# Shenandoah, Iowa

Shenandoah is a city in Page and Fremont counties in Iowa, United States. The population was 4,925 at the time of the 2020 U.S. Census. Once referred to as the "seed and nursery center of the world," Shenandoah is the home to Earl May Seed Company and the radio station KMA, founded by Earl E. May. The early live radio stations gave many performers their start, including The Everly Brothers and Charlie Haden.

## History

Shenandoah, originally known as Fair Oaks, was platted in 1870, shortly after the arrival of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad into the neighborhood. Its name is derived from the local valley's resemblance to the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia.
In 1885, a smallpox epidemic in Shenandoah prompted the closing of schools, and the cancellation of church services and public meetings. Quarantine orders were established for households with smallpox, and guards were posted outside affected homes. On June 11, J.C. Wilson was employed as quarantine officer. During this time, Shenandoah musician W.F. Strong composed a piano arrangement called "Quarantine Polka".

## Geography

Shenandoah is located along Fourmile Creek near its confluence with the East Nishnabotna River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.75 square miles (9.71 km$^2$), all of it land.

### Climate

Climate data for Shenandoah, Iowa (1991–2020, extremes 1918–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 69 (21) | 78 (26) | 90 (32) | 94 (34) | 99 (37) | 106 (41) | 112 (44) | 113 (45) | 105 (41) | 97 (36) | 84 (29) | 73 (23) | 113 (45) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 56.3 (13.5) | 62.4 (16.9) | 76.1 (24.5) | 85.9 (29.9) | 91.0 (32.8) | 94.3 (34.6) | 96.8 (36.0) | 95.8 (35.4) | 92.9 (33.8) | 87.0 (30.6) | 72.0 (22.2) | 60.0 (15.6) | 98.4 (36.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.4 (0.8) | 38.7 (3.7) | 51.6 (10.9) | 63.7 (17.6) | 73.8 (23.2) | 83.3 (28.5) | 86.9 (30.5) | 85.2 (29.6) | 79.0 (26.1) | 66.3 (19.1) | 50.7 (10.4) | 37.9 (3.3) | 62.5 (16.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 28.4 (−2.0) | 40.4 (4.7) | 51.8 (11.0) | 63.2 (17.3) | 73.2 (22.9) | 76.8 (24.9) | 74.6 (23.7) | 66.7 (19.3) | 53.9 (12.2) | 40.1 (4.5) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 51.8 (11.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 13.7 (−10.2) | 18.0 (−7.8) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 39.9 (4.4) | 52.5 (11.4) | 63.1 (17.3) | 66.7 (19.3) | 64.0 (17.8) | 54.5 (12.5) | 41.6 (5.3) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 19.1 (−7.2) | 41.0 (5.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −8.0 (−22.2) | −1.6 (−18.7) | 8.5 (−13.1) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 37.0 (2.8) | 50.2 (10.1) | 55.4 (13.0) | 52.7 (11.5) | 38.3 (3.5) | 24.8 (−4.0) | 12.5 (−10.8) | −1.6 (−18.7) | −11.7 (−24.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) | −29 (−34) | −22 (−30) | 8 (−13) | 26 (−3) | 36 (2) | 41 (5) | 38 (3) | 23 (−5) | 15 (−9) | −8 (−22) | −26 (−32) | −29 (−34) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.92 (23) | 1.21 (31) | 2.06 (52) | 3.34 (85) | 6.16 (156) | 5.53 (140) | 4.36 (111) | 3.77 (96) | 3.02 (77) | 2.84 (72) | 1.76 (45) | 1.40 (36) | 36.37 (924) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.0 (18) | 7.5 (19) | 2.8 (7.1) | 1.2 (3.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.6 (1.5) | 1.5 (3.8) | 5.8 (15) | 26.4 (67) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.1 | 5.9 | 7.0 | 9.8 | 11.9 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 8.6 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 93.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.3 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 11.2 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 4,925 people, 2,241 households, and 1,236 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,319.4 inhabitants per square mile (509.4/km$^2$). There were 2,536 housing units at an average density of 679.4 per square mile (262.3/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 91.6% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.1% from other races and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 4.5% of the population.
Of the 2,241 households, 23.3% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 6.5% were cohabitating couples, 30.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 23.4% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 44.8% of all households were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals, 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the city was 44.3 years. 23.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.1% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 and 44; 24.5% were from 45 and 64; and 24.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

### 2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 5,150 people, 2,310 households, and 1,366 families living in the city. The population density was 1,373.3 inhabitants per square mile (530.2/km$^2$). There were 2,611 housing units at an average density of 696.3 units per square mile (268.8 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0%.
Of the 2,310 households 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 37.0% of households were one person and 19% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age was 44.4 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 23% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 5,546 people, 2,421 households, and 1,486 families living in the city. The population density was 1,599.6 inhabitants per square mile (617.6/km$^2$). There were 2,645 housing units at an average density of 762.9 units per square mile (294.6 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 97.91% White, 0.11% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72%.
Of the 2,421 households 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.2% of households were one person and 17.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84.
Age spread: 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median household income was $29,435 and the median family income was $39,110. Males had a median income of $31,657 versus $18,588 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,301. About 11.0% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Tarkio Sloths

Recent excavations of at least three Jefferson's ground sloths, Megalonyx jeffersonii, have been coordinated by the Iowa Museum of Natural History along West Tarkio Creek near Shenandoah.

## Minor league baseball

Shenandoah was home to minor league baseball. The Shenandoah Pin Rollers played as members of the Class D level Southwest Iowa League in 1903 and Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League (MINK) in 1910 and 1911.

## Media

The Southwest Iowa Herald (formerly the Valley News) Shenandoah and its neighbor city Clarinda's community newspaper. Published every Wednesday and distributed to homes throughout Page and Fremont Counties, the Southwest Iowa Herald is the community's oldest continually-operated business. Its predecessors include the award-winning Evening Sentinel. Its website can be found at valleynewstoday.com.
The radio stations KMA AM and KFNF were early pioneering radio stations attracting listeners throughout the Mid-West and drawing thousands of visitors to the city in the 1920s. The radio station KMA-FM 99.1 is in the same complex as KMA. Both stations share a simulcast, except for sporting events and other special programming.

## Education

Shenandoah Community School District Operates Public Schools
Iowa Western Community College Shenandoah Campus

## Transportation

Jefferson Lines provides intercity bus service in Shenandoah, on a route between Kansas City and Sioux Falls.

## Notable people

* Leanna Field Driftmier, long-time radio host (1886–1976)
* Chip Duncan, American Filmmaker (1955–Present)
* Everly Brothers, musicians, spent their childhood in Shenandoah and started performing at KMA on their father, noted guitarist Ike's, radio show.
* Willis Glassgow, American football player and attorney
* Charlie Haden, jazz musician (1937–2014)
* Gary Kellgren, founder of The Record Plant (Record Plant Studios) (1939–1977)
* James Ross Lightfoot, US Congressman (1938–Present)
* Bernie Masterson, Former Chicago Bears coach, (1911–1963)
* Derryl McLaren, Iowa state legislator and politician (1949–Present)
* Michael J. O'Brien, American politician in the state of Iowa, (1939–Present)
* James Pearson, Radio preacher of KFNF radio, (1873–1950)
* Agnes Samuelson, educator (1887–1963)
* Jay Scheib, theatre director (1969–Present)
* Jessie Field Shambaugh, founder of 4-H (1881–1971)
* Jessie Young (1900–1987), widely regarded as the first of the radio homemakers.