Eldon today is a regionaltourist spot with tourists coming to see the American Gothic House, the Historic Rock Island Railway depot, and the Historic McHaffey Opera House.[5]
History
Main Street around 1910
Eldon got its start in the year 1870, after construction of the Keokuk and Des Moines Railway through the territory.[6] It was incorporated in 1872.[7]
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.[8]
Eldon is also the home of the Wapello County Fair which started in 1868. [9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 1.12 square miles (2.90 km2), of which 1.11 square miles (2.87 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2; 2.59 ha) is water.[11]
At the 2010 census 927 people, 406 households, and 260 families were living in the city. About 835.1 inhabitants lived there per square mile (322.4/km2). The 448 houses had a density of 403.6 per square mile (155.8/km2). The racial makeup 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%.[13][source?]
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 median household size was 2.28, and the average family size was 2.84.[source?]
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.[source?]
2000 census
Aerial photo of Eldon (2013).
At the 2000 census 998 people, 438 households, and 275 families lived in the city. The population density was 884.3 inhabitants per square mile (341.4/km2). The 470 houses had an average density of 416.5 per square mile (160.8/km2). 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%.[14][source?]
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.[source?]
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.[source?]
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.[source?]
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