Windsor Heights, Iowa

Windsor Heights is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,860 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Windsor Heights, Iowa
City
Windsor Heights Welcome Sign
Motto(s): 
The heart of it all.
Location in the State of Iowa
Coordinates: 41°36′17″N 93°42′40″W
Country United States
State Iowa
CountyPolk
IncorporatedJuly 19, 1941
Government
 • MayorDave Burgess
Area
 • Total1.43 sq mi (3.70 km2)
 • Land1.43 sq mi (3.70 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
955 ft (291 m)
Population
 • Total4,860
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
4,809
 • Density3,362.94/sq mi (1,298.62/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
50324
Area code(s)515
FIPS code19-86250
GNIS feature ID0463128
Websitehttp://www.windsorheights.org/

History

Windsor Heights incorporated as a city on July 19, 1941. It was named for nearby Windsor Elementary School in Des Moines; the school was named for early settler Henry Clay Windsor, whose family donated land for the school.[4] In 1958 Windsor Heights annexed the neighboring community of Crestwood, which added roughly 1,300 people to the city and established the city's present boundaries.[5]

Although Windsor Heights is primarily a residential community, some "big-box" retailers have opened stores here, including Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and Hy-Vee.

On June 26, 2008, the United States Postal Service gave Windsor Heights its own ZIP code of 50324 that was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2009. Before that, the city shared ZIP codes with neighboring portions of Des Moines and Urbandale.[6]

Windsor Heights speed cameras issued 73,219 tickets over 2017 and 2018, and generate over $1.5 million in fines annually.[7][8]

The city installed two permanent speed cameras within a six-block stretch on University Avenue. Those cameras cover four lanes of traffic and issued tickets to drivers going at least 11 mph over the 25 mph speed limit. On June 21, 2019 the speed limit was increased to 30 mph[9] and on December 2, 2019, the City Council voted to terminate the speed camera program, which resulted in their removal in April of 2020.[10]

Geography

Windsor Heights is located at 41°36′17″N 94°42′40″W (41.604722,-93.711111).[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.41 square miles (3.65 km2), all land.[12]

Windsor Heights is surrounded by other cities: Urbandale to the north, Clive to the west, West Des Moines to the south, and Des Moines to the east. Interstate 235 runs through the far southern part of the city, U.S. Route 6 (Hickman Road) forms the boundary with Urbandale, and Iowa Highway 28 (63rd Street) the boundary with Des Moines.

Windsor Heights is divided into two school districts. Students west of 70th Street attend West Des Moines schools, while students east of 70th Street attend Des Moines schools.

Climate
Climate data for Windsor Heights, Iowa
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 67
(19)		 78
(26)		 91
(33)		 93
(34)		 105
(41)		 103
(39)		 110
(43)		 110
(43)		 101
(38)		 95
(35)		 82
(28)		 69
(21)		 110
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 31
(−1)		 36
(2)		 49
(9)		 62
(17)		 72
(22)		 82
(28)		 86
(30)		 84
(29)		 76
(24)		 63
(17)		 48
(9)		 34
(1)		 60
(16)
Daily mean °F (°C) 23
(−5)		 28
(−2)		 40
(4)		 52
(11)		 62
(17)		 72
(22)		 77
(25)		 75
(24)		 66
(19)		 53
(12)		 40
(4)		 26
(−3)		 51
(11)
Average low °F (°C) 14
(−10)		 19
(−7)		 30
(−1)		 41
(5)		 52
(11)		 62
(17)		 67
(19)		 65
(18)		 55
(13)		 43
(6)		 31
(−1)		 18
(−8)		 41
(5)
Record low °F (°C) −30
(−34)		 −26
(−32)		 −22
(−30)		 9
(−13)		 26
(−3)		 37
(3)		 47
(8)		 40
(4)		 26
(−3)		 7
(−14)		 −10
(−23)		 −22
(−30)		 −30
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.0
(25)		 1.3
(33)		 2.3
(58)		 3.9
(99)		 4.7
(120)		 4.9
(120)		 4.5
(110)		 4.1
(100)		 3.0
(76)		 2.6
(66)		 2.2
(56)		 1.4
(36)		 35.9
(899)
Source: weather.com[13]

Demographics
Historical populations
YearPop.±%
19501,414—    
19604,715+233.5%
19706,303+33.7%
19805,474−13.2%
19905,190−5.2%
20004,805−7.4%
20104,860+1.1%
20194,809−1.0%
Source:"U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-03-29. and Iowa Data Center
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 4,860 people, 2,167 households, and 1,287 families living in the city. The population density was 3,446.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,330.8/km2). There were 2,289 housing units at an average density of 1,623.4 per square mile (626.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.1% White, 3.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of the population.

There were 2,167 households, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.6% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the city was 43 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 4,805 people, 2,163 households, and 1,349 families living in the city. The population density was 3,399.3 people per square mile (1,315.8/km2). There were 2,222 housing units at an average density of 1,572.0 per square mile (608.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.07% White, 1.73% Black, 0.08% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.58% of the population.

There were 2,163 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.77.

19.6% are under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,931, and the median income for a family was $65,536. Males had a median income of $41,218 versus $31,854 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,966. About 2.6% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

West Des Moines Community School District serves a section of Windsor Heights.[16]

The town's Dairy Queen franchise briefly became famous due to a viral tweet by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley who informed his followers "Windsor Heights Dairy Queen is good place for u kno what." Grassley later informed a reporter his tweet referenced the fact that he enjoyed Dairy Queen ice cream.[17][18][19]

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. Henning, Barbara Beving Long; Patrice K. Beam (2003). Des Moines and Polk County: Flag on the Prairie. Sun Valley, California: American Historical Press. ISBN 1-892724-34-0.
  5. Zelenka, Julie (1958-08-24). "Windsor Has Stormy But Proud Past". The Des Moines Register. p. 5-L.
  6. Barton, Tom (2008-06-28). "Postal service will give Windsor Heights 50324 ZIP code". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  7. Donovan, Lauren (2017-10-03). "Controversial speed cameras on track to generate $1.8M in revenue". KCCI.
  8. Cannon, Austin (2019-04-02). "Is Windsor Heights ready to pull the plug on its traffic cameras?". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  9. "Windsor Heights Officially Increases Speed Limit on University Avenue". 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  10. Richardson, Ian. "Windsor Heights will remove its speed cameras in the spring". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  12. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  13. "Monthly Averages for Windsor Heights, Iowa". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  16. "Boundaries and maps." West Des Moines Community School District. Retrieved on November 3, 2018.
  17. Chuck Grassley [@ChuckGrassley] (3 November 2014). "Windsor Heights Dairy Queen is good place for u kno what" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 July 2020 – via Twitter.
  18. Kacyznski, Andrew (7 November 2014). "Senator Grassley Explains His Odd Dairy Queen Tweet". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  19. Stanek, Becca (16 October 2015). "Sen. Chuck Grassley is once again doing 'you know what' at Dairy Queen". The Week. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.