Van Meter, Iowa

Van Meter, Iowa
City
Motto: "Tradition with a Vision"
Location of Van Meter, Iowa Location of Van Meter, Iowa
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Dallas
Area
• Total	1.30 sq mi (3.37 km2)
• Land	1.28 sq mi (3.32 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	873 ft (266 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,016
• Estimate (2014)	1,133
• Density	887/sq mi (342.4/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	50261
Area code(s)	515 Exchange: 996
FIPS code	19-80445
GNIS feature ID	0462534
Website	www.vanmeteria.gov

Van Meter is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States, along the Raccoon River. The population was 1,016 at the 2010 census, with an estimated population in 2014 of 1,133. Van Meter is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Van Meter was laid out as a town in 1869. The city was named for Jacob Rhodes Van Meter, a local settler. Van Meter was incorporated on December 29, 1877.

Geography

Van Meter's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 41.531505, -93.955338).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.30 square miles (3.37 km²), of which, 1.28 square miles (3.32 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²) is water.

Van Meter is situated west of Des Moines, just south of Interstate 80.

Demographics

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	±%
1880	376	—
1890	467	+24.2%
1900	407	−12.8%
1910	386	−5.2%
1920	358	−7.3%
1930	400	+11.7%
1940	436	+9.0%
1950	364	−16.5%
1960	385	+5.8%
1970	464	+20.5%
1980	747	+61.0%
1990	751	+0.5%
2000	866	+15.3%
2010	1,016	+17.3%
2014	1,133	+11.5%
Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,016 people, 382 households, and 280 families residing in the city. The population density was 793.8 inhabitants per square mile (306.5/km²). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 324.2 per square mile (125.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.9% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 382 households of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.7% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the city was 35.5 years. 31.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.4% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 8.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 866 people, 326 households, and 237 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,450.3 people per square mile (557.3/km²). There were 342 housing units at an average density of 572.8 per square mile (220.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% White, 0.23% African American, 0.69% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population.

There were 326 households out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,625, and the median income for a family was $59,000. Males had a median income of $37,895 versus $26,023 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,272. About 0.8% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The Bob Feller Museum opened on June 10, 1995, in honor of Bob Feller, a National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and a native of Van Meter.

On November 11, 2006, Veterans Day, ground was broken for an Iowa Veterans Cemetery at a site located near Van Meter. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was among those who helped dedicate the cemetery.

Notable people

• Myrtle Aydelotte, nurse, professor, and hospital administrator
• Derek Benz, science fiction author, The Revenge of the Shadow King.
• Bob Feller, American Major League Baseball pitcher and National Baseball Hall of Fame member; born in Van Meter
• David Young, U.S. Representative for Iowa's 3rd congressional district

External links

• City of Van Meter official website
• Van Meter at City-data.com
• ePodunk profile for Van Meter