Owasa, Iowa


Owasa is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 34 at the time of the 2020 census.
WWW owasaiowa.com

History

Owasa was platted in 1883 or 1884. The name is derived from the Fox language, meaning "bear".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 34 people, 18 households, and 12 families residing in the city. The population density was 60.4 inhabitants per square mile. There were 18 housing units at an average density of 32.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 88.2% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.0% from other races and 11.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 5.9% of the population.
Of the 18 households, 38.9% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 11.1% were cohabitating couples, 22.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 16.7% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 33.3% of all households were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, 22.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the city was 47.0 years. 23.5% of the residents were under the age of 20; 2.9% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 17.6% were from 25 and 44; 29.4% were from 45 and 64; and 26.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 43 people, 17 households, and 9 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 19 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 90.7% White and 9.3% from two or more races.
There were 17 households, of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 11.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.1% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.44.
The median age in the city was 35.3 years. 32.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.2% male and 55.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 38 people, 17 households, and 8 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 19 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White.
There were 17 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, and 47.1% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 137.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,417, and the median income for a family was $75,938. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,047. There were no families and 6.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 40.0% of those over 64.

Education

Owasa lies within the Eldora–New Providence Community School District, which formed on July 1, 1980, with the merger of the Eldora and New Providence school districts., it has a grade-sharing arrangement with Hubbard–Radcliffe Community School District and operates as the South Hardin Schools.
In the mid-1960's, what was then the Owasa Community School District was the plaintiff in several lawsuits, which had challenged the authority of the state of Iowa to make decision regarding the future of the school district without seeking the approval of the voters of the Owasa district. In 1956, the Iowa Legislature passed a law, declaring that, by July 1, 1962, all areas within the state's boundaries must be part of a K-12 school district. Later, mindful of the fact that many districts would be forced to do this in a relative hurry, the law was amended and the deadline was moved to July 1, 1966. This change was cited by some members of the Owasa School Board as evidence the law might be further amended, or perhaps even repealed, thereby enabling the Owasa School to continue to operate. However, during the 1965-66 school year, because Owasa had not taken decisive steps to make itself part of another district, as the law would soon require, the Hardin County School Board, which was, at the time, authorized to act on behalf of the state, chose to divide the Owasa district between neighboring districts of Eldora and New Providence. As a result, Owasa filed suit, citing a state law requiring a district's voters to approve any change in the makeup of the school district, despite the fact that Owasa was unable to offer all twelve grades, as the 1956 law required. A district court ruled against Owasa, but an appeal was heard by the Iowa Supreme Court in 1967, which ruled unanimously in favor of the Hardin County School Board, opining that this Board had the legal right, as well as the obligation, to make the decision on behalf of Owasa. This ruling is considered a landmark court decision, one in which an elected body would be empowered to make decisions, in lieu of a decision having been made by the voters.
In the wake of this ruling, the Owasa Community School District was legally dissolved, and its territory was divided among three neighboring districts. The Owasa School itself closed in the fall of 1967.