{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Eldon, Iowa | settlement_type = City | motto = | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 280 | perrow = 1/2 | caption_align = center | image1 = American Gothic House - Eldon Iowa (41149620180).jpg | caption1 = American Gothic House |image2 = Eldon Carnegie Public Library (Eldon, Iowa).jpg | caption2 = Eldon Carnegie Library | image3 = McHaffey Opera House (Eldon, Iowa).JPG | caption3 = McHaffey Opera House }} | image_map = Wapello_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Eldon_Highlighted.svg | mapsize = 250x200px | map_caption = Location of Eldon, Iowa <!-- Location --> | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = USA | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Iowa | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Wapello <!-- Government --> | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_title = | established_date = <!-- Area --> | 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 = 2.85 | area_land_km2 = 2.83 | area_water_km2 = 0.02 | area_total_sq_mi = 1.10 | area_land_sq_mi = 1.09 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.01 <!-- Population --> | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 783 | population_density_km2 = 276.36 | population_density_sq_mi = 715.72 <!-- General information --> | timezone = Central (CST) | utc_offset = -6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = -5 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 630 | coordinates = {{coord|40|55|05|N|92|13|05|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} <!-- Area/postal codes and others --> | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 52554 | area_code = 641 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 19-24420 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2394637<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394637}}</ref> | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Eldon''' is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 783 at the time of 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> It is the home of the small Carpenter Gothic style house that served as the backdrop for Grant Wood's 1930 painting, American Gothic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Departments and Officials of Wapello County, Iowa |url=https://www.wapellocounty.org/departments/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.wapellocounty.org |language=en}}</ref>
alt=Main Street, Eldon, Iowa|thumb|Main Street around 1910 Eldon got its start in the year 1870, following construction of the Keokuk and Des Moines Railway through the territory.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SHcUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA283 | title=History of Wapello County, Iowa, Volume 1 | publisher=S. J. Clarke Publishing Company | author=Waterman, Harrison Lyman | year=1914 | pages=283}}</ref> It was incorporated in 1872.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V1M0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA139 | title=History of Wapello County, Iowa, and Representative Citizens | publisher=Higginson Book Company | author=Evans, Samuel B. | year=1901 | pages=139}}</ref>
Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold, who was born in nearby Ottumwa, operated Roseanne and Tom's Big Food Diner in Eldon from 1993 to 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=TV Acres |url=https://www.tvacres.com/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=TV Acres |language=en-US}}</ref>
Eldon is also the home of the Wapello County Fair which began in 1868.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wapello County Fair Eldon, Iowa |url=https://wapellocountyfair.com/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=wapellocountyfair.com}}</ref>
==Geography== thumb|Aerial photo of Eldon (2013) Eldon is located in the southeast corner of Wapello County eleven miles southeast of Ottumwa on the northeast bank of the Des Moines River across the river from the Soap creek confluence. Iowa Highway 16 passes through the community. The Eldon Water Management Area is across the river in adjacent Davis County two miles to the southwest along Soap Creek.<ref>''Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer,'' DeLorme, 7th ed., 2021, pp. 59–60 {{isbn|1946494003}}</ref>
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|1.12|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.11|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm ha|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{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 |access-date=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref>
== Education ==
Eldon is served by the Cardinal Community School District which has its campus 2.5 miles north of the town in rural Wapello County.
Eldon is consolidated with the towns of Agency, Batavia, and the unincorporated communities of Selma and Bladensburg within the Cardinal Community School District.
Cardinal Schools mascot is the "Comet". The Cardinal athletic teams participate in the South Central Conference.
==Demographics== {{stack| {{Historical populations |title= Historical populations |type= USA |align= right |1880|729 |1890|1725 |1900|1850 |1910|2024 |1920|2091 |1930|1788 |1940|1676 |1950|1457 |1960|1386 |1970|1319 |1980|1255 |1990|1070 |2000|998 |2010|927 |2020|783 |source={{center|U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=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] }} }} thumb|right|upright=1.2|alt=The population of Eldon, Iowa from US census data|The population of Eldon, Iowa from US census data
===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 783 people, 361 households, and 210 families residing in the city. The population density was 715.8 inhabitants per square mile (276.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 404 housing units at an average density of 369.3 per square mile (142.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 94.4% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 3.1% of the population.
Of the 361 households, 26.3% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 7.2% were cohabitating couples, 30.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 21.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 41.8% of all households were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the city was 45.3 years. 24.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.0% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 and 44; 27.8% were from 45 and 64; and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
===2010 census=== At the 2010 census 927 people, 406 households, and 260 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|835.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The 448 housing units had an average density of {{convert|403.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makup of the city was 98.4% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1%.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-05-11}}</ref>
Of 406 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 15% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28, and the average family size was 2.84.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
The median age was 42.3 years old. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 19.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
===2000 census=== At the 2000 census 998 people, 438 households, and 275 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|884.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 470 housing units had an average density of {{convert|416.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.20% White, 0.40% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
Of the 438 households 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.7% of households were one person and 18.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
The age distribution was 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} [[File:Grant Wood - American Gothic - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|upright|''American Gothic'' by Grant Wood]]
The median household income was $26,950 and the median family income was $37,250. Males had a median income of $29,261 versus $20,573 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,495. About 11.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
==National Register of Historic Places== In addition to the ''American Gothic'' House, the following properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
*Big 4 Fair Art Hall *Eldon Public Library *McHaffey Opera House
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded --> {{Portal|Iowa}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090618032007/http://www.wapellocounty.org/americangothic/index.htm American Gothic House Center site] Has links to area attractions * [http://www.city-data.com/city/Eldon-Iowa.html City Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Eldon * [http://cardinalcomet.com/ Cardinal Community School District]
{{Wapello County, Iowa}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Cities in Iowa Category:Cities in Wapello County, Iowa Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1870 Category:1870 establishments in Iowa