Pella is a city in Marion County, Iowa,
United States. The population was 9,832 at the 2000 census. Pella is the home of
Central College as well as several manufacturing companies, including Pella Corporation and Vermeer Manufacturing Company. It is also the
site of the future Earthpark indoor rainforest project,
scheduled for completion in 2010.
History and culture
Franklin Street in Pella and some of the businesses located there. Notable in the background are the Tulip Toren(tall white
statute) and Information Windmill located in Pella's Central Park.
Pella was founded in 1847 when eight hundred Dutch immigrants led by Dominee Scholte settled the
area. It was the childhood home of Wyatt Earp. His brothers Warren and Morgan were born in
Pella.
It is today one of the most unique towns in the state, featuring a number of local events and architectural sights. The
Vermeer Mill is a fully functional 1850s-style windmill, reaching 134 feet high. The Vermeer Mill grinds wheat into flour using
only wind power and is the tallest working windmill in the United States.
The Pella Opera House, built in 1900, was renovated in 1990 and is
now a popular entertainment destination, featuring stained glass windows and ornate tin ceilings. A canal winds through nearby
Molengracht Plaza, home to a number of shops, restaurants, lodging, a movie theatre, and a full-size working drawbridge.
The annual Tulip Time festival is a celebration of Pella's Dutch heritage. It features tulip gardens, performances, crafters,
music, food, Dutch costumes, and daily parades. The festival is held for three days (Thursday, Friday & Saturday) during the
first weekend in May.
A few miles to the west is Iowa's second largest reservoir, Lake Red Rock, a popular destination for biking, hiking, boating,
and fishing.
Pella will soon be home to the new Earthpark, North America's largest indoor rainforest, as well as many new 10 story condos,
restaurants, shopping areas, and a water park.
Geography
Pella is located at 41°24′26″N, 92°55′2″W (41.407311,
-92.917352)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 17.7 km² (6.8 mi²). None of the area is covered
with water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 9,832 people, 3,497 households, and 2,395 families residing
in the city. The population density was 555.0/km² (1,437.4/mi²). There were 3,691
housing units at an average density of 208.3/km² (539.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.32% White, 0.17% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.36% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.
There were 3,497 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were
non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.95.
The population is spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 17.6% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64,
and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every
100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,496, and the median income for a family was $56,321. Males had a median
income of $40,344 versus $25,833 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$19,674. About 3.2% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
Famous residents
Some shops on Main in Pella illustrating the Dutch architecture in the town.
References in Popular Literature
- In his 1989 book, The Lost Continent: Travels in
Small-Town America, travel author Bill Bryson stops in Pella, recounting his
childhood visits to the town, and remarking different aspects of the town with his usual wry humor. Throughout the book, parts of
Pella are referred back to as examples.
External links
Coordinates:
41.407311° N 92.917352°
W
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
