Villisca, Iowa

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Villisca, Iowa
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Villisca, Iowa


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Montgomery
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.9
area_land_km2 = 4.9
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.9
area_land_sq_mi = 1.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1344
population_density_km2 = 271.8
population_density_sq_mi = 703.9

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 328
elevation_ft = 1076
latd = 40 |latm = 55 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 58 |longs = 41 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 50864
area_code = 712
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 19-80985
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0462574
website =
footnotes =

Villisca is a city in Montgomery County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,344 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Villisca is located at coor dms|40|55|45|N|94|58|41|W|city (40.929115, -94.978162)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,344 people, 576 households, and 347 families residing in the city. The population density was 703.9 people per square mile (271.7/km²). There were 636 housing units at an average density of 333.1/sq mi (128.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.81% White, 0.07% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 576 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,694, and the median income for a family was $34,345. Males had a median income of $28,500 versus $20,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,067. About 9.3% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Villisca murders

Villisca is the site of what was arguably one of the most notorious unsolved murders in US history. On June 10, 1912, six members of the Moore family and two young houseguests were killed with an axe by an unknown assailant. The case has inspired two published books - Roy Marshall's "Villisca" and Stephen Bowman's fictionalized "Morning Ran Red". Several motion picture projects were also made, including an extensively researched award-winning historical documentary by Kelly and Tammy Rundle entitled "Villisca: Living with a Mystery" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428019/] , released theatrically in 2004, with national release in the fall of 2006; and "Haunting Villisca" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458386/] , a narrative project by AriesWorks Entertainment which recently premiered in Villisca. "Haunting Villisca" combines a fictionalized present-day scenario with scenes suggested by courtroom transcripts, folklore and current paranormal investigations of the house where the murders occurred.

References

External links

* [http://www.villiscahistory.org City history]
* [http://www.villiscaiowa.com website on the murder site]
* [http://www.villiscamovie.com Documentary on the murders]