Denison, Iowa

Denison is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River, and located in both Denison Township and East Boyer Township. The population was 8,373 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Crawford County.

History

Denison was laid out in 1856; the town was incorporated in 1875. Denison was named for its founder, J. W. Denison.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Denison has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

The population of Denison, Iowa from US census data

The population of Denison, Iowa from US census data

File:Denison, Iowa aerial 02A.jpg

Aerial view of Denison from the southwest, 2012

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 8,373 people, 2,853 households, and 1,882 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,278.9 inhabitants per square mile (493.8/km²). There were 3,089 housing units at an average density of 471.8 per square mile (182.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 47.6% White, 4.2% Black or African American, 1.7% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 26.8% from other races and 16.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 49.6% of the population.

Of the 2,853 households, 39.2% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% were cohabitating couples, 27.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 19.9% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 34.0% of all households were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 32.1 years. 34.2% of the residents were under the age of 20; 7.1% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.0% were from 25 and 44; 21.1% were from 45 and 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 8,298 people, 2,816 households, and 1,866 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,968 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 70.6% White, 2.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 23.0% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.1%.

Of the 2,816 households 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.1% of households were one person and 13.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.36.

The median age was 32.6 years. 29% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 21.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,339 people, 2,674 households, and 1,756 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,837 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup as reported by the Census was 86.92% White, 1.59% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 9.02% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.36% of the population.

Racial diversity in Dension has been increasing since the mid-1980s. According to a New York Times article, 20% of Denison's high-school age children were nonwhite in 2005, compared to approximately 50% of kindergarteners.

Of the 2,674 households 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 28.9% of households were one person and 15.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was26.0% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median household income was $33,187 and the median family income was $41,362. Males had a median income of $30,145 versus $20,538 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,391. About 6.1% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Sites in Denison listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:

• Carey House
• Clarence D. Chamberlin House
• Crawford County Courthouse
• Park Motel
• William A. McHenry House
• Yellow Smoke Park Bridge

Government

Denison is governed by a mayor and a five-member city council

The Denison Mayor is the chief executive officer of the city and presiding officer of the city council. The Denison Mayor serves a 2-year term. The current mayor of Denison is Pam Soseman. (Elected: November 2019 | Term: December 31, 2021)

Denison City Council members serve overlapping four-year terms. The council consists of one representative from each of the city's three wards, plus two at-large representatives.

Denison's City Manager is Ned Ahart.

The City of Denison is organized into the following departments: Administration, Public Works, Library, Aquatic Center, Fire Department, Police Department, and Conference Center.

Education

The Denison Community School District operates area public schools.

Notable people

• Kyle Borland, NFL player
• Charles Congden Carpenter, naturalist and herpetologist
• Clarence Duncan Chamberlin, aviation pioneer
• James Perry Conner (1851–1924) five-term US Representative from 1900 to 1909
• Chuck Darling, member of 1956 Summer Olympics basketball gold medalists, First team All-American at University of Iowa
• Jim Garrison, New Orleans District Attorney who investigated Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories
• Arthur C. Greene (1881-1958), member of the Iowa House of Representatives
• James E. Hansen, head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies
• Donna Reed, Academy Award-winning actress; Donna Reed Foundation's headquarters are in Denison
• Brandon Scherff, offensive guard for the NFL's Washington Commanders and Jacksonville Jaguars
• L.M. Shaw (1848–1932) 17th Governor of Iowa and United States Secretary of the Treasury

Further reading

• Denison, Iowa: Searching for the Soul of America Through the Secrets of a Midwest Town. Author Dale Maharidge depicts a changing Denison in the early twenty-first century.