Long Grove, Iowa

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Long Grove, Iowa
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Long Grove, Iowa


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Scott
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 2.2
area_land_km2 = 2.2
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.8
area_land_sq_mi = 0.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 597
population_metro = 377291 (131^st)
population_density_km2 = 273.1
population_density_sq_mi = 707.2

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 242
elevation_ft = 794
latd = 41 |latm = 41 |lats = 49 |latNS = N
longd = 90 |longm = 35 |longs = 6 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 52756
area_code = 563
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 19-46425
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0458594
website =
footnotes =

Long Grove is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. The population was 597 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Long Grove is located at coor dms|41|41|49|N|90|35|6|W|city (41.696806, -90.584974)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.2 km²), all of it land.

Education

Long Grove is part of the North Scott School District, based in nearby Eldridge. Elementary-aged students from the city and adjoining nearby areas attend Alan Shepard Elementary (named after the astronaut, and opened in 1967). Junior high and high school students are sent to Eldridge to attend North Scott Junior High and North Scott High School, respectively.

Culture

The town's annual celebration represents Long Grove's claim to fame: The Strawberry Festival. Held the second Sunday each June, area strawberry farmers sell strawberries, other produce and crafts at merchant booths throughout town. Strawberry shortcake, ice cream and other food is available throughout the day. Other activities include a parade, the Strawberry Stampede youth fun/competitive fitness footraces, a re-enactment of a 1921 bank robbery (in which the two suspects were killed) and numerous other activities. A street dance takes place on Saturday evening, the day before the festival, as the unofficial kick-off to the event.

Another attraction is the Alexander Brownlie Sod House, on the city's north side. The sod house was built by the Brownlie Brothers dates from Iowa's prairie days of the 1830s. The house, which is open for tours, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Located approximately six miles north and east of Long Grove is the Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village, at the north edge of Scott County Park. The village, a re-creation of an 1860s Scott County cross-roads settlement and stage coach, is made up of 18 historic buildings including an old church, a bank, a train depot and boardwalk of shops. Numerous events are scheduled throughout the year.

Scott County Park, by the way, is a convert|1280|acre|km2|0|sing=on county park that offers numerous amenities and camping facilities.

Civic/Government

Long Grove has a mayor-council form of government, and meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at city hall. The city also has fire and police protection.

Also representing town interests are:
* A park board, which has raised funds for new playground equipment and beautifying the city's parks. Meetings are the third Thursday of each month.
* Plan and Zone Commission, which meets on the third Monday of each month.

Organizations include the Lion Grove Lions Club, the Long Grove Civic League, the Long Grove Sportsman's Club and the Cub Scouts.

History

Long Grove gets its name from the long, narrow strip of timber, which stretched from Walnut Grove (northeast of where Scott County Park now lies) to Allens Grove, several miles to the northwest.

Alexander and James Brownlie came to the area in August 1838, having followed the Mississippi River to the mouth of the Wapsipinicon River, then west along its banks. The two purchased a nearby timber ridge from a man named coats, settling the claim for $160 plus timberland and all the prairie they wished to own. The first log cabin was built shortly thereafter, in a cluster of trees at the east edge of the timber, just south of the original town.

A stage road, from Davenport to DeWitt and Dubuque passed through the village and a blacksmith shop and harness shop once lined the streets.

In the late 1860s, the railroad was extended from Davenport to Long Grove. The town, which had not been platted, was finally platted in the 1890s, though on a very loose basis.

The most infamous incident in the city's history took place in December 1921, with the robbery of the Stockman's Savings Bank. Stories varied on what happened, but what is known for sure is that the two suspects were killed by a posse immediately after they attempted to hold up the bank.

The town remained a quiet farming community for many years, but has seen modern growth in the past 35 years. Along with the opening of Alan Shepard Elementary School, many new homes have been built on all four sides of the town.

Churches

Churches located in or near Long Grove are:
* Long Grove Christian Church.
* St. Ann's Catholic Church, two miles north of the city limits.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 597 people, 205 households, and 175 families residing in the city. The population density was 707.2 people per square mile (274.4/km²). There were 208 housing units at an average density of 246.4/sq mi (95.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.66% White, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.

There were 205 households out of which 46.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.5% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $65,250, and the median income for a family was $68,125. Males had a median income of $44,821 versus $30,156 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,041. About 1.3% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.longgroveia.org City website]