Iowa Colony, Texas
City
Sign
Sign
Motto: 
"Where We Make It Happen"
Location of Iowa Colony, Texas
Location of Iowa Colony, Texas
Coordinates: 29°26′35″N 95°24′56″W / 29.44306°N 95.41556°W / 29.44306; -95.41556
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBrazoria
Founded1908
Incorporated1973
Government
[1]
 • TypeCouncil–manager government
 • MayorWil Kennedy
 • City ManagerRobert Hemminger
Area
[2]
 • Total9.45 sq mi (24.48 km2)
 • Land9.44 sq mi (24.44 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
59 ft (18 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total8,154
 • Density342.66/sq mi (132.30/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
77583
Area code281
FIPS code48-36092[4]
GNIS feature ID1378484[5]
Websitewww.iowacolonytx.gov

Iowa Colony is an incorporated Home Rule City in Brazoria County, Texas, United States, in the Houston metropolitan area. As of the 2020 Census, the city had a population of 8,154.[6]

History

Iowa Colony was founded in 1908 by the Emigration Land Company of Des Moines, Iowa, and received its name from Iowans G. I. Huffmann and Robert Beard. The community received a post office in 1919, and rice farming was introduced there in 1920. Although not directly on a railroad line, Iowa Colony was served by the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe line through nearby Manvel. The population grew slowly to twenty-seven and remained at that level until the mid-1960s. The discovery of oil in 1948 brought regional employment to the area. By 1961 the Iowa Colony post office had closed, yet during the 1960s the settlement began to grow vigorously as part of the greater Houston area. By 1973 Iowa Colony had been incorporated (in 1972), and by 1989 the town listed a population of 661. The city hall, community center, and municipal court are all housed in the same building, next to the fire department. In 1990 the population was 675. The population was 1,170 in 2010. Iowa Colony showed unprecedented growth, with an estimated 2019 population of 3,233. In 2020, they surpassed the 5,000 population requirement to seek home rule status, and subsequently voted to pass the city's Home Rule Charter on November 3, 2020.[7][8] The city website further states in 2021 that the population has exceeded 8000, growing at a rate of 400%.[9]

Iowa Colony gained notoriety in the early 1990s as a major speed trap and was an inspiration for a Texas statute limiting municipal profits from speed traps.[10]

Geography

Iowa Colony is located in northern Brazoria County at 29°26′35″N 95°24′56″W / 29.44306°N 95.41556°W / 29.44306; -95.41556 (29.442963, –95.415607).[11] It is on Texas State Highway 288 south of Pearland city limits. Downtown Houston is 22 miles (35 km) to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (19.0 km2), of which 0.015 square miles (0.04 km2), or 0.21%, is water.[12]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1980585—
199067515.4%
200080419.1%
20101,17045.5%
20208,154596.9%
2021 (est.)10,883[13]33.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
Iowa Colony racial composition as of 2020[6]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 2,039 25.0%
Black or African American (NH) 3,073 37.68%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 15 0.18%
Asian (NH) 396 4.85%
Pacific Islander (NH) 4 0.04%
Some Other Race (NH) 25 0.03%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 281 3.44%
Hispanic or Latino 2,321 28.46%
Total 8,154

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,154 people, 1,750 households, and 1,508 families residing in the city.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 804 people, 279 households, and 219 families residing in the city. The population density was 139.7 inhabitants per square mile (53.9/km2). There were 302 housing units at an average density of 52.5 per square mile (20.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.01% White, 6.72% African American, 0.12% Native American, 7.34% Asian, 11.19% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.12% of the population.

There were 279 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,019, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $40,313 versus $28,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,935. About 6.6% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Meridiana Elementary School in Iowa Colony

Students in residential-zoned portions of Iowa Colony attend schools in the Alvin Independent School District.[16]

Elementary schools include:[17]

Secondary zoning includes:

Meridiana Elementary School was built to serve the Meridiana master-planned community.[20] Rise Communities, the developer of Meridiana, partnered with the school district to facilitate the school's development.[21]

In 1911 and 1912, an elementary school and a previous version of Iowa Colony High School, respectively, were established. Iowa Colony's school district later became a part of Alvin ISD.[22] Alvin High School served all Iowa Colony residents,[23] until fall 2006, when Manvel High opened to immediately accept 9th and 10th grades and phase in 11th and 12th grades in two years.[24] After 2006 and prior to Iowa Colony High's opening, Manvel High's boundary included all of Iowa Colony.[25][26] Prior to the opening of Meridiana Elementary, zoned elementary schools were E. C. Mason, Don Jeter, and Savannah Lakes in Manvel.[27][28] Residents were divided between Manvel Junior High and Fairview Junior High in Alvin.[29][30] In 2015 Manvel Junior High became the junior high for almost all of Iowa Colony, except a small portion zoned to Rodeo Palms Junior High.[31] In 2022 Iowa Colony High will open, relieving Manvel High.[32]

Additionally, Alvin Community College provides basic undergraduate courses and adult education. Iowa Colony is in the ACC taxation zone.[33]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Council - Manager Form of Government". City of Iowa Colony. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "Iowa Colony, TX |".
  4. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Notice of General and Special Elections 2020". City of Iowa Colony. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "City Charter". City of Iowa Colony. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "Mayor Michael Byrum-Bratsen". City of Iowa Colony. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  10. ^ Toth, John (April 7, 1991). "Iowa Colony fights image as speed trap". Houston Chronicle. p. C News p. 1.[dead link] - Available at the Houston Public Library website, accessible with a library card number and its PIN
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Iowa Colony village, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  14. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  16. ^ "Zoning Map". Iowa Colony, Texas. Retrieved July 19, 2022. - Note there are residential areas north of Highway 6
  17. ^ "Elementary 2020-21 Attendance Zones" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  18. ^ "Junior High 2021-22 Attendance Zones" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  19. ^ "High 2022-23 Attendance Zones" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  20. ^ "Construction Starts at Meridiana Elementary School In New Master-Planned Community of Meridiana Archived 2017-01-01 at the Wayback Machine." Meridiana. Retrieved on January 1, 2017.
  21. ^ Takahashi, Paul (October 8, 2015). "More details revealed for major master-planned community south of Houston". Houston Business Journal. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  22. ^ Summa, Andy (July 11, 2022). "City's start originated with fruit". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  23. ^ Summa, Andy (April 15, 2004). "Construction slated to start on Manvel High". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 19, 2022. - Since Manvel High was Alvin ISD's second high school, Alvin High would have been the only one before 2006.
  24. ^ Evans, Thayer (May 25, 2009). "Manvel High set to graduate its first-ever class". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 1, 2017. [...]since it first opened in August 2006 to freshmen and sophomore, [sic][...]
  25. ^ "High School Map Update" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. Retrieved July 19, 2022. - This page identifies it as a 2012-2013 map - Alternate URL - As two high school zones are represented, this would be before Shadow Creek High School opened. Compare to the 2000 U.S. Census maps: Index, pages 1 and 2.
  26. ^ "High School Boundaries 2015-16" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2022. - Compare to this map of Iowa Colony from the 2010 U.S. Census.
  27. ^ "ALVIN ISD - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. August 31, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 31, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2022. - For the 2012-2013 school year.
  28. ^ "Attendance Zone Adjustment Elementary 2014-15" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. October 15, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  29. ^ "ALVIN ISD - JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. August 31, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 31, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  30. ^ "Attendance Zone Adjustment Junior High 2014-15" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. October 15, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  31. ^ "Junior High Boundaries 2015-16" (PDF). Alvin Independent School District. October 15, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  32. ^ Lamkhahouan, Carissa (February 13, 2020). "Alvin ISD OKs shifts in some school attendance zones". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  33. ^ "Alvin Community College Taxation Boundary Layer" (PDF). Brazoria County Appraisal District. Retrieved June 18, 2020.

External links

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Municipalities and communities of Brazoria County, Texas, United States
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