Fonda, Iowa

History

Fonda was originally called Marvin. However, Marvin was too similar to Manson, Iowa and mail was being mixed up, so in 1874 town officials changed it to Fonda because the next town with that name was Fonda, New York.

Geography

Fonda is located at 42°34′58″N 94°50′45″W (42.582819, -94.845810).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.05 square miles (2.72 km²), all of it land.

The town is located at the western edge of the Des Moines Lobe, the most recently glaciated section of Iowa. The Des Moines Lobe is part of the prairie pothole region of the Midwest. The topography is irregular in its gently rolling terrain. Wetlands, glacial erratics, concentric bands of ridges, and large flat areas characterize the land surrounding Fonda. In its natural state, the land is poorly drained, although humans have added an extensive network of tiles to move water from the potholes to local tributaries. The tiles surrounding Fonda empty into Big Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Raccoon River. This waterway, which underwent channelization in the early 1900s, flows past the town on its west end. Evidence of its winding original path still exists, particularly in the Fonda Golf Course and in the schoolyard behind Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.

Four miles (6 km) northwest of town, Sunken Grove Wildlife Management Area (WMA) exists as a reminder of the past. Large undrained wetlands are surrounded by forests and prairies. The area is home to large populations of migrating birds and permanent populations of wildlife. This public parcel has recently expanded, and is adjacent to the Leo Shimon WMA. Together, the two areas comprise 1,148 acres (4.65 km²) of land. This is slightly less than two square miles.

The remainder of the area surrounding Fonda is agricultural. Vast corn and soybean fields are interspersed by acreages and hog confinements (also known as a concentrated animal feeding operation). The vitality of the town and of the region have been influenced by the shift from a sustenance way of farming to an industrial model. Fewer farmers, less diversity in agricultural products, more agrichemicals, and more tillage have upset the economic system of the town and surrounding countryside. Fonda's AgPartners elevator is partially owned by Cargill. Many of the hog confinements around town are owned by corporations, such as New Fashion Pork, based in Jackson, MN.

Pocahontas County has seen a large decrease in the amount of farms. In 1969, there were 1,369 farms. By 1997 the number had dropped to 778. The average farm size has increased from 265 to 459 acres (107 to 186 hectares) in that same time period. In 1969, 844 farms sold 176,705 hogs. In 1997, 162 farms sold 248,666 hogs. In 1982, 14 poultry farms housed 69,911 layers. By 1997, no farms and no layers existed. In 1982, there were 26,728 acres (108.16 km²) of pastures and acreages in the county. By 1997, that amount had decreased to 16,840 acres (68.15 km²).

Des Moines, which lies 135 miles (217 km) south and east of Fonda, receives a large portion of its drinking water from the Raccoon River (and thus Big Cedar Creek). From 1978 to 2004, contamination at its water intake plant due to nitrates (an agrichemical) has increased from 4.5 mg/L to 7.7 mg/L. Nitrate consumption is linked to blue baby syndrome.

Demographics

Fonda has seen a steady decrease in its population in recent decades. In 1980, the town had 863 residents, and in 1990 there were 731. The 2004 estimated population is 596.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 631 people, 259 households, and 157 families residing in the city. The population density was 601.0 inhabitants per square mile (232.0/km²). There were 329 housing units at an average density of 313.3 per square mile (121.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.7% of the population.

There were 259 households of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.4% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 46.1 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.7% were from 25 to 44; 30.5% were from 45 to 64; and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 648 people, 288 households, and 160 families residing in the city. The population density was 632.8 people per square mile (245.3/km²). There were 339 housing units at an average density of 331.1 per square mile (128.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.61% White, 0.31% African American, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.

There were 288 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.89.

Age spread: 22.8% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 32.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,731, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $26,597 versus $16,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,626. About 7.1% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Sports

The consolidated Newell-Fonda High School is widely regarded for being a powerhouse in Class A sports. The high school is a small Class A school in rural Iowa with an average of 150 students in grades 9-12. However, they have a rich tradition in both basketball and football.

Men's basketball

Newell-Fonda has won four state titles in 8 appearances since 1991. The Senior Class of 2000 was responsible for three state titles in their four years of high school. They hold the 9th longest winning streak in Iowa Boys Basketball history, with 49 consecutive wins (including postseason games) from 1996 through 1998.

Paul Loos has coached for Newell-Fonda for 26 years. His record as basketball coach stands at 402-189. From 1997-2000, Newell-Fonda's overall record (including state tournament games) was 99-2. From 1997-2004, they achieved a 171-8 record.

Jim Calkins is in the Iowa State record books for scoring 675 points in the 1991 season. He is also the scoring leader for Newell-Fonda and one of the top scorers in Iowa basketball history with 2,034 career points from 1988-1991.

Jason Sarchet, 1999 Newell-Fonda graduate, played in 2004 NCAA Tournament for Liberty University. He was best known for his height and having 14 blocked shots in one game in the 1997-98 season. During his career, he averaged 6.4 blocked shots per game. In addition, he attained 970 rebounds in his high school career, among the leaders in state history. Jason Sarchet was named the Class A Player of the Year following the 1999 season.

Women's basketball

Newell-Fonda Girls' Basketball has followed suit with their male classmates. They have appeared in five state tournaments since 1995, but have yet to win a title. The Newell-Fonda girls' basketball team was consistently ranked among the top teams in the state of Iowa, reaching two State Finals games in four years.

Football

Newell-Fonda has also had a rich tradition in their football program. Since 1997, they have reached the state playoffs five times (1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2006). They have reached the state quarterfinals on all five occasions, but have not progressed further in the playoffs.

Newell-Fonda has a record of 70-18 from 1997 through 2120. They have been ranked within the top 10 in the Des Moines Register's state rankings for virtually every week or that reign.

Softball

In 2008, the Newell-Fonda Mustangs softball team to become the first female sports team to win a championship in Newell-Fonda history. They defeated Martinsdale St. Marys 6-3 in the championship game.

Notable people