Sperry, Iowa Explained

Sperry, Iowa
Settlement Type:Census-designated place
Pushpin Map:USA Iowa#USA
Pushpin Label:Sperry
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Iowa
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Iowa
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Des Moines
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:5.80
Area Land Km2:5.79
Area Water Km2:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:124
Population Density Km2:21.40
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:751
Coordinates:40.9569°N -91.1567°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:52650
Area Code:319
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:19-74325
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:461847
Area Total Sq Mi:2.24
Area Land Sq Mi:2.24
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population Density Sq Mi:55.43

Sperry is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in central Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. It lies along local roads north of the city of Burlington, the county seat of Des Moines County.[2] Its elevation is 751 feet (229 m). Although Sperry is unincorporated, it has a post office with the ZIP code of 52650,[3] which opened on 5 February 1870.

The community is part of the Burlington, IA - IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,[4] there were 124 people, 52 households, and 44 families residing in the community. The population density was 55.4 inhabitants per square mile (21.4/km2). There were 52 housing units at an average density of 23.2 per square mile (9.0/km2). The racial makeup of the community was 98.4% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.0% from other races and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 0.0% of the population.

Of the 52 households, 19.2% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.1% were married couples living together, 3.8% were cohabitating couples, 17.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 5.8% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 15.4% of all households were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals, 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the community was 43.3 years. 25.0% of the residents were under the age of 20; 2.4% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 and 44; 22.6% were from 45 and 64; and 25.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the community was 37.9% male and 62.1% female.

History

Sperry got its start in the year 1869, when John M. Sperry settled there and opened a post office.[5]

Sperry was a station stop on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway later a part of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad; construction of the line began in 1869. This line was also used by the Burlington and Northwestern Railway system, later part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. All service on the line by both the Rock Island and Burlington systems ended in 1980.

Sperry's population was 88 in 1902,[6] and 75 in 1925.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. March 16, 2022.
  2. Rand McNally. The Road Atlas '08. Chicago: Rand McNally, 2008, p. 39.
  3. http://www.zipinfo.com/cgi-local/zipsrch.exe?cnty=cnty&zip=52650 Zip Code Lookup
  4. Web site: 2020 Census . United States Census Bureau.
  5. Book: The History of Des Moines County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c . Western Historical Company . 1879. 614.
  6. Book: Cram's Modern Atlas: The New Unrivaled New Census Edition . 1902 . J. R. Gray & Company . 203–207 . en.
  7. Book: Premier Atlas of the World: Containing Maps of All Countries of the World, with the Most Recent Boundary Decisions, and Maps of All the States,territories, and Possessions of the United States with Population Figures from the Latest Official Census Reports, Also Data of Interest Concerning International and Domestic Political Questions . 1925 . Rand McNally & Company . 190 . en.