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Boone, IA

Frequently asked questions

Boone, IA

Boone is a city in Des Moines Township, and the county seat of Boone County, Iowa, United States. It is the principal city of the Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Boone County. This micropolitan statistical area, along with the Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area comprises the larger Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area. The population of the city was 12,460 at the 2020 census.

Coal mining played an important part in the early history of the Boone area. Local blacksmiths were already mining coal from the banks of Honey Creek south of what became Boone in 1849. Boone was platted as a town in 1865 by John Insley Blair. It was incorporated the following year when the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company railroad station was built there. The town was originally named "Montana"; it was renamed to Boone in 1871. The nearby town of Boonesboro was also chartered in 1866; Boonesboro was annexed to Boone in 1887. The present name is a tribute to Nathan Boone, son of explorer Daniel Boone.

Commercial mining was spurred by the arrival of the railroad. In 1867, Canfield and Taylor opened a mine just west of town. Their mine shaft was 242 feet deep, and they hauled coal to the railroad by wagon. In 1874, a railroad spur was built to the mine. This mine was taken over by the railroad and operated for 30 years. There were coal seams in the Boone area; the upper vein, about 3 feet thick, was always worked using longwall mining, while the lower vein was always mined using room and pillar mining. In 1912, United Mine Workers Local 869 in Boone had 554 members, close to 10% of the population at the time. 

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.02 square miles (23.36 km²), all land. Ledges State Park is located four miles south of Boone and is a popular destination. 

Boone, IA, offers a variety of health and wellness activities for its residents. Boone County Hospital offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. The Anytime Fitness provides state-of-the-art exercise equipment, personal training, and group classes like yoga, Zumba, and HIIT, catering to all fitness levels. For relaxation, Serenity Couture offers massages, facials, and body treatments in a serene environment. The Des Moines | Y Camp features a modern gym, swimming pool, and wellness programs for all ages, promoting physical fitness and community engagement. Boone County Trails, including the High Trestle Trail, provide ample opportunities for hiking, biking, and running, enhancing outdoor recreation options. Mindful Movement Pilates Studio offers specialized Pilates classes aimed at improving core strength and flexibility. The Ledges State Park is a popular spot for outdoor fitness activities such as hiking and picnicking. 

The top sites in Boone, IA: Tweetsie Railroad, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, and Daniel Boone Native Gardens.

Population: 12,406 (2022). ZIP Codes: 50036. Area code: 515. Elevation: 1,099 ft (335 m). Area: 9.08 sq mi (23.53 km²).

FAQs

Is Boone, IA expensive?

Boone, Iowa gets a BestPlaces Cost of Living score of 79.6, which means the total cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities is 20.4% lower than the U.S. average and 0.6% higher than the average for Iowa. A typical home costs $154,400, which is 54.3% less expensive than the national average of $338,100 and 20.8% less expensive than the average Iowa home, at $194,900. 

What is the crime rate in Boone, IA?

Boone has an overall crime rate of 12 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. According to our analysis of FBI crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of crime in Boone is 1 in 83. How does Boone fare compared to other communities in Iowa of all population sizes? Boone's crime rate is lower than approximately 20% of Iowa communities.

What are the demographics of Boone, IA?

With 12,416 people, Boone is the 33rd most populated city in the state of Iowa out of 1,022 cities. The largest Boone racial/ethnic groups are White (91.6%) followed by Hispanic (3.7%) and Two or More (3.4%). In 2022, the median household income of Boone households was $64,192. Boone households made slightly more than Newell households ($64,167), Greeley households ($64,167), and Lime Springs households ($64,167). However, 2.3% of Boone families live in poverty.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Boone

Neighborhood Scout

Iowa Demographics

Bestplaces

U.S News Education

Tweetsie Railroad

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

Daniel Boone Native Gardens

Boone County Hospital

Anytime Fitness

Serenity Couture

Des Moines | Y Camp

High Trestle Trail

Boone Valley Brewing Company

Boone Community School District

Mindful Movement Pilates Studio

Ledges State Park

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