2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Spencer, Iowa 2017 Comprehensive Plan
residents. Since 2000, the community’s population has continued to remain steady.
Table 2 - Historic Population Trends, City of Spencer
YEAR
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
POPULATION
824
1,813
3,095
3,005
4,599
5,019
6,599
7,446
YEAR
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2014 est.
POPULATION
8,864
10,278
11,726
11,066
11,317
11,233
11,206
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, and Population (1850-1990) for Incorporated Places in Iowa – ISU Census Services
Figure 9 - Historic Population Trends for Spencer
Historic Population Trends for Spencer, Iowa
11,726
11,317 11,233 11,206
12000
11,066
10,278
10000
8,864
7,446
8000
6,599
6000
5,019
4,599
4000
3,095 3,005
1,813
2000
824
0
The city's percentage (or share) of the county's total population increased in recent decades from 56% of Clay County’s population in 1970 to 65% in 2000 and most recently Spencer has grown to represent 67% of the county’s overall population in 2010. This is important when projecting future growth or decline of population since local growth is often based on projections previously developed for the county. In some population predictions, it is assumed the city will continue to make up the same percentage of the county's population. In other instances, past trends of those cities that continue to comprise a growing share of the county’s overall population base is reflected upon future population projections. CURRENT POPULATION STRUCTURE As of the 2010 decennial census, Spencer’s population is 11,233 persons. The median age of 41.5 is 3.4 years older than Iowa’s median age of 38.1 years. These numbers indicate Spencer shows evidence of an aging population. Regarding the age of Spencer’s residents, 19.7% of the city’s residents are classified as “seniors” or persons over the age of 65. This is higher than the state’s average of nearly 15% for the same category. The number of young adults in the age class of 18-44 represents 30.9% of the city’s population which is slightly lower than the statewide average of 34.6% of persons considered young adults (ages 18-44). Lastly, the percentage of children in Spencer (those
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NW Iowa Planning & Development
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