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Centerville, IA


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Centerville, Iowa

Introduction to Centerville, Iowa

Centerville, Iowa, in Appanoose county, is located 71 miles SE of Des Moines, Iowa (center to center) and 144 miles NE of Kansas City, Missouri. The city has a population of 5,924.

Centerville History

Centerville is the county seat of Appanoose County. Jonathon Stratton founded the city in 1846, however at that time it was called Chaldea. Later on, the name was changed to Centerville. The city was incorporated in 1855. The coal industry played a significant role in the development of the city in the early 1900s. Later, when the demand for coal fell, the Rathbun Dam was built in the 1970s with a view to establish new industries. The city now has industrial plants for plastic products.

Centerville and nearby Attractions

  • Historical and Coal Mining Museum
  • Moravia Wabash Depot Museum
  • Sharon Bluffs State Park
  • Lake Wapello State Park
  • Moulton Historical Society Museum

Things To Do In Centerville

While in Centerville tourists can visit the Rathun Lake and the Rathun Fish Hatchery. The Honey Creek State Park offers facilities for picnic, boating, and camping. One can also visit the Appanoose County Museum and the Old Jail. Book lovers can have a look around the Drake Public Library and the Centerville Center Library. Visitors can also enjoy the Lake Center Mall. The city also hosts the Pancake Day Festival, Appanoose County Fair and the Croatian Fest each year.

Centerville Transportation

Air transportation is available from Kirksville Regional Airport.

Centerville Higher Education

The colleges and universities that offer higher education opportunities include Indian Hills Community College, Truman State University, Graceland University - Lamoni, and Des Moines Community College.

High Points

Centerville strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Iowa):

CategoryTrophy
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 3%trophyCenterville Affordability of Rents
Short Commute Times
(vs. Peers)		Top 10%Centerville Short Commute Times
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. Peers)		Top 17%Centerville Affordability of Property Taxes

Comparative Profile of Centerville, IA

Comparing Centerville to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Iowa (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Senior Citizens107
Female Share of the Population1010
Age of the Population86
Children Under 5 Years Old34
Racial Diversity28
Well-Paid Single Men21
Male Share of the Population11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married31
Average Household Size22

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
College Educated Adults35
People in Middle Class or Better21
People Above Poverty21
Median Family Income21

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times109
Walking and Biking to Work87
Working at Home32
Public Transportation Use27

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Affordability of Rents108
People Living Alone1010
Affordability of Property Taxes98
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals810
Seasonal and Vacation Housing78
Housing Recently Built24

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime53
Low Property Crime21

Detailed pages on related topics: Centerville travel.

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Additional Details

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Centerville hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.

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