Ayrshire, Iowa

Coordinates: 43°2′19″N 94°50′5″W / 43.03861°N 94.83472°W / 43.03861; -94.83472
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Ayrshire, Iowa
City
Location of Ayrshire, Iowa
Location of Ayrshire, Iowa
Coordinates: 43°2′19″N 94°50′5″W / 43.03861°N 94.83472°W / 43.03861; -94.83472
Country United States
State Iowa
CountyPalo Alto
Area
 • Total0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2)
 • Land0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,319 ft (402 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total133
 • Density615.74/sq mi (237.81/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
50515
Area code712
FIPS code19-04105
GNIS feature ID0454296

Ayrshire (/ˈɛərʃər/)[2] is a city in Palo Alto County, Iowa, United States. The population was 133 at the 2020 census.[3]

History[edit]

In the 1880s the Des Moines and Fort Dodge Railroad (later part of Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway), having reached Fort Dodge, began building to the northwest. In October 1882 the rails reached the location of Ayrshire, and a depot was built the following month. The railroad had acquired 80 acres for a townsite, and by 1883 several businesses had been established.[4]

Ayrshire was incorporated on September 20, 1895.

At one time it had two banks, two grocery stores, blacksmith shop, livery stable, creamery, hotel, at least two barber shops; Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist and Baptist churches; five gas stations, grain elevator, two cafes, a locker plant, a pharmacy, a lumber yard, two beer halls and several other businesses. It had both a Catholic and a public high school. The Catholic high school closed in 1947. The lower grades closed in 1968. The public school closed in the spring of 1982. The public school mascot was the Ayrshire Beavers.

In 1972, the town drew national attention for having the youngest mayor in America. Jody Smith was nineteen when he was elected mayor.[5]

The rail line, by then part of the Chicago and North Western Railway, was abandoned in the 1980s, and torn up.[6]

The town celebrated its Quasquicentennial in 2007.[7]

Geography[edit]

Ayrshire is located at 43°2′19″N 94°50′5″W / 43.03861°N 94.83472°W / 43.03861; -94.83472 (43.038506, -94.834712).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.21 square miles (0.54 km2), all land.[9]

Demographics[edit]

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1900329—    
1910337+2.4%
1920361+7.1%
1930343−5.0%
1940391+14.0%
1950334−14.6%
1960298−10.8%
1970243−18.5%
1980243+0.0%
1990195−19.8%
2000202+3.6%
2010143−29.2%
2020133−7.0%
Source:"U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2020. and Iowa Data Center
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[10][3]
The population of Ayrshire, Iowa from US census data
The population of Ayrshire, Iowa from US census data

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 143 people, 75 households, and 34 families residing in the city. The population density was 681.0 inhabitants per square mile (262.9/km2). There were 95 housing units at an average density of 452.4 per square mile (174.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% White.

There were 75 households, of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 54.7% were non-families. 52.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 48.8 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.2% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 25.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.4% male and 47.6% female.

2000 census[edit]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 202 people, 89 households, and 55 families residing in the city. The population density was 970.6 inhabitants per square mile (374.8/km2). There were 98 housing units at an average density of 470.9 per square mile (181.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White.

There were 89 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $30,893. Males had a median income of $26,750 versus $15,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,371. None of the families and 4.8% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 7.1% of those over 64.

Population trends[edit]

The number of residents decreased from 202 in 2000 to 143 in the 2010 census, less than half the population a century earlier, 329 in 1900 and 337 in 1910.[13]

Education[edit]

Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District serves the community. It was a part of the Ayrshire Community School District until July 1, 1983, when it merged into Ruthven-Ayrshire.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. ^ Sherman, Barney (September 14, 2017). "Iowa Place Names: A-E". Iowa Public Radio. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  4. ^ McCarty, Dwight D. History of Palo Alto County Iowa, p. 154. The Torch Press (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), 1910.
  5. ^ "I was a teenage mayor," Time. Monday, April 24, 1972.
  6. ^ Chronology of Iowa's Railroad Abandonments, Iowa Department of Transportation
  7. ^ "Ayrshire Quasquicentennial". Nortwhwest Web Solutions. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ Thirteenth Census of the United States taken in the year 1910, Vol. II "Population 1910", p. 599. U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census.
  14. ^ "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66 Archived February 9, 2019, at the Wayback Machine." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on July 20, 2018.

External links[edit]