Seymour, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Seymour, Iowa
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City
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Location of Seymour, Iowa
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| Country | USA |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Wayne |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.39 sq mi (6.20 km2) |
| • Land | 2.39 sq mi (6.20 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,076 ft (328 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 634 |
| • Density | 265.05/sq mi (102.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52590
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| Area code(s) | 641 |
| FIPS code | 19-71760 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395851 |
Seymour is a city in Wayne County, Iowa, United States. The population was 634 at the time of the 2020 census.
Contents
History
The first coal mines in Seymour were opened in 1884. In 1902, the Numa Block Coal Company took over these mines. In 1908, the largest coal mine in Appanoose-Wayne Coalfield was Numa Block number 2, known as "Big Jim." "Big Jim" was located just 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Depot, and was able to produce 100,000 tons of coal per year at full capacity. The Mystic coal seam was just over 2 feet (0.61 m) thick here, reached by a 202-foot-long (62 m) shaft. Numa Block Mine number 3, the Sunshine Mine, was in the southeast part of town, served by the Rock Island, with a 240-foot-long (73 m) shaft to the Mystic seam.
In 1884, Local Assembly 3143 of the Knights of Labor, based in Seymour, had 40 members. In 1912, United Mine Workers Local 206 in Seymour had 299 members, approximately 13% of the entire population.
On March 6, 2017, an EF-2 tornado (confirmed by National Weather Service WFO, Des Moines, IA damage survey) hit Seymour at approximately 8:00 pm CST, damaging homes and the high school.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.35 square miles (6.09 km2), all land.
Transportation
Seymour is served by a county-maintained road which used to be Iowa Highway 55 and is now County Road S60.
Seymour is served by the Canadian Pacific Railway which currently operates the former Milwaukee Railroad tracks.
Seymour was also served by the CRI&P (Rock Island) until the early 1980s. This line passed on the southwest corner of the town square with the depot in this location. This line was abandoned when the Rock Island went bankrupt. It used to be part of the Golden State Route which was a luxury passenger train operated by the Rock Island and the Southern Pacific.
The two railroad lines crossed at the western edge of Seymour and was protected by an interlocking tower until the Rock Island was abandoned.
Demographics
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 501 | — |
| 1890 | 1,058 | +111.2% |
| 1900 | 1,703 | +61.0% |
| 1910 | 2,290 | +34.5% |
| 1920 | 1,746 | −23.8% |
| 1930 | 1,571 | −10.0% |
| 1940 | 1,539 | −2.0% |
| 1950 | 1,223 | −20.5% |
| 1960 | 1,117 | −8.7% |
| 1970 | 931 | −16.7% |
| 1980 | 1,036 | +11.3% |
| 1990 | 869 | −16.1% |
| 2000 | 810 | −6.8% |
| 2010 | 701 | −13.5% |
| 2020 | 634 | −9.6% |
| Iowa Data Center Source: |
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2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 701 people, 295 households, and 192 families residing in the city. The population density was 298.3 inhabitants per square mile (115.2/km2). There were 348 housing units at an average density of 148.1 per square mile (57.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.7% White, 0.4% Asian, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 295 households, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.5% 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 2.38 and the average family size was 2.80.
The median age in the city was 47.1 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20% were from 25 to 44; 27.4% were from 45 to 64; and 24.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.
Education
The Seymour Community School District operates local area public schools.
Notable people
- John C. Mabee, Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder
- Marcus Collins, actor and singer part of The Texas Tenors
- Jane Wilson, painter
See also
In Spanish: Seymour (Iowa) para niños
