Independence, Iowa

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Independence: A picture of the Independence Mill located on the West side of the Wapsipinicon River.

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Current weather forecast for Independence, IA

Population (year 2000): 6,014. Estimated population in July 2006: 6,114 (+1.7% change)

Males: 2,826	(47.0%)
Females: 3,188	(53.0%)

Buchanan County

Median resident age:	39.1 years
Iowa median age:	36.6 years

Zip codes: 50644.

Estimated median household income in 2005: $39,900 (it was $36,554 in 2000)

Independence	$39,900
Iowa:	$43,609

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $89,600 (it was $75,600 in 2000)

Independence	$89,600
Iowa:	$106,600

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Independence, IA residents, houses, and apartments details

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Races in Independence:

White Non-Hispanic (97.7%)
Two or more races (0.7%)

Recent posts about Independence, Iowa on our local forum with over 300,000 registered users. Independence is mentioned 39 times on our forum:

	How Do You Like Living In Iowa? (313 replies)
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Latest news from Independence, IA collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: German (38.1%), Irish (16.6%), English (9.0%), United States (7.9%), French (4.2%), Dutch (3.9%).

Current Local Time: CST time zone

Incorporated on 10/15/1864

Elevation: 950 feet

Land area: 3.71 square miles.

Population density: 1642 people per square mile

(low).

Home Value Estimate
Address:		Unit (optional):
City	State	Zip

For population 25 years and over in Independence

High school or higher: 85.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.0%
Unemployed: 3.0%
Mean travel time to work: 20.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Independence city

Never married: 22.1%
Now married: 58.0%
Separated: 1.3%
Widowed: 11.7%
Divorced: 6.8%

121 residents are foreign born (0.7% Asia, 0.6% Latin America, 0.3% Europe, 0.2% North America).

This city:	2.0%
Iowa:	3.1%

According to our research there were 11 registered sex offenders living in Independence, Iowa in early 2007.
The ratio of number of residents in Independence to the number of sex offenders is 553 to 1.
The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents in this city is near the state average.

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000:

Independence:	1.3% ($1,009)
Iowa:	1.3% ($1,077)

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Waterloo, IA (31.1 miles , pop. 68,747).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Madison, WI (176.7 miles , pop. 208,054).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Chicago, IL (292.8 miles , pop. 2,896,016).

Nearest cities: Rowley, IA (7.8 miles ), Hazleton, IA (10.3 miles ), Quasqueton, IA (10.6 miles ), Winthrop, IA (10.9 miles ), Jesup, IA (11.6 miles ), Stanley, IA (13.1 miles) , Brandon, IA (13.2 miles ), Oelwein, IA (14.4 miles ).

Single-family new house construction building permits:

1996: 17 buildings, average cost: $84,400
1997: 18 buildings, average cost: $86,900
1998: 15 buildings, average cost: $139,600
1999: 28 buildings, average cost: $114,300
2000: 28 buildings, average cost: $111,300
2001: 25 buildings, average cost: $104,500
2002: 11 buildings, average cost: $137,800
2003: 20 buildings, average cost: $126,600
2004: 13 buildings, average cost: $155,700
2005: 8 buildings, average cost: $137,500
2006: 9 buildings, average cost: $164,800

Number of permits per 10,000 residents

Average cost (in 1000s)

Latitude: 42.47 N, Longitude: 91.89 W

Daytime population change due to commuting: +612 (+10.2%)
Workers who live and work in this city: 1,614 (57.8%)

People in group quarters in Independence

190 people in nursing homes
52 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
34 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals or wards
11 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)

Area code: 319

Independence household income distribution

This city's Wikipedia profile

Independence, Iowa business and economic data: stores, dealers, real estate agents, wholesalers, restaurants...

Population change in the 1990s: -60 (-1.0%).

Historical population

Historical housing units

Most common industries for males:

Food (11%)
Construction (8%)
Machinery (7%)
Public administration (6%)
Metal and metal products (6%)
Educational services (5%)
Truck transportation (5%)

Most common industries for females:

Health care (23%)
Educational services (13%)
Social assistance (9%)
Finance and insurance (5%)
Public administration (5%)
Accommodation and food services (4%)
Metal and metal products (4%)

Most common occupations for males

Metal workers and plastic workers (7%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (7%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (7%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (6%)
Laborers and material movers, hand (5%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (5%)

Most common occupations for females

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (6%)
Child care workers (6%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (5%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (4%)
Customer service representatives (4%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (4%)
Registered nurses (3%)

Independence races chart

Crime in Independence by Year
Type	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Murders	0	1	0	0	0	0
per 100,000	0.0	16.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Rapes	1	1	1	0	0	0
per 100,000	16.6	16.6	16.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
Robberies	3	1	0	0	1	0
per 100,000	49.9	16.6	0.0	0.0	16.6	0.0
Assaults	3	3	0	1	2	1
per 100,000	49.9	49.7	0.0	16.8	33.1	16.4
Burglaries	40	80	114	119	46	29
per 100,000	665.8	1325.4	1909.2	2002.0	761.8	476.5
Thefts	149	137	172	138	129	91
per 100,000	2480.0	2269.7	2880.6	2321.7	2136.5	1495.2
Auto thefts	10	12	7	9	11	7
per 100,000	166.4	198.8	117.2	151.4	182.2	115.0
Arson	1	1	1	0	1	2
per 100,000	16.6	16.6	16.7	0.0	16.6	32.9
City-data.com crime index (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 239.8)	197.4	260.8	271.6	248.5	165.0	105.7

(click on a table row to update graph)

Full-time Law Enforcement Employees in 2006: 15 (11 officers).

Officers per 1,000 residents here:	1.81
US city average:	3.00

Average climate in Independence, Iowa

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Independence, Iowa average precipitation

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Independence-area historical tornado activity is near Iowa state average. It is 115% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 5/15/1968, a category 5 (max. wind speeds 261-318 mph) tornado 14.0 miles away from the Independence city center killed 5 people and injured 156 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.

On 8/26/1965, a category 4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 20.8 miles away from the city center killed one person and injured 17 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

Hospitals/medical centers in Independence:

MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE (P O BOX 111)
PEOPLES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF BUCH CO (1600 FIRST STREET EAST)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Independence:

MERCY HOSPITAL (about 16 miles; OELWEIN, IA)
MERCY HOSPITAL OF FRANCISCAN SISTERS (about 16 miles; OELWEIN, IA)
VIRGINIA GAY HOSPITAL (about 28 miles; VINTON, IA)

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Independence:

WATERLOO MUNI (about 36 miles; WATERLOO, IA; ID: ALO)
THE EASTERN IOWA (about 43 miles; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; ID: CID)
DUBUQUE REGIONAL (about 83 miles; DUBUQUE, IA; ID: DBQ)

Other public-use airports nearest to Independence:

INDEPENDENCE MUNI (about 4 miles; INDEPENDENCE, IA; ID: IIB)
OELWEIN MUNI (about 15 miles; OELWEIN, IA; ID: OLZ)
VINTON VETERANS MEML ARPK (about 20 miles; VINTON, IA; ID: VTI)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Independence:

KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 15 miles; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; Full-time enrollment: 7,991)
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA (about 29 miles; CEDAR FALLS, IA; FT enrollment: 12,524)
UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY (about 30 miles; FAYETTE, IA; FT enrollment: 3,173)
HAWKEYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 33 miles; WATERLOO, IA; FT enrollment: 3,292)
NORTHEAST IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE-CALMAR (about 49 miles; CALMAR, IA; FT enrollment: 2,393)
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA (about 56 miles; IOWA CITY, IA; FT enrollment: 24,766)
LUTHER COLLEGE (about 58 miles; DECORAH, IA; FT enrollment: 2,566)

Public high school in Independence:

INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 549; Location: 500 5TH AVE SE; Grades: 09 - 12)

Public elementary/middle schools in Independence:

INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 352; Location: 1301 1ST ST W; Grades: 06 - 08)
WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 263; Location: 1103 1ST ST W; Grades: 03 - 05)
EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 257; Location: 211 9TH AVE SE; Grades: PK - 02)

Private elementary/middle schools in Independence:

ST JOHNS SCHOOL (Students: 140; Location: 314 3RD ST NE; Grades: KG - 8)
INDEPENDENCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 33; Location: 700-13TH STREET N.E.; Grades: KG - 11)

Library in Independence:

INDEPENDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $141,900; Location: 210 2ND ST NE; 24,458 books; 723 audio materials; 659 video materials; 127 serial subscriptions)

Click to draw/clear city borders

Notable locations in Independence: Independence Motor Speedway (A), Independence (B), Buchanan County Fairgrounds (C), Independence City Hall (D), Independence City Police Department (E), Independence Fire Station (F), Independence Public Library (G), Buchanan County Courthouse (H), Buchanan County Sheriff Department (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Churches in Independence include: Hope Wesleyan Church (A), Our Redeemer Church (B), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (C), Immanuel Lutheran Church (D), Independence United Methodist Church (E), Assembly of God Church (F), First Baptist Church (G), First Presbyterian Church (H), First United Methodist Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemeteries: Oakwood Cemetery (1), Saint Johns Cemetery (2). Display/hide their locations on the map

Post office: Independence Post Office (A). Display/hide its location on the map

Hotels: Rush Park Motel (1810 1st Street West), Super 8 Motel Independence (2000 1st Street West).

Courts: Buchanan County - Clerk Of District Court (210 5th Avenue Northeast Suite C), Buchanan County of Clerk of District Court (210 5th Avenue Southeast).

Drinking water stations with addresses in Independence and their reported violations in the past:

INDEPENDENCE WATER DEPT (Address: 331 1ST ST E, Population served: 6014, Groundwater):

Past health violations:

MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In AUG-1997, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (AUG-15-1997), St Formal NOV issued (AUG-15-1997), St Public Notif received (AUG-29-1997), St Compliance achieved (MAR-23-1998)

Past monitoring violations:

Initial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu - Between JUL-01-1992 and MAR-01-2002, Contaminant: Lead & Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (MAR-01-2002)

WAPSIPINICON GOLF CLUB (Population served: 33, Groundwater):

Past monitoring violations:

5 routine major monitoring violations

One minor monitoring violation

2 regular monitoring violations

THREE ELMS GOLF COURSE (Population served: 25, Groundwater):

Past health violations:

MCL, Monthly (TCR) - Between JUL-2004 and SEP-2004, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUL-15-2004), St Formal NOV issued (JUL-16-2004), St Public Notif requested (JUL-16-2004), St Public Notif received (JUL-29-2004), St Compliance achieved (JAN-31-2005)

MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In MAY-2003, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (MAY-16-2003), St Public Notif requested (MAY-16-2003), St Compliance achieved (JAN-16-2004)

Average household size:

This city:	2.4 people
Iowa:	2.5 people

Percentage of family households:

This city:	65.3%
Whole state:	67.0%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners:

This city:	5.1%
Whole state:	4.9%

Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households)

Lesbian couples: 0.0% of all households
Gay men: 0.0% of all households

Residents with income below the poverty level in 1999:

This city:	7.0%
Whole state:	9.1%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 1999:

This city:	2.9%
Whole state:	3.8%

Independence compared to Iowa state average:

Independence, Iowa environmental map by EPA

Map Legend

Black race population percentage below state average.
Institutionalized population percentage above state average.
Number of college students below state average.

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Banks with branches in Independence (2007 data):

BankIowa of Cedar Rapids: First Street East Branch, Independence South Office Branch, Drive Up Branch, Drive-Thru Detached Facility. Info updated 2006-11-03: Bank assets: $400.1 mil, Deposits: $324.0 mil, headquarters in Cedar Rapids, IA, positive income, Commercial Lending Specialization, 11 total offices, Holding Company: Fidelity Ban Corporation
Independence Federal Bank For Savings: Independence Federal Bank For Saving at 305 First Street West, branch established on 1935-05-20. Info updated 2006-11-03: Bank assets: $20.6 mil, Deposits: $18.1 mil, local headquarters, positive income, Mortgage Lending Specialization, 1 total offices
Security State Bank: at 231 First Street East, branch established on 1941-10-04. Info updated 2006-11-03: Bank assets: $74.9 mil, Deposits: $58.8 mil, local headquarters, positive income, Agricultural Specialization, 3 total offices, Holding Company: Independence Bancshares, Inc.

Educational Attainment

School Enrollment by Level of School

Independence mode of transportation to work chart

2004 Presidential Election results in Buchanan County Iowa:

Most commonly used house heating fuel:

Local government employment and payroll (March 2006)
Function	Full-time employees	Monthly full-time payroll	Average yearly full-time wage	Part-time employees	Monthly part-time payroll
Financial Administration	2	$7,809	$46,854	0	$0
Police Protection - Officers	11	$37,647	$41,069	0	$0
Other and Unallocable	1	$2,768	$33,216	2	$1,481
Local Libraries	2	$5,376	$32,256	5	$2,849
Water Supply	2	$7,187	$43,122	0	$0
Parks and Recreation	4	$11,088	$33,264	7	$2,517
Sewerage	5	$16,377	$39,305	0	$0
Streets and Highways	5	$13,988	$33,571	0	$0
Firefighters	3	$8,661	$34,644	2	$2,291
Police - Other	5	$14,260	$34,224	5	$3,941
Other Government Administration	2	$7,807	$46,842	0	$0
Electric Power	20	$87,010	$52,206	0	$0
Totals for Government	62	$219,976	$42,576	21	$13,080

Independence government finances in 2004:

Charges - Air Transportation: $38,000
Charges - Sewerage: $1,482,000
Solid Waste Management: $346,000

Parks & Recreation: $182,000

Regular Highways: $93,000

All Other: $66,000

Parking Facilities: $2,000
Construction - Water Utilities: $2,029,000
Regular Highways: $640,000
Current Operations - Electric Utilities: $4,497,000
Police Protection: $966,000

General - Other: $656,000

Sewerage: $577,000

Regular Highways: $576,000

Parks & Recreation: $433,000

Water Utilities: $374,000

Solid Waste Management: $314,000

Fire Protection: $236,000

Libraries: $195,000

Financial Administration: $116,000

Air Transportation: $73,000

Central Staff Services: $57,000

Protective Inspection and Regulation, NEC: $53,000

Judicial and Legal Services: $25,000

General Public Buildings: $19,000

Housing & Community Development: $8,000

Health Services - Other: $1,000
Electric Utilities - Interest on Debt: $239,000
Federal Intergovernmental - All Other: $446,000
General - Interest on Debt: $339,000
Local Intergovernmental - All Other: $146,000
Long Term Debt Beginning Outstanding - Electric Utilities: $4,789,000
Long Term Debt Beginning Outstanding, NEC: $4,270,000
Long Term Debt Issue, Unspecified - Other NEC: $5,035,000
Long Term Debt Outstanding - Full Faith & Credit - Other, NEC: $2,905,000
Long Term Debt Outstanding Nonguaranteed - Other, NEC: $5,125,000
Electric Utilities: $4,561,000
Long Term Debt Retired Unspecified - Other, NEC: $1,275,000
Electric Utilities: $228,000
Miscellaneous - Special Assessments: $141,000
General Revenue, NEC: $90,000

Interest Earnings: $76,000
Other Capital Outlay - Air Transportation: $415,000
General - Other: $308,000
Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $5,703,000
Revenue - Electric Utilities: $4,861,000
Water Utilities: $546,000
State Intergovernmental - Highways: $508,000
All Other: $401,000

General Support: $15,000
Tax - Property: $2,465,000
Total General Sales: $235,000

NEC: $30,000

Public Utilities: $23,000

Other Selective Sales: $2,000
Total Salaries & Wages: $2,669,000

5.05% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($33,727 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	5.05%
Iowa average:	6.30%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2005 and 2006.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:

from Black Hawk County, IA	1.10% ($34,500 average AGI)
from Fayette County, IA	0.76% ($29,034)
from Linn County, IA	0.72% ($33,255)

5.94% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($30,582 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	5.94%
Iowa average:	6.47%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2005 and 2006.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:

to Black Hawk County, IA	1.30% ($25,410 average AGI)
to Linn County, IA	0.92% ($30,042)
to Fayette County, IA	0.65% ($28,220)

Strongest AM radio stations in Independence:

KQMG (1220 AM; 0 kW; INDEPENDENCE, IA; Owner: KEENE OF IOWA, INC.)
KKHQ (950 AM; 5 kW; OELWEIN, IA; Owner: CUMULUS LICENSING CORP.)
KXEL (1540 AM; 50 kW; WATERLOO, IA; Owner: KXEL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)
KWLO (1330 AM; 5 kW; WATERLOO, IA; Owner: KXEL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)
WMT (600 AM; 5 kW; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)
KCNZ (1250 AM; 10 kW; CEDAR FALLS, IA; Owner: FIFE COMMUNICATION COMPANY, L.C.)
KDNZ (1650 AM; 10 kW; CEDAR FALLS, IA; Owner: FIFE COMMUNICATIONS CO., LLC)
WHO (1040 AM; 50 kW; DES MOINES, IA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)
KCRG (1600 AM; 5 kW; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; Owner: CEDAR RAPIDS TELEVISION CO.)
WCTS (1030 AM; 50 kW; MAPLEWOOD, MN; Owner: CNTL. BAPT. THEO/AL SEMI MINNEAPOLIS)
KCJJ (1630 AM; 10 kW; IOWA CITY, IA; Owner: RIVER CITY RADIO, INC.)
KFAN (1130 AM; 50 kW; MINNEAPOLIS, MN; Owner: AMFM RADIO LICENSES, L.L.C.)
WCCO (830 AM; 50 kW; MINNEAPOLIS, MN; Owner: INFINITY MEDIA CORPORATION)

Strongest FM radio stations in Independence:

KQMG-FM (95.3 FM; INDEPENDENCE, IA; Owner: KEENE OF IOWA, INC.)
KFMW (107.9 FM; WATERLOO, IA; Owner: KXEL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)
KUNI (90.9 FM; CEDAR FALLS, IA; Owner: UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA)
KOEL-FM (92.3 FM; OELWEIN, IA; Owner: CUMULUS LICENSING CORP.)
KNWS-FM (101.9 FM; WATERLOO, IA; Owner: NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE)
KOKZ (105.7 FM; WATERLOO, IA; Owner: KXEL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)
KDAT (104.5 FM; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; Owner: CUMULUS LICENSING CORP.)
KZIA (102.9 FM; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; Owner: KZIA, INC.)

TV broadcast stations around Independence:

KWWL (Channel 7; WATERLOO, IA; Owner: RAYCOM AMERICA, INC.)
KGAN (Channel 2; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; Owner: KGAN LICENSEE, LLC)
KCRG-TV (Channel 9; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; Owner: CEDAR RAPIDS TELEVISION CO.)
KRIN (Channel 32; WATERLOO, IA; Owner: IOWA PUBLIC BROADCASTING BOARD)
KPXR (Channel 48; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; Owner: PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS LICENSE COMPANY, LLC)
KFXA (Channel 28; CEDAR RAPIDS, IA; Owner: SECOND GENERATION OF IOWA, LTD.)

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