Mechanicsville, Iowa

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Mechanicsville, Iowa | settlement_type = City | image_skyline = City hall and water tower, Mechanicsville, IA.jpg | imagesize = 200px | image_caption = Mechanicsville city hall and water tower | image_map = Cedar_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Mechanicsville_Highlighted.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location of Mechanicsville, Iowa  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Iowa | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Cedar  | government_footnotes = | government_type = Mayor-council | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Andrew J. Oberbreckling | 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 = 2.14 | area_land_km2 = 2.14 | area_water_km2 = 0.01 | area_total_sq_mi = 0.83 | area_land_sq_mi = 0.82 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00  | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 1020 | population_density_km2 = 477.67 | population_density_sq_mi = 1237.86  | timezone = Central (CST) | utc_offset = -6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = -5 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 899 | coordinates = {{coord|41|54|21|N|91|15|01|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}  | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 52306 | area_code = 563 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 19-50700 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2395079<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395079}}</ref> | website = {{URL|http://www.cityofmechanicsville.net}} | footnotes = }}

'''Mechanicsville''' is a city in Cedar County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,020 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>

==History== Mechanicsville was platted in 1855 by Daniel A. Comstock.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=noQUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA495 | title=The History of Cedar County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, etc. | publisher=Western Historical Company | year=1878 | pages=495}}</ref> It was so named from the fact several of its first settlers were mechanics.<ref>[http://www.cityofmechanicsville.net/Facts%20&%20Landmarks.htm Facts & Landmarks], Mechanicsville. Accessed 2008-10-10.</ref><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=PA101|year=1908|page=101}}</ref> A fire in 1883 destroyed the south side of the business district.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l4QUAAAAYAAJ | title=A Topical History of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume 1 | publisher=S. J. Clarke | author=Aurner, Clarence Ray | year=1910 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l4QUAAAAYAAJ/page/n139 137]}}</ref>

==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.83|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<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|accessdate=2012-05-11|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archivedate=2012-01-25}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{Historical populations |title= Historical populations |align=left |type= USA |1860|195 |1870|628 |1880|545 |1890|612 |1900|703 |1910|817 |1920|812 |1930|781 |1940|821 |1950|850 |1960|866 |1970|989 |1980|1166 |1990|1075 |2000|1173 |2010|1146 |2020|1020 |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|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 2020 census, there were 1,020 people, 459 households, and 279 families residing in the city.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A50700&in=state%3A19|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=May 1, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A50700&in=state%3A19|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=May 1, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> The population density was 1,237.2 inhabitants per square mile (477.7/km<sup>2</sup>). The median age was 48.3 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.8 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A50700&in=state%3A19|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=May 1, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

Of households, 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them. Of all households, 47.5% were married couples living together, 10.5% were cohabitating couples, 19.2% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 22.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 39.2% of all households were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 488 housing units at an average density of 591.9 per square mile (228.5/km<sup>2</sup>), of which 5.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 963 || 94.4% |- | Black or African American || 8 || 0.8% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 5 || 0.5% |- | Asian || 4 || 0.4% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 7 || 0.7% |- | Two or more races || 33 || 3.2% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 31 || 3.0% |}

===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 1,146 people, 471 households, and 315 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1380.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 496 housing units at an average density of {{convert|597.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.8% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 471 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the city was 43.1 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

===2000 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{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 1,173 people, 452 households, and 312 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,582.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 479 housing units at an average density of {{convert|646.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.21% White, 0.09% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.

There were 452 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

25.5% are under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,053, and the median income for a family was $44,500. Males had a median income of $32,054 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,429. About 5.8% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over. ==Education== The North Cedar Community School District serves the community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_NORTH%20CEDAR.pdf|title=North Cedar|publisher=Iowa Department of Education|accessdate=2019-08-02}}</ref> It was established on July 1, 1995, by the merger of the Clarence-Lowden Community School District and the Lincoln Community School District.<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=2019-08-01}}</ref>

==References==

==External links== * [http://www.cityofmechanicsville.net City website]

Category:Cities in Cedar County, Iowa Category:Cities in Iowa Category:1855 establishments in Iowa Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1855