# Murray, Iowa

Murray is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 684 at the time of the 2020 census.

## History

Murray was founded in 1868 as Oakland following the construction of the Burlington & Missouri River Rail Road through the State. The village was laid out in 1868 by Henry Clay Sigler (1830–1907) of Osceola and Smith Henderson Mallory (1835–1903) of Chariton. At that time, Oakland occupied a 120-acre (0.1875-square-mile) tract. The first U.S. Post Office in Oakland was established in the Fall of 1868 – In section 10, Troy Township. Albert ("Bert") Straub (1842–1897) was appointed postmaster November 27, 1868. Straub had been a member of Company E of the 50th Illinois Infantry Regiment and served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Murray was incorporated as a city Thursday, October 21, 1880 – thirty-four years after Clarke County had been established by the Territorial Legislature (January 13, 1846). Murray's first City Council meeting was held December 7, 1880. Alanson Bowers (1848–1922) served as founding mayor until March 1882.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Murray has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km$^2$), all land. The city is in western Clarke County, along the historic Mormon Trail.
Driving distances from Murray:
* Osceola, the Clarke County seat, is about 10 miles (16 km) east via U.S. Route 34.
* Des Moines is about 57.6 miles (92.7 km) north via I-35.
* Omaha is about 122 miles (196 km) west via U.S. Route 34.

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 684 people, 297 households, and 191 families residing in the city. The population density was 855.1 inhabitants per square mile (330.2/km$^2$). There were 322 housing units at an average density of 402.6 per square mile (155.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.0% from other races and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 3.4% of the population.
Of the 297 households, 26.3% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 6.7% were cohabitating couples, 23.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 20.2% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 35.7% of all households were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the city was 40.1 years. 27.0% of the residents were under the age of 20; 6.3% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 and 44; 26.5% were from 45 and 64; and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 756 people, 310 households, and 200 families living in the city. The population density was 957.0 inhabitants per square mile (369.5/km$^2$). There were 337 housing units at an average density of 426.6 per square mile (164.7/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 98.1% White, 0.5% African American, and 1.3% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.
There were 310 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.5% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
The median age in the city was 36.8 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 766 people, 308 households, and 218 families living in the city. The population density was 977.4 inhabitants per square mile (377.4/km$^2$). There were 338 housing units at an average density of 431.3 per square mile (166.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 98.43% White, 0.65% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 305 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,879, and the median income for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $27,583 versus $20,577 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,879. About 5.0% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Notable people

* Meridel Le Sueur (1900–1996) – American writer associated with the proletarian movement of the 1930s and 1940s
* Glenn Parker (1898–1989) – Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court: December 5, 1955 – January 6, 1975; Chief Justice: (i) January 1, 1963 – January 2, 1967 & (ii) January 1, 1973 – January 2, 1975

## Historical markers

* Ensign Peak Foundation, Murray History Center.
* The Clarke County Freedom Rock & Honor Wall in Murray, created by renowned painter Ray “Bubba" Sorensen, Murray Cemetery off Highway 34 and County Highway R16

## Cemeteries
### Murray

* Murray Cemetery.
    Northeast corner Section 7: northeast corner of Ferdinand D. Friday (1833–1920) 240 acre tract.
    Troy Township, Section 15: about 4 acres in the southwest corner of the old William Harvey Dewey (1956–1946) 76 acre tract.
    135th Avenue, at the northwest corner of Route 34 and County Road R16
    41°01′40″N 93°56′44″W﻿ / ﻿41.02780°N 93.94560°W﻿ / 41.02780; -93.94560
* Union Cemetery.
    41°07′35″N 93°54′41″W﻿ / ﻿41.12650°N 93.91150°W﻿ / 41.12650; -93.91150