Waterloo

Sister cities

• Giessen
• Targovishte

History

Waterloo was originally known as Prairie Rapids Crossing. The town was established near two Meskwaki American tribal seasonal camps alongside the Cedar River. It was first settled in 1845 when George and Mary Melrose Hanna and their children arrived on the east bank of the Red Cedar River (now just called the Cedar River). They were followed by the Virden and Mullan families in 1846. Evidence of these earliest families can still be found in the street names Hanna Boulevard, Mullan Avenue and Virden Creek. On December 8, 1845, the Iowa State Register and Waterloo Herald was the first newspaper published in Waterloo. The name Waterloo supplanted the original name, Prairie Rapids Crossing, shortly after Charles Mullan petitioned for a post office in the town. Since the signed petition did not include the name of the proposed post office location, Mullan was charged with selecting the name when he submitted the petition. Tradition has it that as he flipped through a list of other post offices in the United States, he came upon the name Waterloo. The name struck his fancy, and a post office was established under that name. There were two extended periods of rapid growth over the next 115 years. From 1895 to 1915, the population increased from 8,490 to 33,097, a 290% increase. From 1925 to 1960, population increased from 36,771 to 71,755. The 1895 to 1915 period was a time of rapid growth in manufacturing, rail transportation and wholesale operations. During this period the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company moved to Waterloo and, shortly after, the Rath Packing Company moved from Dubuque. Another major employer throughout the first two-thirds of the 20th century was the Illinois Central Railroad. Among the others was the less-successful brass era automobile…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The average elevation of Waterloo is 846 feet above sea level. The population density is 1101 people per square mile, considered low for an urban area. Waterloo has a humid continental climate zone (Köppen classification Dfa), typical of the state of Iowa, and is part of USDA Plant Hardiness zone 5a. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from in January to in July. On average, there are 22 nights annually with a low at or below , 58 days annually with a high at or below freezing, and 16 days with a high at or above . As the mean first and last occurrence of freezing temperatures is October 1 and April 29, respectively, this allows for a growing season of 154 days. Temperature records range from on March 1, 1962, and January 16, 2009, up to on July 13 and 14, 1936, during the Dust Bowl. The record cold daily maximum is on February 2, 1996, while conversely the record warm daily minimum is on July 31, 1917, and August 16, 1988. }}

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• West High School
  High · Waterloo · 1,652 students · 17.2:1 ratio
• Cedar Falls High School
  High · Cedar Falls · 1,302 students · 13.9:1 ratio
• East High School
  High · Waterloo · 1,022 students · 17.3:1 ratio
• Hoover Middle School
  Middle · Waterloo · 883 students · 15.8:1 ratio
• Peet Junior High School
  Middle · Cedar Falls · 670 students · 13.7:1 ratio
• Holmes Junior High School
  Middle · Cedar Falls · 639 students · 13.9:1 ratio
• Kittrell Elementary School
  Elementary · Waterloo · 614 students · 13.1:1 ratio
• Expo Alternative Learning Center
  High · Waterloo · 609 students · 18.5:1 ratio