A post office has been in operation in Camanche since 1837.[4] The community was named after the Comanche Native American tribe.[5]
1860 tornado
On Sunday, June 3, 1860, an F4tornado struck Camanche. Few buildings were left standing, and all structures were badly damaged. The storm moved at 50 mph. The lack of an organized way to report weather events left people living along the Mississippi River vulnerable. A raft carrying 26 men was hit outside Camanche, and only three on board survived.[6] The tornado killed a total of 92 people, including at least 41 in Camanche. The outbreak as a whole killed more than 140 people in just a few hours and injured over 300.[7][8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.43 square miles (24.42 km2), of which 8.68 square miles (22.48 km2) is land and 0.75 square miles (1.94 km2) is water.[10]
The population of Camanche, Iowa from US census data
2020 census
As of the census of 2020,[13] there were 4,570 people, 1,952 households, and 1,224 families residing in the city. The population density was 514.6 inhabitants per square mile (198.7/km2). There were 2,076 housing units at an average density of 233.8 per square mile (90.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.4% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.4% of the population.
Of the 1,952 households, 26.1% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 8.4% were cohabitating couples, 23.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 18.8% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 37.3% of all households were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the city was 44.9 years. 23.8% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.0% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 and 44; 27.1% were from 45 and 64; and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.
2010 census
As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 4,448 people, 1,918 households, and 1,249 families residing in the city. The population density was 512.4 inhabitants per square mile (197.8/km2). There were 2,010 housing units at an average density of 231.6 per square mile (89.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.6% White, 0.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.
There were 1,918 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the city was 43.7 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.9% were from 25 to 44; 30.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
2000 census
As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 4,215 people, 1,781 households, and 1,241 families residing in the city. The population density was 483.1 inhabitants per square mile (186.5/km2). There were 1,870 housing units at an average density of 214.3 per square mile (82.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.96% White, 0.55% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 1,781 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85.
22.9% are under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,575, and the median income for a family was $58,583. Males had a median income of $42,324 versus $22,904 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,456. About 4.3% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
^Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant tornadoes, 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films. p. 566. ISBN1-879362-03-1.
