grades kindergarten through 12. The last LeClaire High School graduation was in 1960, after which they were tuitioned to Bettendorf. The school continued as a K-9 facility until 1966, when the district was consolidated with the Pleasant Valley School District; at that time, high school-aged students from LeClaire began attending Pleasant Valley.

Culture

Tugfest

Tugfest is an annual three-day-long event in early August in which a rope is stretched across the Mississippi River from Le Claire, Iowa to Port Byron, Illinois. Several teams of 20 tug against each other; whatever team pulls the most rope wins, and whichever state wins the most contests wins Tugfest. The event is also associated with a large fireworks display, live band, road race, carnival and food on both sides of the river.

Port Byron, the 2011 champion, holds an overall record of 15-10 in the competition.

Buffalo Bill Museum

The Buffalo Bill Museum, located on the riverfront in Le Claire, commemorates Buffalo Bill and contains memorabilia from his Wild West Show. It also displays antiques and other items of historic interest.

American Pickers

Le Claire is the home of Antique Archeology, an antique store operated by Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, who are featured on the History Channel's reality television series, American Pickers. Wolfe was also a one-time Le Claire city council member.

Bald Eagles

Le Claire annually offers some of the best bald eagle photography opportunities in the continental US, from December to March each year at Lock and Dam 14 on the Mississippi River. The eagles migrate along the flyway of the Mississippi River, and they congregate at the lock and dam area to catch fish.

Notable people

• William Fredrick "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846–1917) known for his wild west shows
• Mike Wolfe, star and creator of the television show American Pickers

See also

• James Gamble House

External links

• Le Claire homepage
• Tugfest
• City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Le Claire