Cedar Falls, Iowa

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Cedar Falls, Iowa
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Cedar Falls, Iowa


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Black Hawk
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 74.8
area_land_km2 = 73.3
area_water_km2 = 1.5
area_total_sq_mi = 28.9
area_land_sq_mi = 28.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.6

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 36145
population_density_km2 = 493.1
population_density_sq_mi = 1277.2

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 268
elevation_ft = 879
latd = 42 |latm = 31 |lats = 25 |latNS = N
longd = 92 |longm = 26 |longs = 47 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 50613
area_code = 319
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 19-11755
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0455240
website =
footnotes =

Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 36,145 at the 2000 census. It has the smaller population of the two principal cities in the Cedar Falls-Waterloo, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Cedar Falls was founded in 1845 by William Sturgis. It was originally named Sturgis Falls, for the first family who settled the site. The Sturgis family moved on within a few years and the city was renamed Cedar Falls because of its proximity to the Cedar River. However the city's founders are honored each year with a three day community-wide celebration named in their honor - the Sturgis Falls Celebration.

Because of the availability of water power, Cedar Falls developed as a milling and industrial center prior to the Civil War. The establishment of the Civil War Soldiers' Orphans Home in Cedar Falls changed the direction in which the city developed when, following the war, it became the first building on the campus of the Iowa State Normal School (now the University of Northern Iowa).

Geography

Cedar Falls is located at coor dms|42|31|25|N|92|26|47|W|city (42.523520, -92.446402)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.9 square miles (74.8 km²), of which, 28.3 square miles (73.3 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it (100%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 36,145 people, 12,833 households, and 7,558 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,277.2 people per square mile (493.1/km²). There were 13,271 housing units at an average density of 468.9/sq mi (181.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.14% White, 1.57% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,833 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.0% under the age of 18, 30.6% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $70,226, and the median income for a family was $85,158. Males had a median income of $60,235 versus $50,312 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,140. About 5.6% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Library

The Cedar Falls Public Library is housed in the Adele Whitenach Davis building located at 524 Main Street. The 47,000 square foot (4,400 m²) structure, designed by Struxture Architects, replaced the Carniege-Dayton building in early 2004. As of the 2005 fiscal year, the library's holdings included 2,176 audio recordings, 2,292 videos, 253 periodicals, 96 miscellaneous titles, and 115,757 books for a grand total of 120,574 items. Patrons made more than 220,000 visits which took advantage of circulation services, adult, teen, and youth programming. The library also provides public access to more than 30 public computers which provide Internet access, office software suites, high resolution color printing, and various games.

The mission of the Cedar Falls Public Library is to promote literacy and provide open access to resources which facilitate lifelong learning. The library is a member of the Cedar Valley Library Consortium(CVLC). Consortium members share an Integrated Library System(ILS) server which resides in the Rod Library of the University of Northern Iowa. Library management is provided by Sheryl Groskurth MLS, Joint Director of the Cedar Falls and Waterloo Public Libraries.

Culture

In 1986, the City of Cedar Falls established the Cedar Falls Art and Culture Board, which oversees the operation of the City's Cultural Division and the James & Meryl Hearst Center for the Arts.

Media

Video Game Design

* 8monkey Labs
* Phantom EFX

FM Radio

* 88.1 KBBG
* 88.9 KWVI
* 89.5 KHKE
* 90.9 KUNI (FM)
* 92.3 KKHQ
* 94.5 KULT
* 96.1 KCVM
* 97.7 KCRR
* 98.5 KOEL
* 99.3 KWAY-FM
* 100.1 KBOL
* 101.9 KNWS-FM
* 105.7 KOKZ
* 107.9 KFMW

AM Radio

* 600 WMT
* 640 WOI
* 850 KXGM
* 950 KOEL
* 1040 WHO
* 1090 KNWS
* 1250 KDNZ
* 1330 KWLO
* 1540 KXEL
* 1650 KCNZ

Analog Television

*2 KGAN 2 (CBS) - Located in Cedar Rapids
*7 KWWL 7 (NBC, WX+ on DT2)
*9 KCRG 9 (ABC) - Located in Cedar Rapids
*12 KIIN 12 (PBS/IPTV) - Located in Iowa City
*17 K17ET 17 / K44FK 44 (TBN)
*20 KWKB 20 (The CW/MNTV) - Located in Iowa City
*22 KWWF 22 (RTN)
*28 KFXA 28 (Fox) - Located in Cedar Rapids
*32 KRIN 32 (PBS/IPTV)
*40 KFXB 40 (CTN) - Located in Dubuque

Print

* "The Courier", daily newspaper
* The Cedar Falls Times, weekly newspaper

Music

The underground music scene in the Cedar Falls area from 1977-2007 is documented on [http://www.thesecrethistory.org/ The Secret History of the Cedar Valley] , a collaborative history of the bands, record labels, and music venues involved in the Cedar Falls music scene.

The Christian Music Festival, Onefest happens every year in the end of December.

The headquarters of American record label Avang Music is also located in Cedar Falls.

Notable natives

Actors

* Annabeth Gish -- actress
* Gary Kroeger -- actor, Saturday Night Live 1982-1985
* Mark Steines -- co-host, Entertainment Tonight, alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa
* Joe Trotter -- actor/comedian, Andersonville
* Tracy Ryan -- adult film star

Athletes

* Kurt Warner -- NFL quarterback, played for the St. Louis Rams and New York Giants, currently on the Arizona Cardinals; a University of Northern Iowa alumnus
* Aaron Kampman -- NFL defensive end with the Green Bay Packers
* Don Denkinger -- umpire that made a controversial call in the 1985 World Series
*Bryce Paup-- NFL

Musicians

* Karen Holvik -- classical soprano, currently on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music, former professor at UNI
* House of Large Sizes -- an alternative rock band
* Bill Stewart -- jazz drummer and composer, attended UNI
* Bob Dorr -- founder, [http://www.theblueband.com The Blue Band] . Bob Dorr also produces a rock music history program called Backtracks for KUNI (FM)

Politicians

* Jon Crews -- Current Mayor of Cedar Falls
* Chuck Grassley -- Current U.S. Senator, attended UNI
* Gil Gutknecht -- Former Minnesota congressman
* Roger Jepsen -- Former U.S. Senator

Writers

* Bess Streeter Aldrich (1881-1954) -- author of several novels
* R.V. Cassill -- novelist and short story writer
* Nancy Price -- author of Sleeping With the Enemy
* Leland Sage -- Professor at UNI and famous writer
* Robert James Waller -- author of The Bridges of Madison County
* Mary Potter Kenyon -- author of Homeschooling From Scratch And freelance writer

Misc.

* Marc Andreessen -- Co-founder, Netscape Corporation
* Randy & Vicki Weaver -- Parents, John Deere Employee, Ruby Ridge incident

Education

Besides holding one of the three Iowa public universities, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls is home to three high schools. The Northern University High School, a private school run by the university, Valley Lutheran High School, a private Christian school, and Cedar Falls High School, which is part of the public school district, Cedar Falls Community Schools, which also includes two junior high schools and six elementary schools.

In 2000, the for-profit Hamilton College established its sixth campus of seven in Cedar Falls by acquiring the American Institute of Commerce.

Points of interest

* University of Northern Iowa
* University of Northern Iowa Teaching and Research Greenhouse
* The Cedar Falls/Waterloo metro area boasts an amazing 80+ miles of paved bike trails.

References

* Brian C. Collins. "Images of America: Cedar Falls, Iowa." [http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=0738545821 Arcadia Publishing, Inc.] 1998. ISBN 0-7524-1358-9 ISBN 0-7385-4582-1

External links

* [http://www.ci.cedar-falls.ia.us/ Official City Website]
* [http://www.cedarfallstourism.org/ Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.cedarfallspubliclibrary.org/ Cedar Falls Public Library]
* [http://www.cedarfalls.org/ Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.thecregproject.org Cedar River Environmental Group]
* [http://www.bobolinkbooks.com/Iowa/jphome.html John Page: Cedar River Series]