Madrid, Iowa

Geography

Madrid is located at 41°52′32″N 93°49′12″W (41.875435, −93.819931).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.19 square miles (3.08 km²), all of it land.

History

Madrid was originally known as Swede Point by its Swedish founders, among whom the first was Anna Dalander, an immigrant Swedish widow, in 1846. She and her seven children traveled to Iowa looking for the community of New Sweden. Taking the wrong fork of the Des Moines River, they ended up in the area now called Madrid.

It was a small coal mining community during the winter and a farming community during the summer. Mining became a larger part of its economy as time went on. Initially, coal was used locally for winter heating, hence the reason for it being considered a part-time job by most residents. The Carpenter Coal Company opened a mine between Madrid and Woodward in 1901, and the Reese Brothers Coal Company opened two mine shafts near Madrid. The Carpenter Brothers named their coal camp Scandia, and changed their corporate name to match. By 1914, The Scandia Coal Company of Madrid produced over 100,000 tons of coal per year, ranking among the top 24 coal producers in the state. In 1912, Locals 709 and 2460 of the United Mine Workers union, both based in Madrid, had an aggregate membership of 397, representing about 1/3 of the total population in 1910.

Madrid gained a large Italian and Croatian population that worked in its coal mines during the 1920s and 1930s.

Public safety

Madrid is served by a volunteer fire department, as well as a police department.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,543 people, 1,045 households, and 682 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,137.0 inhabitants per square mile (825.1/km²). There were 1,138 housing units at an average density of 956.3 per square mile (369.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.6% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 1,045 households of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 40.2 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 19.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,264 people, 914 households, and 637 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,968.4 people per square mile (760.1/km²). There were 975 housing units at an average density of 847.7 per square mile (327.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.20% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.

There were 914 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.

26.2% are under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,706, and the median income for a family was $47,596. Males had a median income of $33,889 versus $26,173 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,576. About 5.6% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

Notable People