Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Jun 23

The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 4

October 3, 2015: Harmony High School, a one-story building at the intersection of J46 and W46, will become the sole building for Harmony this fall, with all elementary students relocating here from Bonaparte. Junior high and high school students will go … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 4
Jun 22

The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 3

July 25, 2012: The cornerstone of the Boxholm school, last serving as Southeast Webster-Grand Junior High. The Boxholm school is not currently in use. By the summer of 2013, residents of the Corwith-Wesley district knew their high school was a … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 3
Jun 21

The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 2

December 28, 2008: Every window in the Russell school building was boarded up shortly after the district was forcibly dissolved. Students in Russell now go to Chariton, which encompasses about 85% of Lucas County. Lucas County was the home of … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 2
Jun 20

The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 1

First in a series on the geography of, and changes to, rural Iowa school districts in the past 55 years, with emphasis on the last 15. For nearly 50 years the number of places in Iowa where one high school … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 1
Jun 10

The “worst names in Iowa” list

(alternate title: “I am a scientist. I arrange, design, and sell science.”) Without a doubt, the “Iowa State University College of Human Sciences” is the most ridiculous name thought up in Iowa in the 21st century. Created in 2005 through … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on The “worst names in Iowa” list
Jun 08

Dismounting

June 1, 2015: Mount Union post office. The Henry County town of Mount Union wants to disincorporate. It would be the fourth Iowa town to do so this decade. According to records from the Iowa secretary of state, Mount Union was … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Post offices | Comments Off on Dismounting
Jun 07

Iowa’s House freshmen learn challengers today

Aside from today being the last state primaries in the presidential process, it is primary day for Iowa races. In northeast and southwest Iowa, Democrats will pick their nominees to face two freshman Republican U.S. House representatives. The 1st District … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Iowa’s House freshmen learn challengers today
Jun 06

Peak population decade for each Iowa county

The Washington Post’s Wonkblog carries an entry with an ominous headline, “The places in America that already have their best days behind them”. It’s about the counties across the United States that peaked in population decades ago, and it leads … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Peak population decade for each Iowa county
Jun 01

If you build it, they will come

Vin Scully recites the “Field of Dreams” speech. People will come, Vin. Vin Scully recites the most iconic speech from a baseball film ever. #HallofFameTourhttps://t.co/ci59idkKOW — MLB (@MLB) May 26, 2016

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Sports | Comments Off on If you build it, they will come
May 30

A flag-lined path

May 28, 2012: Goldfield cemetery, Memorial Day.

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on A flag-lined path