Iola

History

The history of Iola began in 1859. After the location of the county seat at Humboldt, by the legislature of 1858, there was a great deal of dissatisfaction among the residents of the central and northern parts of the county, and a number of citizens selected the present site of Iola, with the intention of ultimately securing the county seat. On January 1, 1859, a large meeting was held at the Deer Creek schoolhouse. The meeting decided to organize a town company, which was immediately done. A constitution was then adopted, and officers were elected. The officers of the company after due consideration of different points selected a site for the proposed town, about two miles (3 km) north of Cofachique, at the confluence of Elm Creek and the Neosho River. The site was owned in part by J.F. Colborn and W.H. Cochrane. The claims on two quarter-sections were bought, and were soon after surveyed into lots.

The town company worked to get the town started. A meeting was held to choose a name. Several were proposed, and the choice was determined by ballot. The name Iola, the Christian name of J.F. Colborn's wife, was proposed. As a result of the vote, this name was chosen. Meetings of the company were held every week during the first year, and efforts made to induce settlement. By the close of the year a number of lots had been disposed of, several buildings erected, and other improvements made, as all who bought lots were required to make some improvements at once. The residents of Cofachique, despairing of making their town a success, joined with Iola, and most of them moved to the new site, all working together in the endeavor to secure the location of the county seat at once.

The first building on the town site was a small log cabin owned by D.B. Bayne. Late in 1859, he built a frame house addition to it. The first building erected after the town was surveyed was a dwelling completed early in June, 1859, by J.F. Colborn, who had lived on the claim of which the town site formed a part, since 1857. On the completion of the house, Colborn and his family moved into it, thus being the first settlers in the town of Iola. The first birth in Iola was that of Luella E. Colborn.

About 1859 a stone building was built to become the town's headquarters in the event of troubles with Indians or Bushwhackers. When the Civil War erupted in 1861, the building and the block on which it stood were fortified, becoming Iola's fort. The fort served both the local militia and Army troops throughout the War.

Geography

Iola is situated along the eastern bank of the Neosho River between Deer Creek, to the north, and Rock Creek, to the south, with Coon Creek flowing through the city. Important natural gas fields are in the vicinity. U.S. Route 54 passes through Iola along Madison Street and interchanges with U.S. Route 169, which passes by the east side of the city. The smaller cities of Gas and La Harpe are a few miles to the east along US-54. The tiny city of Bassett lies adjacent to Iola's southern border, and the city of Humboldt is approximately 7 miles (11 km) to the south along US-169.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.81 square miles (12.46 km2), of which 4.54 square miles (11.76 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.70 km2) is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Iola has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Iola had a population of 5,396, with 2,291 households and 1,254 families. The population density was 1,208.5 per square mile (466.6/km2). There were 2,679 housing units at an average density of 600.0 per square mile (231.7/km2).

Of the 2,291 households, 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. About 35.7% were married-couple households, 22.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 2.9.

The median age was 37.7 years. 21.0% of residents were under age 18, 13.4% were from 18 to 24, 23.4% were from 25 to 44, 22.4% were from 45 to 64, and 19.8% were age 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

Of housing units, 14.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.2%. 97.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.2% lived in rural areas.

The non-Hispanic White share of the population was 84.71%.

Educational attainment

The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that 13.6% of the population had a bachelor's degree or higher.

Income and poverty

The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $39,107 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,420) and the median family income was $51,190 (+/- $4,565). Males had a median income of $29,063 (+/- $5,824) versus $21,881 (+/- $1,940) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $24,072 (+/- $4,959). Approximately, 16.7% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.0% of those under the age of 18 and 3.1% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,704 people, 2,357 households, and 1,418 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,256.4 inhabitants per square mile (485.1/km2). There were 2,636 housing units at an average density of 580.6 per square mile (224.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, 3.3% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 2,357 households, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 36 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 23.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

Culture

Iola hosts its annual Farm City Days in mid-October, a celebration which involves a parade and carnival. The origins of this event go back to 1971 when Stanley Dreher, Gary Parker, and Leon Catron began an effort to bring townspeople out to the farm. The purpose of the event is to show appreciation to its farm-town qualities.

Education

Primary and secondary

The community is served by Iola USD 257 public school district, home of the 2006 Kansas 4A Girls State Basketball Champions.

Colleges and universities

Allen Community College

Transportation

Bus service is provided northward towards Kansas City, Missouri and southward towards Tulsa, Oklahoma by Jefferson Lines (subcontractor of Greyhound Lines).

Allen County Airport is three miles south of the city. Domestic bus and rail service have been discontinued over the years.

Media

Newspapers

Iola Register is published weekdays and Saturday. Its journalistic style is unusual among small-town newspapers for focusing on accountability.

Radio Stations

KIKS 101.5 FM and KIOL 1370 AM are 24 hour radio stations.

Notable people

Johnny Adams, jockey and racehorse trainer, born in Carlisle, Arkansas but raised in Iola

D. D. Crabb, rancher and Arizona State Senator

Dean Hargrove, television producer, writer, and director, specializes in creating mystery series

Vicki Lasseter, February 1981 Playboy Playmate of the Month

Lila Leeds, actress, born in Iola

Lillian Hoxie Picken, educator and textbook editor

William Newbury, mayor of Iola in the first half of 1870, and later mayor of Portland, Oregon

Randy Stuart, actress

David Toland, secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce and Lieutenant Governor of Kansas

J. Roger Beatty, research fellow for the B. F. Goodrich company.