Real Estate Directory - Kansas

Population: 2,954,451 (2004)
Capital city/population: Des Moines (196,093)
Largest cities/population:

  • Des Moines - 196,093
  • Cedar Rapids - 122,542
  • Davenport - 97,512
  • Sioux City - 83,876

All figures in this part & second line down are 2005

Iowa is the 26th largest state, with a total area of 56,276 square miles. The state experiences extremes of both heat and cold; the average annual temperature in Des Moines is 50ºF, and winters in the capital bring an average of 36.3” per season. Summers are humid, with daytime temperatures sometimes reaching 100ºF. Iowa is also home to several famous Americans. Herbert Hoover, the 31st president, was born in West Branch Iowa, where he is also buried. The 40th president, Ronald Reagan, worked at Davenport’s radio station as a sports announcer. Film actor John Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa, in 1907.

HOUSING

Des Moines – The market has slowed since summer, with current homes for sale ranging from $16,000 - $2,500,000. In the county, the average home price is $202,000, with an average of 117 days on the market. In the city, there is a slowing of new construction, with average prices of $132,000, and approximately 97 days on the market. Average condominium price is $148,000. New construction in the downtown area has provided new condominium projects in a wide range of prices.

Cedar Rapids – In a good buyer’s market, homes priced up to $120,000 are still available, while homes priced over $250,000 have depreciated, allowing buyers to realize good home deals. Cedar Rapids is a growing community with several colleges and a wide array of entertainment and employment opportunities.

Davenport – Single-family homes are selling for approximately 98% of the list price, remaining on the market for an average of 60 days. Compared to national trends, home affordability in this community is solid. Davenport is part of the Quad Cities (Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa; Rock Island and Moline in Illinois) and is experiencing a slowdown in agriculture due to low yields.

Sioux City – The county has a total of 6,576 housing units, with an average home price of $103,994. Average price for rental units is $297, with 19% of the housing market taken up by these units. Single-family, owner-occupied homes account for 76% of the market. The area boasts several event arenas, a Promenade Theatre, and River Museum, as well as many sporting opportunities.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

The state’s total gross product for 2003 was $103 billion, with a per capita income of $28,340. Main agricultural products are hogs, corn, soybeans, oats, cattle, and dairy products. Industrial outputs include machinery, electrical equipment, chemical products, publishing, and primary metals. The state also produces the nation’s largest amount of ethanol, as well as being a center for the insurance industry. John Deere, a manufacturer of lawn and farming equipment, is headquartered in the state.

SCHOOLS

Iowa has many colleges and junior colleges: University of Iowa – Iowa City; the Iowa State University of Science and Technology – Ames, and the University of Northern Iowa – Cedar Falls. Other universities include Drake University, Morningside College, Luther College, Loras College, Wartburg College, Cornell College, and Iowa Wesleyan.

In the public sector, 1994 the student-teacher ratio was 15:7, with the average 1995 teachers’ salary at $32,376.

HISTORY

Mound Builders lived in the area in prehistoric times. Europeans first explored the area in the 17th century, when the Iowa, Sac, Fox, and Sioux tribes lived in the area. The United States acquired Iowa as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. By 1838, the Iowa Territory was organized; the following year, Iowa City became the capital. Iowa became a state in 1846 and in that year, the capital was moved to Des Moines.

Much of Iowa’s history has been dominated by agriculture, but the uncertain nature of agricultural prices, combined with a steady decline in the state’s manufacturing industry has left the state susceptible to economic recession. In the 1980s, Iowa was second in the nation in outmigration, with a 4.7% population decline.

RELIGION

The religious affiliations of the people of Iowa are:

  • Christian – 86%
    • Protestant – 62%
      • Lutheran – 17%
      • Methodist – 14%
      • Baptist – 5%
      • Presbyterian – 3%
      • Reformed – 2%
      • Congregational/United Church of Christ – 2%
      • Other Protestant or general Protestant – 19%
    • Roman Catholic – 23%
    • Other Christian – 1%
  • Other Religions – <1%
  • Non-Religious – 14%

DEMOGRAPHICS (2004)

The racial makeup of the state is:

  • White non-Hispanic - 92.6%
  • Black - 2.1%
  • Hispanic - 2.8%
  • Asian - 1.3%
  • Native American - 0.3%
  • Mixed race - 1.1%

The five largest ancestry groups in Iowa are:

  • German - 35.7%
  • Irish -13.5%
  • English - 9.5%
  • American -6.6%)
  • Norwegian - 5.7%