Altoona, Iowa
| Altoona, Iowa | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Location of Altoona, Iowa |
|
| Coordinates: 41°39′0″N 93°28′21″W / 41.65000°N 93.47250°WCoordinates: 41°39′0″N 93°28′21″W / 41.65000°N 93.47250°W | |
| Country | USA |
| State |
 Iowa
|
| County | Polk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.35 sq mi (24.22 km2) |
| • Land | 9.35 sq mi (24.22 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 955 ft (291 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 14,541 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 15,409 |
| • Rank | 26th in Iowa |
| • Density | 1,555.2/sq mi (600.5/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 50009 |
| Area code(s) | 515 |
| FIPS code | 19-01630 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0454160 |
Altoona is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States and is a part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,541 at the 2010 census.
Altoona is home of Adventureland, an amusement park, Prairie Meadows, a horse racing track and casino, and a Bass Pro Shops retail store, the first one in central Iowa.
Anthony Yant first settled in what is now Altoona in 1854, the same year that Gilbert T. Taylor settled there. The land was originally surveyed in 1847 and put up for sale by the US government in 1848, but it took six years to sell. After many different sales between different families, the Davis family ended up with the land on February 1, 1868.
The Davises hired surveyor Juian B. Bausman to lay out the city for them. He is also credited for giving the city the current name. Altoona is named for the Latin word for "high," altus, after surveyor Julian B. Bausman discovered that Altoona was the highest point on the Des Moines Valley Railroad between Des Moines and Keokuk.
The plot was recorded on July 30, 1868, and the Post office opened the next day. When the Rock Island Railroad came to Altoona in September of that year, they referred to Altoona as Yant, the city's original name.
Altoona was incorporated as a city on March 11, 1876.
In addition to serving as Altoona's first mayor, Emory English was the town doctor. After the great train crash of 1877, English was the first doctor on the scene.
Altoona’s second mayor Thomas Haines was one of the best known mayors of Altoona. Haines operated the T.E. Haines tile and brick company. Haines is best known for the land he donated to the City of Altoona to be used as a city park, which is known as Haines Park.
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