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Harlan, Iowa
City
Downtown Harlan
Location of Harlan, Iowa
Coordinates: 41°38′58″N 95°19′36″W / 41.64944°N 95.32667°W / 41.64944; -95.32667
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Shelby
Area
• Total	4.42 sq mi (11.45 km)
• Land	4.42 sq mi (11.45 km)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km)
Elevation	1,273 ft (388 m)
Population
• Total	4,893
• Density	1,107.26/sq mi (427.48/km)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	51537, 51593
Area code	712
FIPS code	19-34500
GNIS feature ID	468007
Website	www.cityofharlan.com

Harlan is a city and the county seat of Shelby County, Iowa, along the West Nishnabotna River. The population was 4,893 at the time of the 2020 census.

History

Harlan was platted in 1858. It was named for one of Iowa's early U.S. Senators, James Harlan. Harlan was designated county seat in 1859. The town was incorporated on May 2, 1879.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.39 square miles (11.37 km), all of it land.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

At the 2020 census there were 4,893 people, 2,288 households, and 1,275 families living in the city. The population density was 1,111.6 inhabitants per square mile (429.2/km). There were 2,348 housing units at an average density of 534.9 per square mile (206.5/km). The racial makeup of the city was 90.8% White, 0.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 2.5% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.6%.

Of the 2,288 households, 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.3% were non-families. 37.0% of households were one person and 17.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.75.

The median age was 47.4 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 29.2% were between the ages of 15 and 44; and 25.0% were 65 years or older. The gender makeup of the city was 43.5% male and 53.7% female.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 5,106 people, 2,222 households, and 1,341 families living in the city. The population density was 1,163.1 inhabitants per square mile (449.1/km). There were 2,410 housing units at an average density of 549.0 per square mile (212.0/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9%.

Of the 2,222 households, 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 34.2% of households were one person and 17.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age was 43.8 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 21.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.4% male and 53.6% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 5,282 people, 2,204 households, and 1,498 families living in the city. The population density was 1,209.8 inhabitants per square mile (467.1/km). There were 2,306 housing units at an average density of 528.2 per square mile (203.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 98.30% White, 0.08% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62%.

Of the 2,204 households, 31.1% included children under the age of 18; 56.6% were married couples living together, 8.9% consisted of a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.9% of households were one person and 16.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35, and the average family size was 2.88.

25.1% are under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median household income was $35,899 and the median family income was $45,888. Males had a median income of $31,365 versus $19,671 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,514. About 5.3% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

A major Harlan employer is CDS Global, the Des Moines-based fulfillment house owned by the Hearst media conglomerate. Since this company provides subscription services for hundreds of periodicals, it is common to see a Harlan P.O. box as a magazine's customer service address.

Education

Primary or secondary schools

Public schools in Harlan are governed and operated by the Harlan Community School District. The school district also serves residents of Jacksonville, Corley, Defiance, Panama, Portsmouth, Earling, and Westphalia. As of November 2021, the district has a student enrollment of 1,450. The district's racial demographics are 91.4% White, 5.7% Hispanic, 0.8% African American, and 2% non-white of other minorities.

The district operates four schools spread amongst two campuses, all in Harlan:

• Harlan Primary School (K-2)
• Harlan Intermediate School (3-5)
• Harlan Community Middle School (6-8)
• Harlan Community High School (9-12)

Shelby County Catholic School is a private primary and elementary school in Harlan, Iowa. A department of St Michael's Catholic Church, it is the only private school in Harlan.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2020)

Notable people

• Johnny Beauchamp, NASCAR driver with two career Cup Series wins
• Mary Lincoln Beckwith, great-grandchild of Abraham Lincoln
• Howard Webster Byers, Iowa Attorney General
• Susan Christensen, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice
• Billy Cundiff, NFL kicker
• Zach Daeges, baseball outfielder
• George Sabin Gibbs, United States Army General
• Albert Hansen, college football coach
• Kij Johnson, author
• Greg Lansing, former Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball coach
• Jerry L. Larson, Iowa Supreme Court Justice
• Tiny Lund (1929–1975) NASCAR driver and 1963 winner of the Daytona 500
• Raymond Eugene Plummer, lawyer and judge
• Lynn Reynolds, film director

See also

Building on the National Register of Historic Places

• St. Paul's Episcopal Church
• Shelby County Courthouse

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Harlan, Iowa
3. ^ "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. White, Edward Speer (1915). Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, Volume 1. B.F. Bowen. p. 226.
6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 149.
7. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 81.
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
9. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Harlan, IA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
10. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Omaha". National Weather Service. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. "Good Housekeeping Subscription Services". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
15. "FY20_HARLAN" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
16. "Department of Education - Iowa School Performance Profiles". www.iaschoolperformance.gov. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
17. "Harlan Community School District site". www.harlan.k12.ia.us. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
18. "Greg Lansing". University of Iowa. Archived from the original on December 12, 2005. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
19. "Tiny Lund". International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.

External links

• Harlan official website
• City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Harlan

v t e Municipalities and communities of Shelby County, Iowa, United States
County seat: Harlan
Cities	Defiance Earling Elk Horn Harlan Irwin Kirkman Panama Portsmouth Shelby‡ Tennant Westphalia
CDPs	Corley Jacksonville
Other communities	Botna Manteno Red Line
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Iowa portal United States portal

• Harlan, Iowa
• Cities in Iowa
• Cities in Shelby County, Iowa
• County seats in Iowa