Colo, Iowa

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Colo, Iowa |settlement_type = City |motto = "A place to call home" |image_skyline = Colo_Iowa_20090816_Welcome_Sign.JPG |imagesize = 250px |image_caption = Colo welcome sign |image_map = Story_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Colo_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location of Colo, Iowa  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = Iowa |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Story  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |established_title = |established_date =  |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_19.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref> |area_total_km2 = 2.76 |area_land_km2 = 2.76 |area_water_km2 = 0.00 |area_total_sq_mi = 1.06 |area_land_sq_mi = 1.06 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.00  |population_as_of = 2020 |population_footnotes = |population_total = 845 |population_density_km2 = 306.43 |population_density_sq_mi = 793.43  |timezone = Central (CST) |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 1030 |coordinates = {{coord|42|00|52|N|93|19|07|W|region:US-IA|display=inline,title}}  |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 50056 |area_code = 641 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 19-15240 |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2393600<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393600}}</ref> |website = [https://www.cityofcolo.com/ City of Colo] |footnotes = }} '''Colo''' is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States. The population was 845 at the 2020 census.<ref name=cen2020>{{cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref> The town is home to the "Crossroads of the Nation" as Lincoln Highway and Jefferson Highway intersect at Colo.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Home {{!}} City of Colo | url=https://www.cityofcolo.com/ | access-date=2026-05-14 | website=www.cityofcolo.com}}</ref> It is part of the Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a part of the larger Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area.

==History== Settlement of the area which would become Colo began in 1856 when the small village of New Albany was founded. By the early 1860s the railroad reached the area with the first train station in Story County being built in the community in 1863.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoonover |first=Eldon |date=May 1, 1968 |title=Colo, "Crossroads of the Nation" Junction Highways 30 & 65 |url=https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/907/Colo1968?bidId= |website=Story County Iowa}}</ref> Colo would be incorporated on April 26, 1876 and would take its name from the dog of railroad official John Blair. Reportedly Colo the dog succumbed to a grisly fate as it was crushed by a train that was carrying construction material.<ref>{{cite book|author=Chicago and North Western Railway Company|title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA58|year=1908|page=58}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Moyer|first1=Armond|last2=Moyer|first2=Winifred|title=The origins of unusual place-names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058322223;view=1up;seq=30|year=1958|publisher=Keystone Pub. Associates|page=26}}</ref> The community would see an influx of visitors in the 1920s and 1930s with the completion of the Lincoln and Jefferson highways which intersect in Colo at the Reed/Niland Corner.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.traveliowa.com/trails/jefferson-highway-heritage-byway/99/ | title=Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway | Byway | Travel Iowa }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.iowalincolnhighway.com/counties/story-2/ | title=Story – Iowa Lincoln Highway Association }}</ref>

==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|1.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref>{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

===Climate=== {{Weather box  | single line = Y | collapsed = Y | location = Colo, Iowa (1991–2020)  | Jan high F =26.9 | Feb high F =31.4 | Mar high F =45.0 | Apr high F =59.2 | May high F =70.4 | Jun high F =79.8 | Jul high F =83.0 | Aug high F =81.0 | Sep high F =75.0 | Oct high F =62.0 | Nov high F =45.7 | Dec high F =32.2  | Jan mean F =18.4 | Feb mean F =22.6 | Mar mean F =35.3 | Apr mean F =48.1 | May mean F =59.8 | Jun mean F =70.0 | Jul mean F =73.2 | Aug mean F =71.1 | Sep mean F =63.4 | Oct mean F =50.6 | Nov mean F =36.5 | Dec mean F =24.1  | Jan low F =9.8 | Feb low F =13.9 | Mar low F =25.7 | Apr low F =37.0 | May low F =49.2 | Jun low F =60.2 | Jul low F =63.3 | Aug low F =61.3 | Sep low F =51.9 | Oct low F =39.3 | Nov low F =27.2 | Dec low F =16.1  | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch =0.95 | Feb precipitation inch =1.20 | Mar precipitation inch =2.01 | Apr precipitation inch =3.48 | May precipitation inch =4.81 | Jun precipitation inch =5.78 | Jul precipitation inch =4.32 | Aug precipitation inch =4.22 | Sep precipitation inch =3.37 | Oct precipitation inch =2.74 | Nov precipitation inch =2.04 | Dec precipitation inch =1.54  | Jan snow inch =7.4 | Feb snow inch =7.6 | Mar snow inch =4.5 | Apr snow inch =1.7 | May snow inch =0.0 | Jun snow inch =0.0 | Jul snow inch =0.0 | Aug snow inch =0.0 | Sep snow inch =0.0 | Oct snow inch =0.7 | Nov snow inch =1.9 | Dec snow inch =6.8  | source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00131710 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-03-30 }}</ref> }}

==Demographics== {{Historical populations |title= Historical populations |type= USA |align= left |1870|226 |1880|296 |1890|261 |1900|391 |1910|463 |1920|507 |1930|532 |1940|539 |1950|538 |1960|574 |1970|606 |1980|808 |1990|771 |2000|868 |2010|876 |2020|845 |source={{center|U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name=cen2020/>}}|footnote=Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|title=U.S. Census website|access-date=2020-03-29}} and [http://data.iowadatacenter.org/datatables/PlacesAll/plpopulation18502000.pdf Iowa Data Center] }}

===2020 census=== As of the census of 2020,<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-census-main.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 845 people, 344 households, and 228 families residing in the city. The population density was 793.6 inhabitants per square mile (306.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 367 housing units at an average density of 344.7 per square mile (133.1/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.

Of the 344 households, 29.1% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 9.9% were cohabitating couples, 20.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 16.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 33.7% of all households were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 41.0 years. 26.4% of the residents were under the age of 20; 3.7% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 and 44; 29.2% were from 45 and 64; and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

===2010 census=== As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2012-05-11}}</ref> of 2010, there were 876 people, 348 households, and 252 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|826.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 370 housing units at an average density of {{convert|349.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.6% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 348 households, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.6% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 40.9 years. 26.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

===2000 census=== As of the census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 868 people, 339 households, and 248 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,121.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 354 housing units at an average density of {{convert|457.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.70% White, 0.92% African American, 0.46% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.

There were 339 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.

27.6% are under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,711, and the median income for a family was $48,438. Males had a median income of $33,500 versus $24,091 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,173. About 2.8% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Parks and recreation== Located near Colo is Hickory Grove Park, Story County's largest recreational, fishing, and swimming area with 445 acres, including a {{convert|98|acre|m2|adj=on}} lake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storycounty.com/index.aspx?DN=395,390,15,6,1,Documents|title=Story County Conservation|publisher= Story County, Iowa|accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> Hickory Grove was used as a filming location in the 1996 disaster film, Twister.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hickory Grove to be scene in Twister |author=Brown, Byron R. |date=July 26, 1995 |publisher=The Daily Tribune |url=https://ames.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=twister%20hickory%20grove&i=f&by=1995&bdd=1990&d=01011995-12311995&m=between&ord=k1&fn=daily_tribune_usa_iowa_ames_19950726_english_1&df=1&dt=7&cid=2729 |access-date=2025-03-31 |page=A1 |website=ames.advantage-preservation.com}}</ref>

East of Colo, along the Lincoln Highway, lies the Colo Bogs, which drains into the Iowa River just east of Marshalltown.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://avian.lib.iastate.edu/places/1025/view | title=Colo Bogs Wildlife Management Area • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online }}</ref>

thumb|Hickory Grove Park as of 2017

==Education== The community is within the Colo–NESCO Community School District.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_COLO-NESCO%20SCHOOL.pdf|title=Colo-Nesco|publisher=Iowa Department of Education|accessdate=2020-03-25}}</ref> The district was established on July 1, 1987, by the merger of the Colo and NESCO school districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/District%20Reorganization%20History%20final.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124738/https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/District%20Reorganization%20History%20final.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-02-09|title=REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66|publisher=Iowa Department of Education|accessdate=2020-03-22}}</ref> The district operates an elementary school in Zearing and a middle and high school in Colo.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.colonesco.org/|title= Colo-NESCO Community School District|publisher= Colo-NESCO|accessdate= September 28, 2022}}</ref>

As of the 2024-2025 academic year, the district has 385 students.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Search for Public School Districts - District Detail for | url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&ID2=1907920&DistrictID=1907920&details=1 | access-date=2026-05-14 | website=nces.ed.gov}}</ref>

[[File:Motel and cafe in Colo, Iowa.jpg|thumb|Historic Reed/Niland Corner found on the intersection of U.S Route 30 and U.S Route 65.]]

==Infrastructure== ===Transportation=== Colo is located at the intersection of the historic Lincoln and Jefferson highways. The intersection is marked by the historic complex of Reed/Niland Corner, which includes a diner, vintage gas station, motel, and small park. It is one of only a few "one-stop" gas station complexes remaining along the Lincoln Highway. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.traveliowa.com/places/reed-niland-corner/2290/ | title=Reed/Niland Corner | Colo, Iowa | Travel Iowa }}</ref>

For modern-day travelers, Colo lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 (halfway between Ames and Marshalltown), and U.S. Route 65 (halfway between Des Moines and Iowa Falls).

The Overland Route of the Union Pacific Railroad runs through Colo, splitting the town in half. The community is within the Clinton Subdivision portion of the route.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.up.com/aboutup/reference/maps/ | title=Maps of the Union Pacific }}</ref>

==Notable people== * John Darnielle, musician and novelist. Founder of the band The Mountain Goats. Lived and worked in Colo.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://annotatedtmg.org/coroner.html | title=The Annotated Mountain Goats: The Coroner's Gambit }}</ref> *Michael Fitzgerald, longest serving state Treasurer in United States history (1983-2023)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.iowatreasurer.gov/the-treasurers-office|title= Meet Michael L. Fitzgerald|publisher= The Treasurers Office of Iowa|accessdate= September 28, 2022}}</ref> * Robert Lounsberry, 11th Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa from 1973-1987<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/43581513/obituary-for-robert-lounsberry-aged-82/ | title=Obituary for ROBERT LOUNSBERRY (Aged 82) | newspaper=The Des Moines Register | date=February 13, 2001 | page=15 }}</ref> * Jim Lounsbury, Host of early rock and roll radio programs <ref>{{cite web | title=The Aristocrat Label | url=https://campber.people.clemson.edu/aristocrat.html }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons}} {{Portal|Iowa}}

Category:Cities in Iowa Category:Cities in Story County, Iowa Category:1876 establishments in Iowa Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1876