ELBERON IOWA THE STORY OF ELBERON… A temporary name for the town was Halifax. However, patriotic fervor was high at the time because of the assassination of the nation’s president, James Abram Garfield, who died September 19, 1881, at Elberon, NJ. Elberon, Iowa was named in honor of that eastern suburb. The name is not Indian, as some suppose, but is an elision of the name of L.B. Brown, who was one of the founders of the original Elberon. (An elision is leaving out or slurring over letters in a pronunciation.) As with many Tama County communities, the city of Elberon owes its existence to the coming of the railroad. A town was surveyed in September of 1881 just south of the proposed Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad line. Land was purchased from Mr. T. Prindle, and the plat for the town was filed in February of 1882. Elberon was incorporated in October of 1883, with the first town officials elected five months later. Youth and adults alike worked together in fundraising efforts to improve the city park in 2001. A hand-crafted wooden train sits at the eastern edge of town for youngsters to enjoy. In 2005/06, the city constructed a library addition to the community building. Elberon City Hall 106 Main Street, Elberon, IA 52225 319-439-5476 gettle@netins.net www.cityofelberon.com
POPULATION
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DEMOGRAPHICS White……………….…...…96.3% African American……………0.0% American Indian:…………….0.8% Asian: ……………………….0.0% Native Hawaiian……………0.0% Other race……………….….2.4% Two or more races…………..0.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)....4.5% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS High school grad or higher…...89% Bachelors degree or higher...... 5% Civilian veterans….....………..18% Disability status………….…...10% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000
WORKFORCE In labor force (age 16+):.....82.2% Ave. travel time to work.....28.2 min Median family income:…..$39,583 Families below poverty level:.10.7% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000
www.tamacountyiowa.org
ELBERON, IOWA FACTS | Page 2 GEOGRAPHY/CLIMATE: Gently rolling mid-continent fertile/ high yield farmlands. Ave. High Low Precip. Snow Summer 83 61 13 0 Winter 31 14 4 21 Source: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, 2007
EMPLOYMENT: Corn, soybeans, cattle, & hogs anchor the agricultural economy. Larger payrolls: Heartland Coop …..….…………4 Elberon General Store ……..…...4 Kaloupek’s Garage ...………….. 2
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS The nearest bank is ten miles away in Chelsea.
TAXES: Sales tax:……..….….……… 7% State income tax......0.36%-8.98% (plus a base rate) Source: Iowa Department of Revenue, 2008
HOUSING
HEALTH CARE:
median value of single family house….…...$48,800 median mortgage:…………..$736 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000
UTILITIES: Electric………...……Alliant Energy Water………….…. City of Elberon Sewer…….………...City of Elberon Phone……..Keystone Farmers Coop Internet .…..Keystone Farmers Coop Internet….……....……...Mediacom TV Cable……….….…...Mediacom
Volunteer EMS……..…..…...12 crew
ELBERON PUBLIC LIBRARY: Books & serial volumes:…...9,010 Total circulation:……..…….2,980 Children’s materials:...……..1,744 Public internet terminals……..…..4 Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2005
HOUSES OF WORSHIP Methodist
RECREATION: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: Benton Community School District Elementary…....Keystone, Van Horne Middle school……………Van Horne High school………………Van Horne Enrollment………………..…1,657 Graduation rate…………....98.6% Curriculum units taught……..86.38 Total units required………...28.0
City park. Swimming, fishing, boating at Otter Creek Lake & Park, northwest of Elberon.
Marshalltown Comm College ...37 mi Iowa State University………....68 mi Univ of Northern Iowa………...36 mi University of Iowa……….….....46 mi Source: Iowa Department of Education, 2008
Updated 07/2009