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Estherville is a city in Emmet County, Iowa, United States. The population was 6,656 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Emmet CountyTemplate:GR. Estherville is home to the main campus of Iowa Lakes Community College.
Geography
Estherville is located at 43°24′16″N 94°50′1″W / 43.40444°N 94.83361°W / 43.40444; -94.83361Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (43.404375, -94.833592)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.5 km² (5.2 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 6,656 people, 2,729 households, and 1,689 families residing in the city. The population density was 494.2/km² (1,280.4/mi²). There were 2,924 housing units at an average density of 217.1/km² (562.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.66% White, 0.18% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.89% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.19% of the population.
There were 2,729 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,279, and the median income for a family was $41,042. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $20,441 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,488. About 5.0% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Interesting facts
The term "blizzard" was first used in print in the Estherville Northern Vindicator on 23 April 1870.
Robert Hansen, serial killer, was born in Estherville on Feb. 15, 1939.
The west fork of the Des Moines River flows through Estherville. It is known for its annual floods as the melting snow flows southward from Minnesota.
On May 10, 1879 a 455 pound meteorite fell to earth in Emmet County a few miles north of Estherville. When it struck it buried itself in the ground 15 feet. This meteorite (a portion of which is on display in the Estherville Public Library) is well known as the Estherville Meteorite.
The following was taken From The Estherville Enterprise, Wednesday, March 6,1918:
"AUNT" ESTHER RIDLEY DEAD ESTHERVILLE'S FIRST WHITE WOMAN
Who Braved the Hardships of the Wilderness; woman after whom our beautiful city was named, passed to her reward on last Saturday morning The business houses of the city were closed during the funeral services.
The remains of "Aunt" Esther Ann Allen Ridley, the first white woman who braved the wilds of the wilderness and settled in Estherville and who our beautiful city is named after, were laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery on Monday last. "Aunt" Esther's life has been a shining example of womanhood coming as she did into this wilderness. Living through the hardships of necessity endured by those early settlers, always patient, home loving, neighbor loving and God fearing. She has passed her life in this city which will ever hereafter stand as a monument to her life. She has always been an active worker in the Baptist church and was an ardent supporter of the church and its teachings until the very last. The death angel called her to rest on last Saturday morning and the tidings cast a gloom over the entire community to which she had become endeared by years of love and service.
The funeral services were held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, March 4th in the Methodist church so as to accommodate all who wished to attend. Mayor M. J. Groves, A. O. Peterson, Chas. Barber, W. J. Pullen, N. B. Silcox and Dr. W. P. Galloway were the pallbearers. Mrs. Ira Stanley presided at the pipe organ and the mixed quartette composed of Misses Moe and Lyman and Messrs. Cox and Myhre sang sweetly such comforting songs as "Asleep in Jesus", "Going Down the Valley" and "Jesus Lover of My Soul." Rev. R. C. Mitchell read the Scripture lesson, Rev. E. E. Evans offered prayer, Rev. J. Fredrick Catlin, Mrs. Ridley's pastor, preached the sermon from Mark 14:8, "She hath done what she could." The closing prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.Torbett, pastor of the Methodist church. Rev. C. D. Priest, the Christian minister, sat with the other ministers on the platform. There was an unusually large and beautiful collection of flowers showing the love and esteem in which Mrs. Ridley was held by her many friends and acquaintances.
As a fitting token of the esteem in which the entire city holds Mr. and Mrs. Ridley, the mayor issued an order that all places of business be closed during the time of the funeral services, from 2:00 to 3:00.