Author Archives: Jeff

May 24

Iowa highway map press release

Posted on Friday, May 24, 2013, at 2:09 PM by Jeff

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, although two months behind the normal schedule. Kendallville is an unincorporated place on IA 139 five miles from the Minnesota border, BTW.

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on Iowa highway map press release
May 23

2012 Iowa city population estimates

Posted on Thursday, May 23, 2013, at 3:00 PM by Jeff

After you’ve gone through the rigamarole in my earlier post, you will be able to see the actual numbers. Here are some quick hits from the 2012 city population estimates. Most of these are not radical changes from 2010 yet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on 2012 Iowa city population estimates
May 23

How to download 2012 census estimates

Posted on Thursday, May 23, 2013, at 1:37 PM by Jeff

The census website has too many bells and whistles now to offer a direct link. Simply explaining it is a blog post in itself. I’ll be back with actual content later. You’ll have to go to this page and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on How to download 2012 census estimates
May 22

IA 330 meeting Tuesday

Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at 12:40 PM by Jeff

A year ago, the DOT held a meeting in Baxter and laid out all the possibilities for changing the US 65/IA 330/IA 117 intersection. Many of the alternatives were at-grade intersections. The meeting notice for next Tuesday uses the word … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on IA 330 meeting Tuesday
May 22

Smallest towns on state highways

Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Millville and Durango, 24 miles apart on US 52 northwest of Dubuque, are the two smallest incorporated places in Iowa that are on a state-maintained road. Millville, pop. 30, is #939 and Durango, pop. 22, is #945 out of 947 … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Smallest towns on state highways
May 21

Mediacom costs up by one-sixth in two years

Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 1:07 PM by Jeff

I have the next-to-barest-bones package from Mediacom: Expanded basic cable and Internet access. I’ve never changed that. I’ve never even replaced my TV. All that I’ve gained with the “digital conversion” of cable TV are the digital network subchannels and … Continue reading →

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May 19

99-year-old Orange School closes

Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2013, at 9:28 AM by Jeff

When the Orange Township school at the intersection of Orange Road and Kimball Avenue was built, it was for a rural Black Hawk County population. Decades later, it was incorporated into the Waterloo school district and the area became part … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on 99-year-old Orange School closes
May 18

Analysis of the 2014 five-year plan

Posted on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at 3:58 PM by Jeff

There are some interesting takeaways in the draft five-year plan released by the Transportation Commission this week. The major interstate projects in Council Bluffs and Sioux City continue throughout the plan, although money has been shifted in some years (bridges … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Analysis of the 2014 five-year plan
May 18

$3.899

Posted on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at 1:58 PM by Jeff

This picture was taken nine years ago tomorrow in Lime Springs, near the Minnesota border. It was the first time I had ever seen super unleaded at $2 a gallon in Iowa. Then this week, this happened: Associated Press, Jan. … Continue reading →

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May 17

Lincoln Highway Centennial

Posted on Friday, May 17, 2013, at 2:50 PM by Jeff

America’s Main Street celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. (I’ve seen in places that July 1 is the official date.) The Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival is this weekend in Tama. The Rochester Post-Bulletin has a feature about the Lincoln Highway in … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Lincoln Highway Centennial