Carter Lake, Iowa | |
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 City Office Building in Carter Lake, Iowa | |
 Location of Carter Lake, Iowa | |
 U.S. Census Map | |
| Coordinates:41°17′18″N95°55′01″W / 41.28833°N 95.91694°W /41.28833; -95.91694 | |
| Country | USA |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Pottawattamie |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.02 sq mi (5.23 km2) |
| • Land | 1.80 sq mi (4.65 km2) |
| • Water | 0.22 sq mi (0.58 km2) |
| Elevation | 974 ft (297 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,791 |
| • Density | 2,112.7/sq mi (815.71/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 51510 |
| Area code | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-11215 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2393756[2] |
| Website | www |
Carter Lake is a city inPottawattamie County,Iowa, United States. A suburb ofOmaha, Nebraska, it sits surrounding the south and west sides of the region's major airport,Eppley Airfield. It is separated from the rest of Iowa by theMissouri River, effectively making it anexclave. The population was 3,791 at the2020 census.[3]
Carter Lake is an example of theborder irregularities of the United States, being the only city in Iowa located west of theMissouri River. A flood redirected the course of the river 1.25 mi (2 km) to the southeast in March 1877. The remnants of the old river course, called Saratoga Bend, became anoxbow lake, namedCarter Lake.[4][5][6] Soon after the formation of the lake, the site became a flourishing recreational area. It included "a boathouse at the foot of Locust street, hotels and club houses were numerous and the lake was the scene of many a pleasant rowing and fishing party."[7]
After extensive litigation between Iowa and Nebraska, theSupreme Court of the United States ruled in 1892 that Carter Lake belonged to Iowa inNebraska v. Iowa, 143 U.S. 359 (1892).[8] Although the general rule is that state boundaries follow gradual changes in the course of a river, the Court ruled that an exception exists when a riveravulses one of itsbends. The Supreme Court made another ruling on the circumstances of Carter Lake in 1972 when it ruled on a boundary dispute between the two states inNebraska v. Iowa, 406 U.S. 117 (1972).[9]
Although Carter Lake was legally considered part ofCouncil Bluffs and residents paid city taxes, they lacked the basic city services enjoyed by residents east of the Missouri River.[10] The community successfully seceded from Council Bluffs in the 1920s, intending to become part ofOmaha, Nebraska,[10] but Omaha did not want to pay to extend sewers or water lines.[citation needed] Consequently, Carter Lake incorporated as a city in the state of Iowa on July 2, 1930.[11]: 10
Two separate amusement parks were located in Carter Lake early on: the Courtland Beach Amusement Park from 1905 to 1917, and the Lakeview Amusement Park from 1917 to 1933. The Munchoff Brothers, who were the original operators of Omaha'sKrug Park, ran both parks; they moved rides from Courtland to Lakeview in 1917. One of the brothers donated the rides from the old parks to theWorld War II metaldrives in 1945.[12]
The city became a gambling hot spot in the 1930s and '40s, as law enforcement was limited and because of its important location. At The Chez Paree, you "could listen toSophie Tucker, have the best prime rib in town and enjoy a gambling raid or two." Patrons could "bet on any horse race in the United States," and the business was described as "the most active casino between Chicago and theWest Coast."[13][11]: 66
The mistaken belief that a defendant corporation located in Carter Lake was a legal resident of Nebraska resulted in another U.S. Supreme Court case,Owen Equipment & Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365 (1978). The case clarified the law regardingancillary jurisdiction, which allows claims based on state law to be heard in a federal court when related to a claim based on federal law.[14][15]
The city is surrounded on three sides byOmaha, Nebraska, and on the fourth by theMissouri River.[16]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.02 square miles (5.23 km2), of which 1.87 square miles (4.84 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km2) is water.[17]
Carter Lake creates a geographic oddity for travelers going toEppley Airfield, which it surrounds on the south and west. Consequently, travelers going to Eppley Airfield from anywhere except North Omaha will go through Carter Lake, Iowa. It is reported to have caused confusion when travelers not used to the area go through and see a "Welcome to Iowa" sign on their way to and from the airport.[10]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 846 | — |
| 1950 | 1,183 | +39.8% |
| 1960 | 2,287 | +93.3% |
| 1970 | 3,268 | +42.9% |
| 1980 | 3,438 | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 3,200 | −6.9% |
| 2000 | 3,248 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 3,785 | +16.5% |
| 2020 | 3,791 | +0.2% |
| Source:"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau. RetrievedMarch 29, 2020. andIowa Data Center Source: | ||
As of thecensus[19] of 2000, there were 3,248 people, 1,221 households, and 914 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,799.7 inhabitants per square mile (694.9/km2). There were 1,292 housing units at an average density of 715.9 per square mile (276.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.71%White, 0.25%African American, 0.74%Native American, 0.25%Asian, 0.86% fromother races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 2.89% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 1,221 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% weremarried couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.04.
Age/gender breakdown: 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,851, and the median income for a family was $42,794. Males had a median income of $30,946 versus $23,309 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $18,758. 7.1% of the population and 4.9% of families were below thepoverty line. Out of the total population, 11.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
As of thecensus[20] of 2010, there were 3,785 people, 1,388 households, and 997 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,024.1 inhabitants per square mile (781.5/km2). There were 1,481 housing units at an average density of 792.0 per square mile (305.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.3%White, 1.0%African American, 0.8%Native American, 0.5%Asian, 5.8% fromother races, and 1.6% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 11.5% of the population.
There were 1,388 households, of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% weremarried couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.2% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.16.
The median age in the city was 36.1 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
As of thecensus of 2020,[21] there were 3,791 people, 1,438 households, and 996 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,112.7 inhabitants per square mile (815.7/km2). There were 1,512 housing units at an average density of 842.6 per square mile (325.3/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 83.8%White, 2.3%Black or African American, 0.9%Native American, 0.6%Asian, 0.0%Pacific Islander, 6.0% from other races and 6.3% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 10.8% of the population.
Of the 1,438 households, 32.0% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% weremarried couples living together, 9.2% were cohabitating couples, 26.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 20.0% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 30.7% of all households were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the city was 37.9 years. 29.0% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.5% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 and 44; 26.8% were from 45 and 64; and 14.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
Municipalities and communities ofPottawattamie County, Iowa,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Metropolitan area ofOmaha–Council Bluffs | ||||||
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