Overview

Introduction to Iowa City, Iowa

Iowa City, the county seat of Johnson County, Iowa, is located about 28 miles south of the city of Cedar Rapids and about 115 miles east of the state capital of Des Moines. Known as the "Athens of the Midwest" due to its wide spectrum of cultural and intellectual activities, the city is home to the University of Iowa. Highways servicing Iowa City include Interstate 80, U.S. Route 6 and Iowa State Highway 1. Nearby towns include Coralville, Tiffin, and North Liberty.

Founded in the late 1830s, Iowa City was the state's first seat of government, serving as Iowa's capital from 1842 to 1857. As the western part of the state continued to develop, however, Des Moines was chosen to replace Iowa City as the state capital. Partially compensating for this loss was the establishment in Iowa City of the University of Iowa, which later became the first public university in the nation to admit men and women on an equal basis and the nation's first institute of higher learning to accept creative work in theater, music, writing, and art as theses for advanced degrees. The University continues to this day to wield a tremendous economic impact on the area, having become the city's largest employer, with over 20,000 employees.

Things to do in Iowa City

Small-town hospitality combined with big-city amenities make Iowa City an ideal location for finding things to see and do. The Old Capitol building commemorates the city's history as Iowa's original state capital, and stands today as a major landmark and tourist attraction in the middle of the University of Iowa campus. The University's teaching hospital offers a large collection of art and houses a Medical Museum on its eighth floor. Other local historic/cultural spots include Plum Grove, home of Iowa's first governor, and the University of Iowa Art Museum. Attractions only a short distance away include the Amana Colonies, offering German home style food and crafts just 20-minutes west of the city. The small town of Kalona, 20 minutes southwest of Iowa City, offers a look at the culture of its large Amish population. The small town of West Branch, 10 minutes east of the city, is the birthplace of Herbert Hoover and home to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum where visitors can learn more about America's 31st president.

In addition to culture and education, Iowa City is also a great place for recreation and fun. Kids can enjoy Waterdance Fountain on the car-free Pedestrian Mall, which also serves as a gathering place for students and locals, and attracts large crowds for its summertime events such as the Friday Night Concert Series and the annual Jazz Fest, held every July. Also taking place in July is another annual city event, the Johnson County Fair. In early June, the city hosts the annual Iowa Arts Festival where visitors can enjoy the state's best music, visual art, and food. Over 40 public parks populate the Iowa City area, several of which overlook the scenic Iowa River and contain networks of walking and biking trails in addition to relaxing picnic sites. The Coralville Lake, located to the city's north, offers a host of recreational activities, including pleasure boating, fishing, swimming, and water-skiing.

Sports in Iowa City reside in the domain of the University of Iowa's athletic teams, known as the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes, whose nickname was borrowed from the state of Iowa (also known as the Hawkeye State), are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The nearest professional sports team can be found in Cedar Rapids (a half-hour drive to the north), home to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, a Minor League Baseball Class-A team affiliated with MLB's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Kernels compete in the Midwest League.

Demographics

People

Total Population74,566
Male Share of the Population50.3%
Female Share of the Population49.7%
Senior Citizens9.6%
Employed Population 16+40,126
Age of the Population26

Families

% of people married34.2%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher43.5%
Median Earnings25+$41,330
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$22,191
Median Earnings With High School Degree$26,510

Wealth

Median Family Income$82,519
% Above Poverty Level72.4%
% Below Poverty Level27.6%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time17 minutes
% Working from Home4%
% Walking and Biking to Work17.7%
% Using Public Transportation8.4%

Housing

People Living Alone33.7%
Median Gross Rent$954
Median House Value$203,500

Ancestry

German28.2%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)21.5%
Irish13.9%
English8.6%
Norwegian4.4%
African4%
Italian3.8%
Swedish3%
Polish2.9%
Czech2.7%
Dutch2.3%
French Except Basque2.1%
Scottish1.8%
Sudanese1.5%
Arab1.2%
Danishn1.1%
Russian0.7%
Welsh0.7%
Swiss0.6%
Hungarian0.4%
Greek0.4%
Iraqi0.4%
Palestinian0.3%
Austrian0.3%
Belgian0.3%
Canadian0.3%
Syrian0.2%
Croatian0.2%
Nigerian0.2%
Finnish0.2%
Ukrainian0.2%
Luxemburger0.2%
Lithuanian0.2%
Lebanese0.2%
Iranian0.2%
Albanian0.1%
Egyptian0.1%
West Indian0.1%
Australian0.1%
Israeli0.1%
Brazilian0.1%
Portuguese0.1%
Serbian0.1%
Slovak0.1%
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Iowa City Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyJohnson County
Standard Zip Codes52246, 52240, 52242, 52245, 52241
P.O. Box Zip Codes52244
Company Zip Codes52243
Phone Area Codes319
Time ZoneAmerica/Chicago
Approximate Latitude41.65
Approximate Longitude-91.57

Iowa City Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationIOWA CITY
Distance0.8 miles
Jan Temp13 to 30 F
Apr Temp41 to 63 F
Jul Temp66 to 88 F
Oct Temp44 to 66 F
Annual Precip37.2 inches
StationCEDAR RAPIDS AP
Distance18.1 miles
Jan Temp10 to 27 F
Apr Temp38 to 60 F
Jul Temp63 to 85 F
Oct Temp40 to 63 F
Annual Precip33.4 inches
StationTIPTON 4 NE
Distance25.4 miles
Jan Temp8 to 27 F
Apr Temp37 to 60 F
Jul Temp62 to 84 F
Oct Temp38 to 63 F
Annual Precip36.4 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Coralville20,645$102,024
Hills827$81,250
North Liberty18,357$93,088
Tiffin3,008$93,152
University Heights1,206$122,321
West Branch2,061$94,375

Iowa City Public Libraries

Iowa City Public Library
123 S LINN ST
Iowa City, Iowa
(319) 356-5200

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Iowa City Hospitals

Mercy Hospital
(Non-profit)
500 Market Street
(319) 339-0300
University Of Iowa Hospital & Clinics
(Government - State)
200 Hawkins Drive
(319) 356-1616
Iowa City Va Health Care System
(Government - Federal)
601 Highway 6 W
(319) 338-0581

Iowa City Public Schools

Elizabeth Tate Alt. High School
1528 Mall Drive
ZIP: 52240
(319) 688-1080
High
Total Enrollment 151
Grant Wood Elementary School
1930 Lakeside Dr
ZIP: 52240
(319) 688-1180
Primary
Total Enrollment 543
Longfellow Elementary School
1130 Seymour Ave
ZIP: 52240
(319) 688-1135
Primary
Total Enrollment 322
Mark Twain Elementary
1355 Deforest Avenue
ZIP: 52240
(319) 688-1165
Primary
Total Enrollment 419
Southeast Junior High School
2501 Bradford Dr
ZIP: 52240
(319) 688-1070
Middle
Total Enrollment 794
Bohumil Shimek Elementary School
1400 Grissel Place
ZIP: 52245
(319) 688-1160
Primary
Total Enrollment 251
Helen Lemme Elementary School
3100 Washington St
ZIP: 52245
(319) 688-1125
Primary
Total Enrollment 400
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
2200 E Court St
ZIP: 52245
(319) 688-1110
Primary
Total Enrollment 328
Horace Mann Elementary School
521 N Dodge St
ZIP: 52245
(319) 688-1145
Primary
Total Enrollment 239
Iowa City High School
1900 Morningside Dr
ZIP: 52245
(319) 688-1040
High
Total Enrollment 1592
Robert Lucas Elementary School
830 Southlawn Dr
ZIP: 52245
(319) 688-1140
Primary
Total Enrollment 403
Ernest Horn Elementary School
600 Koser Ave
ZIP: 52246
(319) 688-1115
Primary
Total Enrollment 487
Lincoln Elementary School
300 Teeters Court
ZIP: 52246
(319) 688-1130
Primary
Total Enrollment 234
Weber Elementary
3850 Rohret Road
ZIP: 52246
(319) 688-1170
Primary
Total Enrollment 488
West Senior High School
2901 Melrose Ave
ZIP: 52246
(319) 688-1050
High
Total Enrollment 1973

Iowa City Private Schools

Regina Catholic Education Center
2150 Rochester Ave
ZIP: 52245
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 835
Willowwind School
950 Dover St
ZIP: 52245
Elementary
Total Enrollment 49
Sources :
Additional Details
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Iowa City Colleges
Iowa City colleges and trade schools.
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